Is anyone in an evening/weekend program?

[FAworld]

I have been accepted into a part-time clinicals program which meets for lecture every Monday evening and clinicals are every other weekend.

If you are in a part-time program, what are your thoughts about it? Do you like it? Wish you had gone full-time?

I have the option of the exact opposite type of program - an accelerated one. But I'm drawn to the fact that I wouldn't have to put my young child in daycare with the part-time program. I do worry that I will regret taking it slow when all my friends in regular programs are graduating 6-12 mos before I do.

[LMRN10]

I will begin my Nursing classes this spring and will be attending at night. I work through the day. My first class will be 3 nights a week. 1 night of clinicals and then Lecture/Lab/Exam the other two nights.

This is all I can do because I do work full-time and I have a 2 year old as well. I have been going to school since 2004 and I am done with pre-req's and now just have to focus on my classes.

If you want to be able to be at home with your baby, just take your time like you are planning. But if you want to graduate quicker, then just get it done!!! I wish I could do that, but I think the accelerated program might be a bit much for me!!!

Best of luck!!!

[GeauxNursing]

tuesday/thursday night 530-1030. saturday(clinicals) 7A-8P. it works for me. i work full-time, have to. i would like to have my degree sooner, but this program fits me. I am not 24/7 bogged down with work. i get a little bit at a time. i like it. 16 month program (LVN.)

[karenrnstudent]

I'm in a great evening weekend program! I have class two nights a week from 6:00-8:50PM and then clinicals are every other weekend 6:45AM - 1:15PM, Saturday and Sunday.

Next semester we have 2 clinical classes so we will have clinical every weekend but one of those weekends will be one 12 hour day instead of both days.

I work full-time Mon-Fri during the day so the program works for me. The only drawback is the getting up SUPER early on weekends and then being on my feet for 6 hours.

I do wish I didn't have to work because it would allow more time for studying and reading cause there is ALOT of that but I wouldn't have wanted to go full-time. There is a lot more clinical time in the full time program than the weekend program.

[sddlnscp]

I have class Tuesday & Thursday nights from 6-10 and then we have clinicals every other weekend. The clinical rotations vary but typically this year (RN year) they have been 2 12-hour shifts from 7a-7p. I was in this program last year for the LPN part and I could not imagine doing anything else. We don't take summers off like the day people do, so that way we end up graduating only a few months after them. I work full-time and I commute an hour and a half to the school, so there's no other way I could do it. I also have two little kids (a 5 year old and a 2 1/2 year old) and a hubby who also works. I really love this program because, without it, I couldn't go to school and become a nurse.

I would say that if you're ok with taking the extra months to graduate, stick with the evening/weekend program because it is hard being away from your kids so much and the guilt really isn't worth it. If, however, you want to just get it done, go for it, you can do it! Best of luck either way!

[amberfnp]

FAworld~

I graduated from a weekend diploma RN program. I went 2 nights a week (6-10pm) and every other weekend. My son was 4 months old when I started. It worked well for me as daycare was less of an issue and I was able to keep my FT job.

It was a 3 year program, including summers. 2-3 week breaks between semesters. It would have been nice to finish faster, but for me this was the ONLY choice for me because I had to work FT. I have since completed my BSN and just got accepted to an FNP program! It's been a long road. I feel like I have been in school forever! But it's worth it!

Good Luck to you!