Help, please! need advice re: online courses

I'm from the east coast & I have no family here to watch her,

I want to get a career in the worst way so I can support my kids but I can't put my baby in daycare. does anyone know anything about online nursing programs/courses such as Phoenix?? Are students of online courses *frowned upon" by hospitals or peers? Phoenix University is pricey and to waste all that money is not an option. I thought that might be an avenue as I am home with the baby and can at least do that for now. Anyone have advice? SORRY this post was so long, but I really tried to put in any relevant info. Thanks for any input,Sherry

Since you're in San Diego, your online options in California are probably going to be limited. As far as I know Excelsior was the only online ADN program option available, but the California BORN doesn't accept that program anymore. University of Phoenix is only an option if you already have your ADN.

First you have to figure out what school you're going to attend because every school has different pre-requisite requirements. Check the BORN website for accredited programs.

But, using my CC as an example, I can tell you what my friends have done when they had small children. My CC requires a lot of general ed, along with the heavier science courses. A lot of the general ed (although not all of it) can be taken online at my school so my friends got those courses out of the way until their children were older. Then they took the heavier sciences courses when they had more time because the lab requirements generally prohibit the schools from offering those courses online.

However, it could be different elsewhere. Check with the BORN website and talk to a counselor at the schools in your area. But don't be discouraged. It may take awhile, but I do know people have done it while working and supporting their kids.

I know that some of the CA community colleges do offer the heavy science courses online--Micro, Chem, Anatomy, etc. There is a wonderful website called the California Community College Independent Learning (or something like that). It's a collection of all CA community colleges that offer distance-based courses--videotape, online, etc. Anyone can register for these courses. Some some schools do offer online courses, but you need to take the tests on campus, and some courses are purely (including tests). Check it out and see what you think.

Good Luck!

Michelle

I myself am in somewhat of the same situation you are in. I am a single parent working and going to school. I work part-time and live with my sister and we split bills. We both had (my sister and I) our first child at the same time, so we trade off on eachother for babysitting. We work out our scheduals so that i have time to go part time to college. I wouldnt be able to do this without family though. My son is 6 months. When he is older (3 or 4) I plan on attending the Nursing program. The college I attend has day care on the campus. You could look into something like that, or see if you qualify for government aid for day care down the line when you are ready to attend and your pre reqs are out of the way. You are most likely to be doing some waiting time anyway due to the long waiting lists at colleges. I just want to let you know that even though you have a family to take care of, there are resources to help you and it can be done. Good luck.