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OK--This may be long, but I am hoping someone here can help me out a little.

I have a BS in Biology and want very much to return to school to get my BSN followed by MSN for NP. The problem is that I REALLY have to work to be able to do it. I am willing to make the sacrifice of taking a pay cut to get out of my current job, but am having trouble finding a new job somewhere. I am pretty much willing to do anything, but can't seem to break through the HR red tape anywhere.

Does anyone know if UAB (my first choice) is still doing the program where people can sign with them and work during nursing school (and who to talk to about it)? I have dug all around the website and can't find a thing about it. I don't really care so much about the tuition, but I have to work no matter the shift. I have sent resume after resume to UAB, but can't seem to get any response. My first choice would be to do research but I am NOT PICKY!! (I am also open to other hospitals)

I just really need some advice about the program at UAB, working, second degree BSN, etc.

I look forward to hearing from someone.

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Hey Barkley!!!

I bet there's people who can help you better than I can but I hate to see a post like yours get to the 2nd page of the '24hr' forum without a reply. So let me try my best.

I had a BA degree, was totally broke (it was a long time ago, the 70s, stagflation etc) when I decided to go to NursingSchool. So it was not a sacrifice for me to look for CNA-level jobs to support my family while I was a NrsgStudent. This was in EastTenn--not an area noted for high pay scales, OK? Still, I was surprised that being 'just' an 'orderly' actually paid fairly well. Now I'm at the end of a pretty neat career and I meet young guys who are 'PatientCareTechs' while they're in NrsgSchool--and they're not doing to bad. I knew a young (20s) fella who worked his butt off as a CNA/PCT here in the TampaBayArea (also not noted for high pay scales) and made more than $40K in the '04 tax year. Now I repeat, he worked his butt off to do that, but he also saved enough from that year of hard work so that he got his LPN while working part-time in the next year.

So--my advise, check out certification as a CNA or EMT through the public schools (adult education, whatever it's called) in your hometown. Then get the best job you can doing that.

Once you have reached that point, evaluate ALL the different ways you can reach your goal. You could start by continuing the public-school program to LPN. That would take approx one year to 18 months and then you get a big raise. From there you could find an LPN to ADN program, again--they typically take a year or 18m.

There are MSN programs that would take you on the basis of your BS and the ADN--and there you are!!!

Maybe this won't work out for you quite as neatly as I've written it here. But the basics are completely possible without starving to death or having your car repossessed.

Good Luck

Papaw John

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Specializes in 4 years peds, 7 years L and D.

HI there. You sound so similar to me...several years ago. I had a BS in Biology and went back to get a BSN at UAB, also had to work. I did not work full time, I worked at Childrens as a CA (nursing assistant) 3-11 shift. I also had a scholarship to cover tuition, but used loans to pay day to day expenses. (now regretting that I have to pay them back!) I know Brookwood reimburses tuition for employees now, and I am sure other hospitals do too...I am not sure about the program at UAB you mention though. I iwll be gald to help you out any way I can..

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HI there. You sound so similar to me...several years ago. I had a BS in Biology and went back to get a BSN at UAB, also had to work. I did not work full time, I worked at Childrens as a CA (nursing assistant) 3-11 shift. I also had a scholarship to cover tuition, but used loans to pay day to day expenses. (now regretting that I have to pay them back!) I know Brookwood reimburses tuition for employees now, and I am sure other hospitals do too...I am not sure about the program at UAB you mention though. I iwll be gald to help you out any way I can..

Thank you both so much for responding.

Sue--How did you manage to get through the red tape and get a job at Children's? I have applied to several jobs at UAB and have gotten NO WHERE. I am hoping that as soon as my application (2nd bachelor's) is accepted at UAB, I can try talking to their career services center and they can maybe at least give me names to talk to. I know I will have to have loans (already have some from bachelors, but I'm ok with it). I have small kids and will have to pay for childcare. I'm starting to think that 3rd shift is going to be the best for me. But I am pretty much open to anything. If you had to guess, what would be some positions I would be able to get into with a BS in Bio?

I know that this semester (if I get to go back) I am going to have to take a couple of classes over (not because of grades--I got A's) b/c it has been too long since I had them(>5 yrs). In your experience, how many of your hours transferred into UAB and how did they work the 2nd BS? I will meet with a pre nursing advisor, but it may be a couple of more weeks.

Sorry so long and thanks for your help.

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Specializes in 4 years peds, 7 years L and D.

