Looking for a school to obtain ASN

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Hi there! I'm new to this site and am finding it very helpful. :yeah:I have a dilema and am needing some help. I am 35 years old, and have 4 kids. I have stayed home with my kids for 5 years now. I haven't worked mainly because the little ones are 3 and 1 and I cannot seem to make enough money to justify daycare. It's cheaper to stay home!

I am a Medical Assistant wanting to become an RN. I have looked into schools from MCC to Brown Mackie College. I am currently enrolled in Brown Mackie (Mainly b/c they offer evening classes) with a start date of Jan 31st. I haven't fully signed on b/c when I did my FAFSA, I qualify for full benefits (Pell, sub loans, unsub loans) but still have a balance of almost 5k that they want me to make payments on. I cannot afford this and am currently jumping several hoops! I am petrified to try a big college. I don't think I can live up to the competition, and lets face it, I'm not getting any younger. :crying2: I've been out of school for 10 years and am not sure I can compete with high school grads.

I am hitting roadblocks everywhere I turn. To get into NAU, you need proof of health insurance, which I don't have. My husband's job doesn't offer it, and we cannot afford it, out of pocket. I have wanted to be a nurse for 10 years or longer. I am good at being an MA but don't wish to go back into that field. I really want to be an OB nurse in a hospital. I have an absolute passion for people and love the healthcare field.:redbeathe I KNOW I'd be a great nurse. I have the drive and determination, I just don't have the money. It just doesn't seem fair that I cannot seem to find a way to see a dream that I've had for so long, come to fruition! Does anybody have any avenues for me? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Congrats for wanting to do this! I think I'd take a roundabout method in accomplishing my goals, just remember this is one opinion only.

I'd go LPN first. There are some classes you could do in the evening (at most schools) to lighten the load initially. Once you have you license( would take a year) then do an RN bridge program. The bridge you could do with Excelsior (which MO accepts) and if you stuck with it consistently could finish your RN in a year with online classes. You'd have your LPN to fall back on if you had to work, and could finish the entire program in about 2 years--- which is the same if you started from scratch and went ASN.

As I said it's a roundabout method of doing it, but considering your circumstances (kids) it might work better for you. Good Luck!

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Echo56: Thanks so much for your reply. :D I think I may have finally found an avenue that will work for me! I went to NAU yesterday and enrolled. I'm so excited. When I did my financial aid yesterday, not only will I not owe, but I will actually get a little money back so I can use that for daycare when it's time to go during the day! I start March 9th. I am going evenings for the general education classes.

Thank you for all of your advice. It's nice to know somebody had some idea, because I was fresh out!

Are you currently a student or are you already a nurse? Would love to hear about your experience too.

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That's great that this has worked out for you. They always say "where there is a will, there is a way". You just proved it. Congratulations!

Me? I'm a student...

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How long have you been in school? Are you enjoying it?

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The PN school I'm enrolled in, is pretty fast paced. Calendar says a year, but comes out to be 10.5 months. Overall I like it, but like everyone some days I wonder "why?" I made up my mind I was going EC's ADN program the minute I finished PN, so have been working to that goal. I have alot of the pre req's out of the way, and the ones I don't have, I'm taking online, while doing the PN. So basically I'm enrolled in two different programs. :confused:

Things get complicated some days. Since PN started I've finished Dev. Psych, Expos. writing, Int. Algebra, working on College Alg and just started Biology.

Fortunately I have a husband who is fantastic and 110% supportive. I am seriously thinking of buying stock in Excedrin however. :o

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I am starting with English Comp and Micro. I'm not too terribly nervous....YET! I know I'll get that way though. My program is an ASN and is supposed to be 2 years but comes out to be 2 years and 9 months. I am a litle bummed because I am going to have to sit out the Spring semester of 2012. They have the classes set up kind of odd in regards to Financial Aid. You have to have at least 6 credits to get FA and there is one class just floating around that is only 4.5 credits and with the program set up there is no way around sitting out.

Do you have to get your CNA prior to your core classes? I am currently an MA but they are requiring everyone to get their CNA. :confused:

Lots of luck in your classes! Keep me posted on how things are going. Maybe we can get a bundle discount on Excedrin stock?

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I just sent you a PM...

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Echo,

I tried to respond to your PM but it says I don't have permission to PM b/c I haven't had 15 posts yet. :uhoh3: I'm pretty new to this site. I'll try to navigate around and see if I can send you an email or something.

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I just sent you an acceptance for a "friend" request, so maybe now you can read it.

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