Just starting out (whats the best way to go about it)

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Hi guys,

New guy here, and could use some advice or opinions. Short background I'am 38 single, no kids or anything living on my own.

I became interested in nursing after caring for both my grandparents. I now work in a nursing home in the maint. dept. but have watched the nurses and aides doing their thing and it has made me more interested in nursing.

So I have a few questions which Iam hoping that there are some others that are or were in my situation.

Since I live and take care of myself I can not afford to not work a full time job. Now I am only getting paid $9.00 an hour now which no one can live off of this. I have some expenses that I need to get taken care of in addition I am going to be needing a new computer very shortly. I want to take a STNA class and go to work so I can get some experience before nursing school but STNA if Iam correct don't make much more or very close to the 9 an hour Iam making now.

SOOO would it be wise to try and find another job altogether and try and get these expenses caught up. Or pick up a second job to get things paid?

Idealy, I need more money just to be able to live but I also wanted to start my careeer in nursing and I have heard the experience of being an STNA is valuable.

My other question is. I would like to go all the way for the BSN. I just don't know if I would be able to survive 4 years on my current pay. Are there any accelerated BSN degrees available? or programs that will get you a BSN degree without the whole college 4 year deal?

Also I'm going to have to depend 100% on financial aid from the state or fed level to pay for this. So if any of the programs have that kind of financial aid available? I would love to be able to take out a private loan from a bank or whatever and just pay for it all but my credit is not that good so whatever program I get into it has to be one that will accept financial aid from like FASFA, OIG (Ohio Instructional Grant) or Pell grant ect..( I live in Ohio)

I just feel so stuck because I have the dedication to do this. I think I would be a good nurse. I have done labor intensive course work in college before ( obtained a pilot's lic through kent States flight program) So I know I can do it. I just feel held back or stuck with all these obstacles.

Sooooo any advice or opinions would be so greatly appreciated.

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I am in close to the same situation. I work full time now, making a decent wage, but it's office work and it's mind-numbing. I have been taking all my pre-req's the last 4 semesters, part time. Even though I didn't really need them, I took out student loans this past year to pay off bills, because when I do start the actual nursing program, it will be full time, and I will have to quit my job. I plan on working as a CNA or something in the field, but it will only be part time, and probably also close to $9/hr. I just wanted to not have to worry about any extra bills--I know I will have a hard enough time with the basics (rent/utilities/etc...), even with financial aid. It may not be the best plan, but that's what I did. Now, except for student loans, I'm pretty much debt-free, which will help me tremendously when it comes time to quit my job--next May, or, if I'm lucky, January.

As far as STNA...go for it! It definitely can't hurt! And you could stay in the same facility that you seem to enjoy...

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

Hi, I've just applied to an accelerated BSN program (I'm a career changer). I want to start off by saying good for you for deciding to go into nursing. I think once you start Nursing School (NS) and doing clinicals you'll see how hard the nurses really work. We are just outsiders looking in right now.

I don't think it would be a good idea to work two jobs, because NS is no walk in the park. It's difficult with only one job. Some do it with a job and take care of family. As far as Accelerated BSN programs, you must first hold a college degree (either Bachelors, Masters, or PhD) in a non-nursing field. Depending on the program, it can last from 12-16 months.

I would start looking at Community Colleges in your area that have a NS program that you're interested in. Yes, please apply for Financial aid to see if you qualify, you never know with your income you could get some help. But, you won't know for sure until you apply for them. Also seek out scholarships.

Because I already have a college degree I no longer qualify for FASFA, but I have found scholarships. Good luck to you!

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I can relate.. there was not a time during my completing my first degree, a BA, or completing my year of pre-reqs for my ABSN program that I did not hold at least two jobs.

Definitely check out state schools if you're looking for good financial aid. I went to a state school for my BA, and received enough scholarships, grants, etc. to pay tuition and received a refund for off-campus housing. If this is your first degree, there should be plenty of state and federal aid available to you - especially at your current wage. When you fill out your FAFSA, you will get an Expected Family Contribution, which will give you some idea on where you stand. I would also try to talk to financial aid departments in your prospective schools, for some idea of the kind of aid packages they award.

An ADN program may be more likely to allow you to work, as opposed to a BSN program, and then you could do an RN-BSN program.. I guess whether that option is more cost effective would depend on the programs you're interested in.

Even if the STNA position pays the same as your current position, it would still be great experience, both for getting into a program and finding a job after graduation..

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"Because I already have a college degree I no longer qualify for FASFA, but I have found scholarships"

I already have a previous degree as well, but I do qualify for FASFA--I just don't qualify for Pell grants anymore. You can still get loans, though...

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.
"Because I already have a college degree I no longer qualify for FASFA, but I have found scholarships"

I already have a previous degree as well, but I do qualify for FASFA--I just don't qualify for Pell grants anymore. You can still get loans, though...

I refuse to take out loans (still paying back loans from my first degree). I don't qualify for FAFSA grants because 1) I have a degree and 2) I made too much last year. I have already found scholarships as I stated, and will continue to look that route to fund my 2nd degree.

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"Because I already have a college degree I no longer qualify for FASFA, but I have found scholarships"

I already have a previous degree as well, but I do qualify for FASFA--I just don't qualify for Pell grants anymore. You can still get loans, though...

