I need advice on which route to take

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Good morning everyone. :)

I need some help on how I should go about becoming an RN. I work full-time. I absolutely cannot quit my job or go to part time. I have an 8 month old daughter and currently the bread winner. My boyfriend works, but he doesn't make nearly as much as me. So with that in mind, I can only go to school evenings and weekends. I thought my only option was an LVN program at a career college since they have part time programs. I enrolled at CNI (classes start on July 26th). I read reviews day in and day out. I've come to the conclusion that all career colleges in the LA/OC area have bad reviews.

After enrolling, I found Mt. St. Mary's in LA had an evening/weekend program for their ADN. Perfect, right? Wrong. I need pre requisites.

So my questions to all of you out there: which route should I take? For those enrolled in Mt. St. Mary's, how do you like it? For those enrolled in CNI, how do you like it? I'm only hesitant because I'll be away from my daughter and boyfriend for so long. I don't want her to be upset that mommy is gone all the time. It's absolutely heart breaking. My boyfriend supports me all the way and as does my family. It's a lot of money and my career that I'm ultimately deciding for. Any and all advice is welcome. :)

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You might want to post this question in the California forum.

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I also work full time and cannot quit. I have a 17 month old and husband, but we need my income. I'm taking pre-reqs through the community college and they are mostly online. I'd go that route and do the night/weekend thing. I don't think a career college is a wise long term move. But that's just me. I'm planning to get my NP or CRNA eventually, so I have to MAKE SURE all my classes are accredited. Once I get accepted to nursing school I have no idea how I will do it...I won't be able to work but we cannot have me NOT work. I'm going to cross that bridge when I get there!

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Hello,

maybe check into your local community colleges as some of them have an ADN program, which is also cheaper than private schools and accredited as well. I'm in sort of in the same position, I started at Saddleback CC in Orange County. They do require to for you to have the required prereqs to apply. Basically I had no prior college credits so I'm kind of at the bottom of the barrel with having to take all my prereqs. My first semester had many of the prereqs online which made it very easy to start. This might be something that may give you a start, by taking your classes online. This fall I will have to start going to campus which is like 1 day a week for 2 hours, which is great. FYI...before I had started at Saddleback I had drove to San Diego to check out Kaplan...This by far was very time consuming which required me to take a CNA class of 2 months and then work somewhere to gain 4 months of experience which by the way the program for a CNA was like $15,000! After that you can apply for thier Nursing program which was 36 months and about $25,000 as well as driving to San Diego everyday for 36 months! The Saddleback way was cheaper as well as convenient

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You might want to post this question in the California forum.

I did. Thank you.

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I also work full time and cannot quit. I have a 17 month old and husband, but we need my income. I'm taking pre-reqs through the community college and they are mostly online. I'd go that route and do the night/weekend thing. I don't think a career college is a wise long term move. But that's just me. I'm planning to get my NP or CRNA eventually, so I have to MAKE SURE all my classes are accredited. Once I get accepted to nursing school I have no idea how I will do it...I won't be able to work but we cannot have me NOT work. I'm going to cross that bridge when I get there!

Awww. Congrats on the baby. :) A little late, but just as well. It's definitely tough raising an infant/toddler and having both parents work full time. I just keep telling myself that this is a must if we want the best life our daughter can have. Personally, I really didn't want to go to a career college, but with my schedule, it seemed like the only thing that would work. I think I've made up my mind. I just wanted reassurance, ya know? I'll be starting (hopefully) in two weeks in two online classes at a JC right down the road from our apartment. After I finish my pre-reqs, I'll transfer to Mt. St. Mary's. I think it's the best option. It's such a hard decision to make when so many different factors come in to play: family, money, credibility. If I'm going to spend $60,000 for school, I better get a good education. :)

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Hello,

maybe check into your local community colleges as some of them have an ADN program, which is also cheaper than private schools and accredited as well. I'm in sort of in the same position, I started at Saddleback CC in Orange County. They do require to for you to have the required prereqs to apply. Basically I had no prior college credits so I'm kind of at the bottom of the barrel with having to take all my prereqs. My first semester had many of the prereqs online which made it very easy to start. This might be something that may give you a start, by taking your classes online. This fall I will have to start going to campus which is like 1 day a week for 2 hours, which is great. FYI...before I had started at Saddleback I had drove to San Diego to check out Kaplan...This by far was very time consuming which required me to take a CNA class of 2 months and then work somewhere to gain 4 months of experience which by the way the program for a CNA was like $15,000! After that you can apply for thier Nursing program which was 36 months and about $25,000 as well as driving to San Diego everyday for 36 months! The Saddleback way was cheaper as well as convenient

I was going to attend Saddleback for general ed about two years ago, but it didn't work out. It's such a pretty area. :)

As far as community colleges for my ADN goes, I don't want to be put on a waiting list for 2+ years. My boyfriend's schooling is riding on this too. The sooner I finish and secure a great job that can support my family, the sooner he gets to fulfill his dreams. I'm willing to pay the money for an education as long as it's a good one. I've heard nothing but great things about MSMC. A major plus is that the clinicals are at UC Medical Center and Cedars Sinai (among others).

Good luck with Saddleback!

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