Published
I'm looking into the kaplan college RN associates program but the drive is 1 hour and 25 minutes but this is what I want to do, what I want to become in life,,,, any words of motivation or someone that has been thru this?
I drove from Sacramento to Chico, California, 2 hours in each direction, Monday through Friday, 160 miles round trip. If anyone has made this trip, they know it is a 2 lane highway with no scenery but orchard fields, farms, high speed accidents, Indian Casinos, and the occasional bar in the middle of tiny roadside towns.
It is doable if you want it. People called me crazy for doing it, but I did it anyways. Just don't listen to lecture on your way home and have hard rock/rap and caffeine to keep your focus.
I used to drive a total of 3 hours and 30 minutes daily to go and come from school. I did my LPN and thanks God I made it cause some of my classmates did not. I must confess that it was 2 of us that drove this long. Sometimes when the traffic is kicking especially on Fridays forget about getting home. We just have to do what we have to do and that's it. you can do it in case you haven't already done it. It's not going to be a piece of cake but it's doable.
In response to the post about how to stay awake on the way home from school or clinicals - Many healthcare workers will admit to stopping and sleeping a few minutes on the way home from school, clinicals, and yes, even work. May not be safe to pull over and sleep but driving when one is that sleepy is not at all safe. Someone might say "But if you're that tired and sleepy, how can you give good care before driving home?" Must be that the adrenalin kicks while you're on the job and you are engaged with the patients you are helping. After working 4 or 5 twelve-hour night shifts, when I walked out that door I was totally ready to hit the sack. Anyone going into nursing any shift should be prepared to be overworked - exhausted - physically, mentally, and emotionally at times. If you aren't prepared for that, don't waste your time with nursing school. Nursing is a very rewarding career for those who are willing to suffer through it.
Hi, I attend a LVN program thats 50 minutes withoit traffic and 1 hour 15min without traffic...sometimes 2hours on Fridays. Anywhoo the gas prices don't make it better but its a sacrifice that I was willing to take for a short amount of time. I sometimes have to get up at 4am just to make it clinicals 7am. :)
Budget for a hotel room for those nights when you just can't make the drive or the next day is too early. I did it a few times after my nearly fatal close one on the highway on the way in one day. My nonsympathetic clinical instructor made the suggestion, but did not offer to pay for the room.
s1992
31 Posts
It's worth it.. Check into car pooling with your classmates. I'm driving about 50 minutes to go to class. I've been fortunate that I only have to go 3 times a week though.