I got the job at Children's after I was in nursing school already, I think that fact helped a lot. Before that I did odd jobs to make some money and survived on loans. I had to take a few pre reqs (stats, cultural anthropology, ethics...can't remember a few more) I know the nursing program has changed a bit since then. I went to grad school after Ole Miss at USA for Physiology, but didnt finish when I decided to go to nursing school after we transferred here. I had small children as well then too. (still do, they kept coming :uhoh3: LOL) I am not sure what jobs besides a nursing assistant you could do while in school, esp third shift..?? Unit secretay..too...

I am pretty sure all my classes transferred. I don't remember having to take any over, and it was probably over 5 years for some of them. (I graduated Ole Miss in 1988, graduated nursing school in 1995).

hope this helped..???

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Thanks--you seem to be more helpful than a lot of the people at UAB.

It's a new rule that you have to have Micro and pathophys. within 5 years of beginning the nursing program. As a bio major, I took micro as a freshman so it has been like 8 years. I'm ok with taking it over. I did well in it. Hopefully I will meet with an advisor in the next week or so, to go over all of that stuff.

I was thinking maybe something in a lab or tech jobs might be possible for me. The problem is that I can't get anyone to contact me. I have left messages, emails, etc and nothing. I'm not tied to 3rd shift, but thought those jobs might be easier to come by and would not conflict with school.

I'm not afraid of loans -- I have some already. To me, it's worth it to get back into the scientific / medical world. I've been working with computers since I got out of school. It pays good, but it's not my passion.

How long did it take you to finish your BSN once you started at UAB? Did you have any trouble getting into the nursing program?

Hopefully my child count will stay at 2 for a while--at least until I finish school;)!

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Specializes in 4 years peds, 7 years L and D.

Come work with me as an OB tech;) I was thinking in a lab you would have to have a license as a lab technician????

I did not have any trouble getting into school, got in the first try. Took me a year to do my pre reqs slowly..then once I started clinicals it was 3 years because at that time they did not do summers at all :angryfire I also started school with 2 kids...finished with 2 kids..don't know what happened after that but here I sit of 6 of them

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Come work with me as an OB tech;) I was thinking in a lab you would have to have a license as a lab technician????

I did not have any trouble getting into school, got in the first try. Took me a year to do my pre reqs slowly..then once I started clinicals it was 3 years because at that time they did not do summers at all :angryfire I also started school with 2 kids...finished with 2 kids..don't know what happened after that but here I sit of 6 of them

At UAB some of the lab jobs just say prefer certification but not required.

At this point--I will go anywhere and do about anything to work in a hospital. I just need something flexible enough to let me go to school. I prefer full time. I worked full time on my 1st BS and tend to do better under pressure. Which Hospital are you working at in the bham area (Private message me if you want). Not that I plan on calling you up or anything, just curious:uhoh3:. I had both of my 2 at STV in bham and had great experiences. I loved my ob then, but she has since had to leave practice for medical reasons.

As far as my plans, ideally, I would try to do my prereqs this fall and apply for the BSN program for the spring. Hopefully it will look like I want.

Six kids--wow. That's really cool. I would LOVE to have one more, but for now we are content--but no permanent measures for a long time.

You don't know how much I appreciate your help. It's nice to know there are some people who have been there and done that.

THANKS

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Specializes in 4 years peds, 7 years L and D.

OK..pmd you! SIx kids are great BTW, 5 boys 1 girl, ages 3,4,6,7,14,15.

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OK..pmd you! SIx kids are great BTW, 5 boys 1 girl, ages 3,4,6,7,14,15.

I have 2--ages 2 and 4. The oldest is a girl and the younger a boy. I absolutely adore them and they are part of the reason I want to go into nursing. I had such great experiences with both of their births.

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Specializes in ICU, oncology, orthopedics, med/surge.
OK..pmd you! SIx kids are great BTW, 5 boys 1 girl, ages 3,4,6,7,14,15.

WOW!!! I must kow tow to you. I have 3 kids including the hub (do dogs count?) and I'm scared to death of nursing school (not sure I have enough brain cells).

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Specializes in 4 years peds, 7 years L and D.
WOW!!! I must kow tow to you. I have 3 kids including the hub (do dogs count?) and I'm scared to death of nursing school (not sure I have enough brain cells).

yeah...they do tend to kill off any brain cells you have. :lol2: I tell everyone my children must be geniouses cause they sucked all the "smarts" right out of me!

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