Don't know what to do?

[cassiesky]

Hi! I'm at a crossroad. I have been accepted into my local community college ASN program; I'll start in January. My college has a concurrent program with the local university for the ASN to BSN program. This is when a nursing student takes both the ASN courses at the community college while taking upper level nursing courses from the university. All in all the nursing student will graduate with a ASN at the community college and sit for the NCLEX, become licensed and then just do one more semester of BSN courses and then graduate with a BSN. It's a good program but demanding. Here's my dilemma. I want to do this program but the course load is so huge. For example in January if I decide to go into this program my school schedule would be: Nursing Process Fundamentals (8 credit hrs.); General Chemistry (4 credit hrs.). Also two of the upper level nursing classes: Professional Socialization Seminar (1 credit hr-a 6 week course) and Health Assessment (3 credit hrs). Then add a full time job to this and a significant other. Right now this doesn't seem doable. A part of me really wants to give it a try and see if I can handle it, but I want to maintain my GPA and eventually later on down the road obtain my Masters to become a Pediatric Nurse Practioner.

I know I can handle the regular ASN schedule with my job but trying to do the two programs plus my job would be incredibly hard. I have to keep my job because I live by myself and I have bills to pay. Ahh what to do?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

I think attitude is a big part of it, and I think you may have answered your own question with your own post. However, it's what YOU feel like doing. Truthfully, from my own standpoint, it'd be a bit much. 16 credit hours for a semester, a job, a sig other, studying, cooking, chores, etc....wow! I'm only in an ADN program, taking 10 hours right now with 3 in an online english, full-time work, volunteering, the ADLs, etc. and I'm starting to be overwhelmed, having to take it day by day...

I'd go with the ADN, bridge to a BSN, then go for the masters....but it's just me. That's my plan anyways, I'm wanting to go on and be a CRNA, or a nurse educator, possibly both at same time....dunno.