Going for my RN

dragonfly414 · Apr 19, 2012

First of all, you definitely can do it! I've been in college longer than I care to think about and have had many classmates who had children. I'd recommend starting out at a community college to save money and also in my experience community colleges tend to be more geared towards non-traditional students who need more night classes or online courses.

As for taking AP online, it is possible if you feel fairly strong about sciences. I wouldn't recommend taking AP II online if you could avoid it because it is harder than AP I. AP is a lot of memorization and AP II is more comprehension and putting it all together. I think you are more likely to have questions or things you need some clarification from the instructor on in an AP II, than you would an AP I. Not that you can't ask questions in online courses, but it is much easier to ask in person if possible. If you are dedicated and study your material you should be fine with AP I online.

I've never heard of anyone working full time and going to nursing school full time at the same time, but that doesn't mean no one has done it. The risk is making the grades. If you don't make grades in a nursing program, you're out and there is lots of people right behind you waiting for your spot at most schools. I think you are wise to go to school now while you are still at home with your parents. Their support will be invaluable to you, especially since you have two little ones.

I do not know anything about whether or not you can become a neonatal nurse with an Associates RN degree. I've never been interested in pediatrics or nicu so I've never looked into it. I suspect it would depend on what kind of neonatal unit you wanted to work in. I suspect a BSN would be required for the NICU, but I'm only guessing. Best of luck to you!

MommaDreamer · Apr 20, 2012

Thanks so much for the good advice! Very sweet & I appreciate it very much! :)