How did you do it?

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Hello all,

I am new to the forum, and sorry if this is so long. I stumbled across this site while searching information on second degrees in Nursing.

My situation is- I am 34 year old mother of 3. I have been in the IT field for over 11 years. I am currently halfway through my BS in Health Administration. My issue is that I wanted to go into the Health field, so I was going to go into Health Informatics, as to not lose all the years of IT experience, but I have been watching jobs HA in this area, and none are paying nearly what I am making now. It also seems that most HA jobs want you to have experience in Nursing. Nursing is always something that I have wanted to do, but I felt as if maybe I couldnt do it and juggle a family as well. So I focused on something that came easy to me.

Now, all these years later, I am at a cross roads as to what I need to do. I have looked as ABSN programs at Duke and UNC, as well as Watts School of Nursing. All of those programs require full-time commitments. There is an Associates program at a local community college for ADN and it offers a night options with weekend clinical hours.

After reading some of the posts here, it seems that the BSN or ABSN would be the option for me, but I am wondering how you all were able to do it and juggle a family also (financially)? I am scared to step out there, but my company has had layoffs every year, and is now wavering on bankruptcy. I dont want to wait until I get my pink slip to make a decision on the future.

Any sound advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

Well, I went the ADN route because I needed to take care of my family and I couldn't afford the University. I'm originally from the area you reference and the nursing schools are excellent. What is the community college you're looking at? I'm getting my BSN on-line now and plan to continue on for a MSN. If you really want to go into nursing find the route that allows you to do so. I attended full time and worked weekends...and had an infant. You will be busy but it can be done. Since you are half-way through your BS see about transferring credits to a BSN program at UNC. Their nursing school is top notch. Good luck!

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Well, I went the ADN route because I needed to take care of my family and I couldn't afford the University. I'm originally from the area you reference and the nursing schools are excellent. What is the community college you're looking at? I'm getting my BSN on-line now and plan to continue on for a MSN. If you really want to go into nursing find the route that allows you to do so. I attended full time and worked weekends...and had an infant. You will be busy but it can be done. Since you are half-way through your BS see about transferring credits to a BSN program at UNC. Their nursing school is top notch. Good luck!

Alamance Community College offers the night option.

Thanks so much!

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if i were you i would finish the bs program you're in and then seriously look at the bs-in-anything-to-mn option, which is 18-24 months in most places. your it background could be a real advantage in health informatics, what with the emr (electronic medical record) becoming mandatory for all medicate patients in 2012 (i think). i know the time frame looks huge, but you could be spectacularly well-placed at the end of it and the time will go by anyway.

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if i were you i would finish the bs program you're in and then seriously look at the bs-in-anything-to-mn option, which is 18-24 months in most places. your it background could be a real advantage in health informatics, what with the emr (electronic medical record) becoming mandatory for all medicate patients in 2012 (i think). i know the time frame looks huge, but you could be spectacularly well-placed at the end of it and the time will go by anyway.

thank you!

where have you seen some of those programs? i saw something similar at duke, but the wording had me confused. it seemed that you had to have a background in nursing?

thanks

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not necessarily. that's why they're "bs-in-anything-else-to-mn" programs,

massachusetts general hospital health institute has one around here. google "bs to msn programs" and you'll see quite a few.

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It seems there are not BS in anything -MSN programs in this area. :-(

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

Many online programs! Check out the student thread...under distance education.

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Many online programs! Check out the student thread...under distance education.

Are they as recognized as a traditional school since my background is not in Nursing? Employer-wise?

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

You're going to look for an accelerated nursing degree program; also called fast track program.

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

I visited the Watts SON website. The next information session is Jan 2012. Sometimes they have these information sessions so you can get on their waiting list. That was the case for me in Colorado...two year wait to start. I encourage you to attend so you can gain better insight. I think your IT background will serve you well. When do you graduate?

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I visited the Watts SON website. The next information session is Jan 2012. Sometimes they have these information sessions so you can get on their waiting list. That was the case for me in Colorado...two year wait to start. I encourage you to attend so you can gain better insight. I think your IT background will serve you well. When do you graduate?

Hopefully December 2012.

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