1 hour drive to school

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Hey guys, so I went through a nursing program (ADN) in the last few years. I failed a course in my final semester of the program (for the second time) and due to this would have to reapply and start from semester one. The school I went to did not offer LPN or CNA options as you progressed through the program so despite going through most of the program, I had nothing to show for it. I am looking at schools that offer these things as you progress and have better stats in their NCLEX passing rate as well as their program passing rate. Only problem is the schools that have these are anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half away. I'm excited about going back to school and my heart is set on Nursing but I am worried about the long commute. I have two kids, and although i have a great support system, I worry about losing more time with them due to the commute. I'm determined to make it happen and I know this will benefit them in the long run. Would love to hear y'alls stories, Has anyone gone to a school far away? What was your experience? Do you have any tips to share? Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in NICU.

You need to first check with the other schools to see if you are eligible to apply since you have already been dismissed from a nursing program.

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I have checked with the schools, can't pick up where i left off of course but I am eligible to re-apply as I'm in good standing with my old school ? thanks

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Specializes in Critical Care, Trauma.

I just finished my ADN at a school that was 60ish miles away from home. For two years I drove from home near the Oregon coast to Portland. Luckily, I found a classmate who lives nearby and we carpooled, alternating driving days. It was exhausting. Rush hour traffic made the drive almost twice as long. Two hour drive, eight hour school day, then the two hour drive home... Then there were the quarters with 12-hour clinical days. ?

It was worth it, though.

Driving so much definitely wears at your car. Aside from the cost of gas, I was also having to get oil changes much more frequently, went through a couple sets of tires, and had to get more than a few rock chips filled during these last couple years.

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On 10/1/2019 at 10:05 PM, Eliza321 said:

Only problem is the schools that have these are anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half away. I'm excited about going back to school and my heart is set on Nursing but I am worried about the long commute. I have two kids, and although i have a great support system, I worry about losing more time with them due to the commute. I'm determined to make it happen and I know this will benefit them in the long run.

"It benefits them in the long run." That's pretty much it in a nutshell. This isn't a permanent situation. It's a few years. You do what you have to do.

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8 hours ago, thewhitechickoj said:

I just finished my ADN at a school that was 60ish miles away from home. For two years I drove from home near the Oregon coast to Portland. Luckily, I found a classmate who lives nearby and we carpooled, alternating driving days. It was exhausting. Rush hour traffic made the drive almost twice as long. Two hour drive, eight hour school day, then the two hour drive home... Then there were the quarters with 12-hour clinical days. ?

It was worth it, though.

Driving so much definitely wears at your car. Aside from the cost of gas, I was also having to get oil changes much more frequently, went through a couple sets of tires, and had to get more than a few rock chips filled during these last couple years.

Congrats! This really inspires me. You're so lucky to have found someone to carpool with! Will definitely put a little extra money back for the car before starting. Did you listen to lectures in the car or was there anything you did in the car that helped your studies. I hate the idea of losing hours of study time ?

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This wasn't for a nursing degree, but for my bachelor's I drove 50 miles, one-way in Los Angeles traffic! So, yeah, 100 miles round-trip for 4 years!!! In L.A. traffic!

If you want something bad enough, you'll do whatever it takes. The sacrifice is worth it in the end.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Trauma.
2 hours ago, Eliza321 said:

Did you listen to lectures in the car or was there anything you did in the car that helped your studies. I hate the idea of losing hours of study time ?

Occasionally, yes. I would listen to podcasts or study material during the drive. Or my buddy and I would ask practice questions from our workbooks or textbooks. For the most part, we used this time for decompression. Then I would hunker down at home to study or do my homework. A few terms I was lucky and we’d have an hour or two between classes and I’d do my homework then.

Most of my meals were made in the crockpot or instapot during school and it saved lots of time and energy. ?

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2 hours ago, Mergirlc said:

This wasn't for a nursing degree, but for my bachelor's I drove 50 miles, one-way in Los Angeles traffic! So, yeah, 100 miles round-trip for 4 years!!! In L.A. traffic!

If you want something bad enough, you'll do whatever it takes. The sacrifice is worth it in the end.

Oh wow! My program will be just under 2 years (thank the Lord). One of the schools im looking at is 50 miles, the other is about 85 one way. I've heard of L.A traffic and don't live anywhere that has traffic quite that bad. If you can do it for 4 years I can certainly do it for half that. Thanks for sharing and kudos to you!

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2 hours ago, thewhitechickoj said:

For the most part, we used this time for decompression. Then I would hunker down at home to study or do my homework. A few terms I was lucky and we’d have an hour or two between classes and I’d do my homework then.

Most of my meals were made in the crockpot or instapot during school and it saved lots of time and energy. ?

Didn't even think about using the drive time to just relax, guess if I'm not feeling the audio lectures I could use that time in the car as "me time" ? that crockpot is gonna be my best friend next year lol

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I drove 2 hours each way to an NP program before online programs. Yes, it was bad. Yes, it took a long time to finish my degree.

Inspirational books on tape were my friend.

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You don’t need to graduate from a LPN program in order to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam if you say you were in your last semester of the ADN program. In Illinois, in order to be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN, you only need to complete the first year of the ADN program and complete a nursing elective. You should research what your state’s eligibility requirements are to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Licensed Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). In some states, Just Semesters 1 and 2 constitute the LPN certificate program.

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