Have a BSN but may want to switch gears

[jandtforker]

I earned my BSN in 1994, worked about 5 years then stayed home full-time for 15 years. I managed to get a job as a weekend charge nurse at a nursing home and I like the work--LOVE the residents. However, I am in great health now, just looking down the road to my 50's and beyond. This work is physical. Wanting to look into alternatives to floor nursing maybe even going back to school. Has anyone else gone back to school after such a long time? One community college told me I would have to retake all my science classes since I took them so long ago. Wow, I never knew your degree could expire. Looking back, I wish I had kept one foot in the door, part-time or prn in nursing--things would look better now if I had.

[elkpark]

Your degree doesn't "expire," it's yours forever, but most schools have an cut-off date for science courses they are willing to accept for transfer credit (typically five or seven years). Have you thought about what else you would like to do in nursing? Many people make the mistake of rushing into a degree program and then trying to figure out what they can do with that degree. It makes a lot more sense, IMO, to figure out what you want to be doing in nursing, and then figure out what degree/certification/whatever you need to get you there. Best wishes for your journey!