So, I dont start NS until January... but i've real been thinking about the commute im going to have to make when I start going. It is about a 45 minute drive (with no traffic), one way. It is mostly all straight highway, so the drive isn't bad, but its so long! I havent had to drive there during rush hour times yet, and I'm a little worried. I've tried to make it a plan that I will leave an hour and 15 minutes before I have to be there. This isnt so bad on class days, but clinical days i have to be there at 6:30 So ill be leaving at 5:15! ill need a lot of coffee.
I am also worried about the weather.. I live in Pennsylvania, in a mountainous area, and snow storms can get pretty nasty here, and there are always accidents on the road i have to take to school (it is a major interstate). The school i go to has dorms, and i was told that students that arent staying in the dorms are allowed to rent them out for $10 a night if we need to. I am happy to have that option, and maybe I wll do that if i know of a major storm coming...
Anyway, just curious if anyone else is crazy like me and driving super far....
Oh, and my faculty said that I need to plan to get there 30 minutes early to ensure parking at the school. I'm usually there in the evening and parking isn't a problem. Not looking forward to that, either, since classes start at 7 or 8 anyway, depending on the day, and I don't get home from work until midnight.
My commute is 2hrs 1 way as well, so thats 4hrs total on the road! I live in cleveland so bad weather will come, i'll just have to plan to leave extra early. The last 5 weeks of the quarter are clinicals which on those days i will find a cheap hotel and stay over nite! We have come this far, so no turning back now!
It's good to read about other people driving insane distances (i.e. 1.5-2 hours each way!). makes me feel like I am not completely crazy! Some days I need that moral support...
Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.
my school comute was about 1 hour, and my clinicals between 1 to over 2 hours. I always got there early, NEVER been late! since I would eat in the cafeteria, with the discount I could eat real food before my clinical (either morning or nights) and for dirt cheap, and I used to still have time to read some info, do some homework... and watch the news!
My commute is about 1 hour away with no traffic and my first class starts at 8:00 am (Once a week clinical will start at 7:00 am). I'm trying to find ways to make my commute better and so far have considered listening to audiobooks or recording lectures and listening to them on the way back from class.
I'm going to get a nice travel coffee mug for my morning commute and basically try to make it as painless as possible. It will be tough doing this every day, but once you adjust to the traffic patterns, it will be fine.
I would suggest speaking to your professors on the first day and just letting them know that you are going to be in class on time and will make every effort, but may be late when the weather and traffic throw you into an unpredictable situation.
So ill be leaving at 5:15! ill need a lot of coffee.
dandk1997RN, MSN, RN
361 Posts
Oh, and my faculty said that I need to plan to get there 30 minutes early to ensure parking at the school. I'm usually there in the evening and parking isn't a problem. Not looking forward to that, either, since classes start at 7 or 8 anyway, depending on the day, and I don't get home from work until midnight.