How long did nursing school take for you?

Trauma Columnist · Aug 25, 2007

Started NS right out of HS in 1977, quit in 1978, joined the Navy.

Then, did a few credits in Japan 1979-1982

Then, did a few more credits in Spain 1982-1985

Then, did a few more credits in Alaska 1986-1988 and got an AA degree in general studies.

Then, did a few more credits in Korea 1988-1990.

Then, got my LPN in Las Vegas from 1990-1992.

Then, got my ADN in Indianapolis from 1992-1994.

Then, did my BSN via University of Phoenix in 2004.

Then, did my MSN via University of Phoenix in 2005

Then, did my post-MSN in Peoria, IL in 2006

I am done NOW!!!

OhSoBlessed · Aug 28, 2007

When I started the nursing program, I already had a Bachelor's Degree in education. I had to work full-time while going through nursing school, so I chose to go backwards as far as schooling goes and get an Associate's Degree in Nursing. Basically I just had to take the two A&P classes besides the nursing courses and clinicals. It took me one year and four months to complete the ADN program.

lucylumps · Sep 2, 2007

Start to finish 4 years traditional BSN program, I decided to enjoy my summers so I did not sign up for ANY classes! I graduated in May of 2006 and didn't take my boards until August of 2006.

Did I mention that I love my summers!

nurz2be · Sep 5, 2007

Im just curious how many years it took for all ur nursing school?
Was it worth it?
how many college(s) did you go to?
and what degree or diplomas did you earn?( if you want to say)
congrats..
im a pre-nursing student and hoping i'd be done before 30

AT MY UNI> pre reqs take 7 months

Nursing core takes 18 months

If you have all pre reqs you can get the Associates RN in 18 months...

If you need to take pre reqs plus nursing program .....you get associates RN in 26 months

Achoo!, LPN · Sep 16, 2007

4 1/2 years and I graduate in December ADN. I took pre-req's part-time, plus had a 3 1/2 year wait list.

bsrn0523 · Sep 18, 2007

LPN school- 10 months, maybe 10.5 months

RN- less than 1 year, I will graduate from Excelsior jusr prior to my one year enrollment date. I should point out that I had almost all of the pre-req's from my undergraduate degree.

Jenn:balloons:

Nurseismade RN · Sep 28, 2007

including prereqs......3 years. I am an RN with Associate.....start pay $26 per hour. I am very happy and thankful.:balloons:

Larabelle · Sep 30, 2007

Good Question!!!

LVN 12 months of fulltime study (Hardest leg of the journey!!)

ADN 18 months

BSN I am just finishing up, started in April 2006 and will be finishing up this November

DEFINITELY WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anthonyangel · Oct 20, 2007

Well, I took a year off due to illness, but the entire time will take about 3 years for my Associate's degree.

help I am a nursing student but I am having a hard time with the medication calculation. Can you or anyone help me. ///////////////Thanks.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Oct 24, 2007

2.5 years at a community college (first 2 years I was not a nursing major - just doing basics and A&P stuff to apply for a bs in dental hygiene. first semester was part time.

2.5 years in nursing school. last semester i only took one class/part time.

5 years total. bsn.

hooterhorse · Nov 3, 2007

I had a few Tech college credits under my belt from years gone by (at one point I was considering an engineering tech associate degree)...so when my machine shop employer closed up shop (lost employment due to foreign competition...or so they say), I was eligable for TAA federal assistance to go back to school for retraining. That would provide me with up to $10,000.00 of books, tuition, & supplies and allow me to continue drawing my UC benefit for an extended period of time). The time of my job termination and the application process paperwork for the TAA retraining program came only weeks before the start of the fall semester at my local Tech school. I immediately went about the task of finding classes to sign up for. I was already on the ADN program wait list (from a layoff 1 year prior), so I just had to find classes that would finish satisfying the nursing program pre-req's and provide me with a full time schedule in order to fulfill TAA assistance requirements. So I managed to piece together a full time status schedule by taking an English Lit course (credits not needed, but would be useful in future RN to BSN attempt), Microbiolgy course both at the local university (new requirements voided my previous microbiology course), and another psychology course at a tech school location out of town. Then the following semester I signed up for the 5 credit NA class (pre-req) and took a phlebotomy course (not required, but came in extremely handy). So by the time my name came up on the list to enter the ADN program, I was certified and working as an NA, and trained as a phlebotomist. The first year of the ADN program went fairly well, although the tech school was notorious for weeding people out and had a 50% drop out, kick out, fail rate. Right after completing the first year, I sat for the NCLEX-PN and obtained my license as an LPN and employement working with a hospice agency. The second year of my ADN program didn't go nearly as well. In the fourth semester I became one of the "kick out" statistics due to stupid nervous errors two days before the end of my Advanced Clinical rotation. Now I was told that I would have to wait six months to a year to re-enter and finish those last five credits of the ADN program! Well, I've never been one to roll over and lay down...I petitioned for re-entry that fall into the Tech schools program in another city, but was declined entry for various reasons (not enough time to remediate....not enough room in the classes, and other being ahead of me waiting for an open spot. Anyway, in Wisconsin...all the Tech Schools have the same curriculum for ADN...so I contacted other tech schools looking for an opening in those two classes....and voila! I managed to get a spot, but had to travel 100 miles each day to attend school. Now, three and one half years later....I will finally finish my ADN in December. Only three weeks of school to go!!! And the biggest accomplishment would be only having to pay tuition for one or two classes myself along the way. My wonderful employer offered tuition reimbursement once I was no longer in the TAA program!!! I have yet to meet someone who was able to complete an ADN program in less than three years

Sincerely,

Hooterhorse

slevin · Dec 27, 2007

It took me 1 year of pre-nursing and 2 years of nursing. I just graduated few weeks ago. Its was 3 years of hell.