How long is your NS drive?

[OBplease]

The two schools I would most like to get into, I cannot apply to until next Jan. because I lack the 2nd A&P. They each only have one start date. One I am doing pre-reqs in now, the other I have done a few courses previously and both are only a 20-25 min. drive (though the 1 day/week lecture for one will be a 70 mile drive because it will be at the main campus).

There are a few other schools I could look at, starting for next fall but would be 50min.+ drives 3-4 days a week. I am just curious what your drive is for your school and how many days you go. I am trying for figure out if is worth it or not to apply to other schools, for earlier start times but with a two year commitment of longer drives, when I am almost assured to get into the two previously mentioned schools but 10+ months later.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I completed a southern California LVN program in October 2005 and my commute was 95 miles one-way (190 miles round trip). Without traffic, commuting time was about 90 minutes.

I graduated from an RN program in Oklahoma earlier this year while living in the DFW area of Texas. My commute was 225 miles one-way (450 miles round trip) and the time spent on the road was about three hours. I drove to the school on Tuesday mornings, stayed in town to attend class and clinical, and headed back to Texas on Thursday nights.

Hence, my screen name reflects my various travels.

[BellsRNBSN]

It takes me about 15-20 minutes to drive each way to school and about 20-30 minutes each way to get to my current clinical site. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones!

[OBplease]

That is a lot! How many days do you go? What time do you get up? Do you use your drive time for listening to lecture? Do you find enough time for homework? Sorry for all the Qs. Just curious how you make it all work.

I drive 1 hour and 30 minutes for lecture one way. To clinicals, I drive 1 hour 45 minutes. Car is a gas hog and I spend about $20 a day.

[OBplease]

Even with the overnight, that's a lot. At least you were able to overnight it though. Glad it worked out for you.

I completed a southern California LVN program in October 2005 and my commute was 95 miles one-way (190 miles round trip). Without traffic, commuting time was about 90 minutes.

I graduated from an RN program in Oklahoma earlier this year while living in the DFW area of Texas. My commute was 225 miles one-way (450 miles round trip) and the time spent on the road was about three hours. I drove to the school on Tuesday mornings, stayed in town to attend class and clinical, and headed back to Texas on Thursday nights.

Hence, my screen name reflects my various travels.

[clucito01]

I feel your pain! My drive to school is at least 45 minutes (that's on a good day with little to no traffic which I don't experience very often!) and I got put in the clinical group that is at the farthest location! It takes me an hour and 20 minutes to get to my clinical site!

[Isabellah]

I go to school four days a week. It is hard to get everything done. Monday I go from 9 to 11:30. I get up at 4:30 to get everything packed and ready. Tuesday I go from 8 to 8:30 at night. Wednesday and Thursday, I have clinicals 8 to 3. We are not allowed to record lectures. So I make my own tapes where I include information that I find pertinent. Tuesday is the worse. I have to do pre-assessment and then write up a care plan for my patient. I get home around 10 unless lab lets out early and work on my careplan until 2 in the morning. I get back up at 5 and get dressed and head to clinicals. I am totally exhausted. Sleep is something I do not get a lot of. That and finding time to eat.

[PghRN30]

Where I am taking my pre-reqs is 25-30 minute drive.

Nursing school where i start in Feb is 2 blocks from me....downhill. So I will be walking. Not even long enough drive to heat up the car by the time i get there in the winter (or to be worth cleaning the snow off for that matter). Clinicals, the main hospital that the school is associated with is about 5 minute drive.....or 30 minute walk. Other sites for clinicals are further, but I have heard that the students usually meet at the school and then car pool to the clinical sites since they aren't too far and parking is really bad at clinical sites.....so i will probably just walk to the school and then car pool for clinicals....though would be willing to drive if needed

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

The college is 15-20 mins by bus and less than 10 in a car.

The associated hospital is literally a 2 minute walk through a pathway that connects the college and hospital. But I know my daycare and school rotations are probably gonna be far.

Thank god for good public transportation or I wouldn't be going to school.

[ziggysgal,RN]

It takes about 5 minutes to get from my front door to the school's front door... including the drive, parking, and both walks...

Clinical sites are currently about 35 minutes away because of the rotation I'm in. Other clinical sites include next door to the school and 5-15 minutes from my house.

I got lucky with the drive, but the trade off is that our clinical hospital sites are small town hospitals with low census being the norm.

[srobb11]

My commute is 72 miles each way, 4 days a week and will go to 5 days in the next couple of weeks. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It's an easy drive, mostly interstate with little traffic, so it's not too bad. I use the time to try to relax and reflect on the day, and sort out all the information crammed into my head.

[Aurora77]

I drive an hour each way. First semester it was 5 days a week; now I'm down to 3. I've got a friend I carpool with now, which helps. I don't mind the long drive, though. Books on CD make it nice.

[mwc1230]

I drive about 70 miles each way, but it is 95% interstate so it isn't too bad, but still takes an hour. We only have one hospital here so all clinicals are away.