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Thanks guys for some of the help.

Now if I went the ADN route is that better than an LPN??? Or does that mean I just have a degree in nursing?

I saw where some LPN courses were only 9 months long but were told by others to forget LPN and go for the RN.

So if I did go and do the ADN got out got a job and then decided to go and finish up for the BSN would I be able to roll right into the BSN degree since I already would have the ADN? or would I still have to do the 4 years for the BSN?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.
Thanks guys for some of the help.

Now if I went the ADN route is that better than an LPN??? Or does that mean I just have a degree in nursing?

I saw where some LPN courses were only 9 months long but were told by others to forget LPN and go for the RN.

So if I did go and do the ADN got out got a job and then decided to go and finish up for the BSN would I be able to roll right into the BSN degree since I already would have the ADN? or would I still have to do the 4 years for the BSN?

I almost went the LPN route myself, because near me it would only take 8 months. However, was told that LPNs don't work in hospitals; instead they work in LTC. LPNs are nurses too, their job scope is just different than RNs. But, I must clarify with you that whether you receive a ADN, BSN, or MSN, you won't officially be an 'RN' until you pass the NCLEX.

Once you get your ADN, you can go for the BSN, without doing 4 years. It's called RN-BSN route. A couple of colleges near me offer it to nurses only, so you would fit into those types of programs. I believe it lasts only 1 year. Go for the RN.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

There are accelerated BSN programs available for people without degrees, I happen to be in one. This program packs eight semesters into three years, you go to school all the time, spring, summer, fall and winter and you take about 14-17 credit hours per. This program was very competitive to get into as well, only one out of every five applicants was accepted and the criteria were grades in science and math, an essay, two professional recommendations and a good TEAS score.

We have been told by the director that we are STRONGLY encouraged not to try to work while we are doing this, because it will wear us out and hurt our chances for success.

Now, while it is described as an entry level BSN program; i.e. no college credits are required to get in, in the vast, vast majority of cases everyone in has SOME college coursework under their belt. In most cases these are what, in a traditional ADN program would be considered prereq's: A&P, Algebra, Micro, etc. And they all have very good grades in these classes as well.

I did not see in your original post whether you had any college credits done so my advice to you would be to start reasonably, take some classes at your local community college (especially if they offer a nursing program; most do) and then, in the fall start looking around for programs to apply to.

A lot of people go LPN (to start work at a decent wage) =>ADN/RN=>BSN. If you have the time, this is probably a very good way to go, it's less immersive and allows you to work your way through school a bit more easily. It can also be a bit easier on the pocketbook since in many cases hospitals or large extended care facilities will offer loan repayment or tuition assistance programs in exchange for a work commitment.

But if you're like me, with a lot of time on your hands, a wife with a good job and a few more months of unemployment to go through, and you can get in, taking the plunge could be the way to go as well.

All the best to you, bro, and let us know what you decide and how it is going!

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sooo would it be wise to try and find another job altogether and try and get these expenses caught up. or pick up a second job to get things paid? pick up an stna as the second job and visit daveramsey.com for inspiration and ideas on how to get financial peace.

i have heard the experience of being an stna is valuable. it is.

are there any accelerated bsn degrees available? yes, but almost all of them are limited to people who alread have a ba or a bs in something else. a few accept rns, or lpn's who have additional college credits (min of 64 for one program i know of) or "highly motivated" people with a lot of credits (90, for example). also, they don't leave much time for working.

or programs that will get you a bsn degree without the whole college 4 year deal? for all practical purposes, no.

now if i went the adn route is that better than an lpn??? usually, unless your goal is an lpn. if the schools you are looking at have lpn to rn programs, it might be worth getting the lpn so you can work as an lpn while you get your rn. check that lpns are being hired in your area because some areas are moving away from hiring lpns, at least new grad lpns. also, while there is not much difference between rn and bsn pay, there is normally a lot of difference between lpn and rn pay. also check how much of the lpn program will help you in getting the rn, some schools will give only 4 credits for the whole lpn program. others will let you take a 6 credit transistion class instead of the 9 credit first semester nursing class and join the standard program for the other three semesters.

or does that mean i just have a degree in nursing? not sure what you mean by that question. an lpn is a nursing degree. all nursing have strict rules about what they are allowed to do, called scope of practice. lpns have a different scope of practice (basically, they are not licensed to do all of the things an rn is licensed to do).

...would i be able to roll right into the bsn degree since i already would have the adn? yes and no. rn to bsn programs are much more seamless than lpn to rn programs... meaning going from an adn to a bsn doesn't take much more time/money/credits than going for the bsn in the first place. but you still need to apply to the program, you don't automatically get in to it.

or would i still have to do the 4 years for the bsn? generally, you take just the classes a standard bsn requires that an adn does not require. that is usually things like a second english comp class, statistics, maybe a higher level of algebra, plus nursing classes. the rn nursing classes usually fully count, you don't retake - you take classes designed to give you the difference.

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i do have prior college. in fact, looking at my community college syllabus for the adn program looks like all i would need to take is:

i already have taken eng 1010 college english composition and psy 1010 general pyschology

so iam thinkimg in 1 semester i can bang out those 2 classes and i should be good to go!

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