how to get ready for the BSN program committment?

mo_mo · Sep 22, 2011

I just started my BSN program. It is also the first time I have ever taken 15 credit hours. I cut back my work from 40 hours a week to about 15 hours. I am thinking about dropping down even more!

If you truly want to be a nurse then you have to do whatever it takes to succeed. Quit your job if you can afford to, tell your family it is a short term sacrifice to achieve a long term goal.

Don't let them discourage you. You will need A LOT of time in order to study, practice skills and read.

Good luck and be strong!

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Sep 23, 2011

.

i have been in school since 2006. i got admitted to a bsn program. i have always earned good grades and have always been able to work a lot of hours and do other things while taking classes. maybe because the classes were nothing like what i am getting ready to embark on. congratulations on being admitted. you are right, nursing classes are nothing like general ed and/or nursing prerequisites.

i have to support myself and help my sister out with bills. i am thinking about quitting my cna job in january because it is 7pm to 7 am. having to support yourself and your sister, is going to be challening. how will you and your sister manager if you quit your cna job?

it takes me 2 hrs each way to get back and forth and i ride the bus. i understand the commute. when i was at a specific nursing school, it took me about 1.5 hrs train/bus ride to get to school--meaning i lost 3 hours a day commuting. however, there were times on the train that i could read.

i tend to also not pick up skills as fast as others. i am very shy and i need to take my time reading to understand things. i have the same problem. fortunately, you are a cna. the first semester, among other things, is learning what a cna does...plus much more.

my family does not support my decision of leaving the job. they say i am selfish, nothing in life comes easy and there are people who go to school and work. this is a difficult delicate problem. families and friends seldom understand the rigors of nursing school, the need to study, etc. is money a serious issue? if you are attending a university, you may be able to get student loans and/or fee waivers for the school tuition--you did not say if you were going to a private or public university. it is possible to get work/study jobs on campus, but you have to apply for them and make financial aid aware that you wish work/study. is it possible that you could get a part time job as a caregiver on the weekend or fri and sat nights?

once you get some nursing education behind you, your state may allow you to challenge the lpn/lvn exam. if you can and pass it while in nursing school, you would be earning more money than what you would be earning as a cna.

i do not have money for a car because i have to pay rent and save up for school. i just honestly don't think i will be able to keep this job which is 3 hours a week and do nursing school.

the question is: is this the right time for you to go to college--if money is tight. what about delaying a year, and working as many jobs as you can to saving up so that you have a nest egg. a year's savings, would be handy. don't delay admittance too long--tthe one thing you need to pay attention to is this: some colleges/universities will not take any science classes older than 5 years otherwise you must retake the classes. some facilities do not have that rule.

i saw my upcoming schedule and i saw i have classes at different times 9 am, 12 pm, or 4 pm. i have to manage time to get sleep, class, study and work. if i have class at 9 am i would be late.

your nursing school schedule will be erratic. you will have no choice on the time of your classes and they can be at the oddest times. clinicals will be 8-12 hrs--plus you will need to prepare for clinical the night before by doing a care plan on your patient(s). this careplan will take hours.

i just don't know how to keep explaining it to my family i do not want to quit but i need to focus on school and i am not happy where i am working at. plus i don't want to risk failing school. they say i need to try out and then if my grades fall and i can't handle it then go part time

you need to sit down with you family and discuss priorities. first of all, it is your life. second, families are the backbones of our lives (if one has a functional family). life can be difficult if the family is not backing us up. discuss with them exactly what you have told us...copy your post as a guide. show them the benefits of obtaining your bsn license--a better job, better income, ability to buy a car, and more money to help support the family. the issue is cost versus benefit. do you and do they think that going to nursing school is worth the cost? if you do and they don't then you have a problem that you will have to solve. the only way to solve it is to have a heart-to-heart with your family and do some brainstorming to come up with solutions.

i wish you the best....

doritha · Sep 23, 2011

I am a sophmore in my BSN Nursing program, it is TOUGH to say the least especially trying to juggle work and somewhat of a social life! Wish you the best!