Non-Traditional BSN Students

galenanurse2b · May 15, 2005

Hi GWT,

I am at the very beginning of my BSN journey. I am a 33 yr old mother of two. Very excited and scarred at the same time! If you ever have any tips or advice I would be so glad to hear from you! Since you were a non traditional student did the time in school seem to go faster or slower?

Thanks!!! :)

Jen

manna, BSN, RN · May 15, 2005

I'm a mere 28 - mom of 2. Worked and took classes for 7 years until 2004... when I took off to start nursing school. Just finished my junior year of a BSN program. I also commute 140 miles a day. I'm also vice president of our campus OWLS organization - Older, Wiser Learning Students. :)

I decided to do a BSN because I figured I want to go to grad school eventually, plus by the time I decided I wanted to do nursing school I'd already taken 99% of the pre-reqs anyway. :)

There are a couple of non-trads in my class. A lady who is in her late 40s, husband retired from the military - they have no kids of their own, so she decided to go back to nursing school because she was bored (already has a degree in education). A 45 year old divorced mom of 2 teenage boys. A 30ish dad of 4 who is in the Air Force and whose wife is a nurse. In the class above me, a 50+ lady who had owned a floral shop for years.. finally pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. :)

Good luck! :)

mitchsmom · May 15, 2005

I'm 34, mom to three boys (3,6, & 8). I just finished my second year of a BSN program (like manna, I am also planning on grad school). Because of my boys and because I commute 110 miles one way, I am part-time. I hope to graduate next April.

We have a good number of non-trad students in our program... although the other day at my OB clinical orientation I realized how many young traditional not-yet-parent students we have too!!! LOL We have to do this huge writeup before clinical next week for OB... it includes diapering, cord care, bathing, etc... not that I'm complaining that it was easy but I was just like maaannnnnn this is a waste of my time!

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 16, 2005

Nearly 46 year old gay male father of two Italian Greyhounds, going the RN to BSN route 100% online. That's not very tradational is it? :)

naggytabby, BSN, RN · May 16, 2005

well..... 2 more semesters to go in the bsn protionn of my bsn/msn program. came from a degree in psych and community health to a masters and PA certificate to return to my midwifery calling. oh, and i am 46.

it's never too late to be who you are :redbeathe

Imafloat, BSN, RN · May 16, 2005

I am 37 and the mom of 4 kids. I am finishing up my second year of a BSN program. I went to college right after high school so I had a lot of the pre-reqs out of the way.

I fly by the seat of my pants for the most part.

LeesieBug · May 16, 2005

33-year-old, mother to three, BSN student, here. I am just starting out my senior year (hallelujah).

I was very nervous about starting at a fairly large university, terrified that I would be the only old foagie amidst a bunch of beer swilling, party-going teenagers. I was WAY off!

Yes, there are pleny of the aforementioned teenagers, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that 40% of the students on our campus are non-traditional. In the nursing program, I would say about 40-50% of us are non-traditional. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover how well I get along with most of the young people in our program, many of whom I now consider friends. There really are some remarkable people in our class...they make the whole thing bearable!

I chose the BSN primarily because at the time I was applying there was no waiting list, and the ADN programs around had a two to three year wait. I couldn't see the point of waiting around while I could be on my way to a bachelor's degree.

If your school has a special organization for adult learners (Manna mentioned OWLS, ours is Adult Focus), try it out. The groups are very helpful in making the transition to school, and will help you meet other students like you!

Good luck! :)

speedykicks · May 16, 2005

I am 32 and start the BSN nursing program in the fall. I have spent the past 1.5 years taking the pre-reqs and working full time. I have a Bachalor's degree in Psychology already. I decided to go the BSN route because I want to pursue a masters at some point. I don't have a very good feel yet for how many non-trad students there will be in my program. There weren't too many in my pre-req classes. I look really young, though, so most of my younger classmates assume I am closer to them in age then I really am. We shall see!

nagini · May 16, 2005

I am a 31 year old mother of twin boys who is starting an accelerated BSN program this month!!! If all goes well I will graduate Dec 2006. I wanted my BSN becasue I plan to go for my masters after a couple of years work and then who knows maybe a PhD. :)

gwt · May 16, 2005

Best of luck everyone!

I didn't feel like waiting around for ADN entry. Every school is a couple of hours commute anyway, so I hooked up with the university for the rest of the pre-reqs with guaranteed slot in the nursing program instead of spinning my wheels for a couple of years for an ADN. It surprised me how fast the last 2 1/2 years have flown by.

The large flagship campus was a little intimidating at first with most of the kids and some of the professors young enough to be your kids, but the program allowed me to obtain some of my classes via distance education or other classes within the university system which helped me get the required stuff done within a years time. Other than that, it would have been a year longer because the order they offer the two chemistry classes. So I ended up taking the higher chem this spring (its the only chem they will accept even within the university system) leaving me with the basic chem this month. They are very picky about their chemistry!!! Probably because of their chem/engineering programs.

I've also noticed that unless its a huge lecture hall class, the instructors enjoy their older nursing type students because they ask good questions and provide decent feedback when called on for a coherent answer. LOL!

giftedRN · May 16, 2005

Hey,

I am 37 years old mother of two children with no family support in the United States. I am an international student and will be graduating spring next year. It has been a difficult time for me here but I am getting through it by the help of God. I am a working mother and a full time student. My children are 6 and twelve, girl and boy respectively.

I have become closer to God since attending Nursing college, only God could make this possible for me. I have been depending on scholarship to attend school because the money that I came to the States with has dwindled. I am still doing good in school and will continue to do well. If I can do it, you can do it too. By the way, I attend Florida State University. I shall happily claim my BSN degree come April 2006.

Please continue to be of support to us as parents. :)

Ann.