I want to be a Nurse but Scared to take the Leap...Advice?

[Pinkpeonies26]

I am 29yrs old from MD with 2 daughters and recently divorced. I am in the Army Reserves and have 11yrs under my belt. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mgmt and have about a year in a half left. I decided that I am going to finish this degree. Nursing has always been in the back of my mind since high school when I wrote about it in my yearbook as my career path. Fast forward to a couple years later and its sparking my interest again.

My fear is doing something totally different and not knowing where to start. It's going to be hard but I do plan on working full time while going to Nursing school. I'm confused on once I'm done with my Bachelor's degree, should I pursue an accerlated Associate's or Bachelor's degree. It seems with a lot of the accerlated Bachelor's degree it's all full time but the accerlated Associate's may give some leeway. I just don't know which one to pursue...I feel like just doing an accerlated Associate's just to get my RN license and then pursue RN-BSN or RN-MSN online programs.

My future consists of a bunch of possibilities: being an Army Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Case Manager and some other things..

Sometimes I feel like I'm too old but I know there are people in there 40's that pursue there Nursing dreams and I commend them for it. I love that.....

I welcome your advice, comments and suggestions...thank you!

[Stephalump]

The safest thing to do, in my opinion, would be to plan on the BSN. But yes, those programs are more than full time. The pace of a regular nursing program can be brutal...cutting it in half is insanity.

But just because second degree programs are available doesn't mean you cannot go the traditional BSN route.

The ADN-BSN route is fine, but the climate for new grads is changing and I'd be wary of job prospects four years from now.

[zoe92]

I'm from Maryland too. I have not heard about any accelerated associates degrees but I think an accelerated bachelors is the way to go. With Baltimore and D.C. being around us, many hospitals prefer BSN. You will be a more competitive graduate with the higher degree. Good luck.

[mandilee428]

What I know about the accelerated BSN's is that they are very intensive and it is very difficult for a person to work full time while going through those programs. If I were you I would pursue the ADN, because with that you will be able to start working and you can work on the BSN afterwards, and you will have more options (full time, part time, online, etc), but that's just me. Good luck- I am also starting nursing school once I am done w/my Bachelor's (in counseling).