how long should you wait before returning to school?

I was gonna wait a year, then life (and kids) happened, and I waited 20 years. Don't wait

Didnt wait, went right into it ASAP. Now I'm wayyyyyyy older, and going back again, wishing I didnt wait again.....

Everything happens for a reason.

Start ASAP. There's no such thing as "too soon" to get your BSN, especially with this economy. You don't have to do full-time study; you can be part time and work/have a life also.

I'm 21, no kids, live with my parents, and took four years to get an ADN (graduated in May). I'm taking two classes a semester to eventually get my BSN.

Good luck to you.

Jump right back into it! You can still work while getting your BSN. You're young and will be able to handle it. You will still be in the school mode too! Good luck!

If you know it is what you want to do, aren't in a crazy amount of debt, and have the motivation: why wait? I am 22 as well and due to financial constraints I went to a community college have been an LPN for two and a half years and am now in my final semester of my RN bridge. I hope to take my boards by the end of the year and will apply for rn-bsn programs right away and hope to start in summer term if possible. Look at schools around you, but RN-BSN programs tend to be less structured/rigid than pre-licensure programs (be it BSN or ADN), because they understand that most students work full time as a nurse.

my mom waited 20 years..she is going back now to get her bsn and she is doing an online program while she works full-time! like so many people, life and kids pushed her plans back some. so i think that is what i want to do...some rn-bsn programs are 100% online now and i think i can manage that. hoping to start in August 2012 and have the hospital i work for pay for it haha!

It was 7 years later that I got my BSN. I waited 3 years or so before going back.

I think its appropriate to devote your first year to learn how to move from novice, but I would recommend starting back at that point.

I graduated in May, started my first nursing job in June, and just started my BSN program a couple of weeks ago. I'm going part time, so I have one 8 week class and one 16. All online. I say do it ASAP while you're still accustomed to going to school. I'm a career changer and even though school comes easily to me, it was a definite adjustment when I went back for nursing school.

Go back now, people who put it off always find a reason not to go back. Especially women, family commitments make it harder for them if they don't have a good social support system and another care provider to help them. A BSN is not something you need experience with first.

Go now!

I don't know what it's like near you, but hospitals are shying away from ADN's in this area, not to mention LPNs, which is the only cert I have.

I went back to school the semester after I graduated with my LPN.

DOnt be so hard on yourself, your note exactly on the slow track, nursing school is more than two years. It may say associates, but it takes a lot of prereqs and waitlists so pat yourself on the back and just sign up to get your BSN right away.