how long should you wait before returning to school?

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I basically took the slow track through college..I am 22 years old and have been in school for 5 years but am only recieving my ADN. Basically I took all pre-reqs and nursing support classes hoping it would allow me to focus solely on BSN classes...well to my surprise, my good GPA and completed pre-reqs landed me 2 rejection letters from my school's BSN program. Therefore, I was kind of pushed into the ADN program by default and in retrospect I know everything happens for a reason. So my question is...since I am graduating in December of this year with an ADN, how long should I wait to start a BSN program? I know that I want to go back to school, I have so many credit hours and so much time invested into a BSN degree that I would be stupid to not go on and finish but I also don't want 10 years to go by and have not made any progress. Is next August too soon? I would like to still have a school mindset, would also like to still be young and without kids but don't want to overwhelm myself while getting adjusted to my new career. Those of you would went back..how long did you wait? Thanks :)

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.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

This is what I did:

Finished ADN 1/09, Started New Grad program 04/09. Started BSN (Full time) 09/09. Found out I was pregnant 12/09. Continued program. Had baby (conveniently) August 2010, Returned to school the next month. Finished BSN 06/11.

I worked the entire time through this, except for when I had my baby and the bonding time.

If you really want it, you can do it.

The one exception I would say, is if you have a lot of debt, I'd pay it off first. It's so hard to have all this debt saddled to you that just dramatically increased while you are finishing school. And try to take as little loans out while you are in the program. They add up.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I graduated in May and started my RN-BSN program last week. Which just reminded me that I have assignments I need to do. :|

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Since you are young and unencumbered, find a job, then start work on your BSN. Plenty of my coworkers work and go to school.

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Specializes in MR/DD.

I agree with everyone else, go for it as soon as possible. Do not wait. I waited for 20 years.

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I'm 37 haven't been to school for 20 years. I want to go to school to be either an AND or a LPN. I have heard you have to be real good at math and it is making me have second thoughts, I'm horrible at math, but don't want this to hold me back! Any advice on this would be great.

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Your mom has the right idea. Take a page out of her book and start an online program while you look for, and start your first RN job. The sooner you start, the sooner you finish. Good luck.

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Specializes in MR/DD.
I'm 37 haven't been to school for 20 years. I want to go to school to be either an AND or a LPN. I have heard you have to be real good at math and it is making me have second thoughts, I'm horrible at math, but don't want this to hold me back! Any advice on this would be great.

The math really is not that bad. There are formulas that you have to memorize and the actual math consists of addition, subtraction multiplying and dividing. ... The best part... you get to use a calculator! :)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

If you have the choice ... I recommend going back soon (as others have suggested). However, I strongly recommend waiting until you have successfully completed your orientation as a staff nurse. I have worked with new grad orientees for many years and have found that those who take on too much, too soon are more likely to be stressed out during that important year of transition from student to professional.

Give yourself the best chance of success in your career by getting at least semi-comfortable in your job before adding the stress of school. For some people, that only requires a couple of months on the job. For others, it means 2 or 3 years. But that BSN won't do you much good if you burn out and/or develop a bad professional reputation because you did a lousy job at work.

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Okay, I think what I am going to do is play it by ear. I know of several online programs I can do starting next fall am am likely to have my hospital reimburse me some of the cost but I am also going to wait and see what type of job I get ( I am looking into ICU) and see how I adjust with the transition from student nurse to RN. If I don't feel comfortable adding on the extra stress with the new job then I will wait...if not, it's back to the books in August :) Thanks for all the advice!

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