Nursing Degree Program

Fiona59 · Dec 27, 2009

The degree programme is full time. So expect to put in as many, if not more, hours as any other degree.

You will need extremely reliable childcare and back up arrangements. As one instructor told my class "your children are not our concern, you will not be granted any allowances because you have them". The same goes for future employers.

Your clinical time is usually day shift. Be at the hospital by around 0630, there until 1430, then care plans and briefings.

Personally I wouldn't do it with children that young. But there are always those "go girl" gungho types who will tell you it's worth it. I went back at 40 to do nursing when my last child was in kindergarten and it was still an exercise in time management.

Your children are only young once, nursing school will always be there.

L&D, postpartum jobs are the dream jobs of many nursing students. In my graduating class of 40, I know of exactly three who wound up in that area. To go in with a preconceived idea of your dream job is doing yourself a disservice.

linzz · Dec 27, 2009

The above post is right on. I went to school when my kids were in grade 1 and 4. There were more than a few times when I had to arrange back up care and that was stress times 10. I also found it very hard to leave my kids as I had stayed home with them. One night I just started to cry when I was reading my child a story before bed, because I was very stressed about childcare arrangements. Most colleges are not able to be concerned with childcare issues. You will need child care for days and sometimes nights and evenings for clinical times.

I once dreamed of working L and D, however once I got a better idea of what nursing and it's responsibilities entailed, I had no interest at all in that area. I got to do only a few days in postpartum and enjoyed that a lot but there are next to no jobs available.

If I could do it over, I would have waited even just a few more years. I am not saying not to ever go to school, just know that nursing school is a big job and will create at least some temporary stress in your family life. You are still young and have lots of time to start school. JMO.

dishes, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2009

In addition to labs and clinicals, there will be multiple choice exams, group presentations and academic papers. The multiple choice exams and group presentations will require moderate homework effort. The academic papers will require intense homework effort, especially if you do not have prior experience with literature searches and APA format. If you are not familiar with these skills, I reccomend you start learning them, it will save you time and frustration later on, here are some steps you can take to learn to write an academic paper;

Check the nursing course outlines to see what kind of papers you will be expected to write
Ask the librarian to show you how to conduct a literature search, practice until you are proficient at retrieving peer reviewed, evidence based articles that are relevant to the topic
Ask the writing center advisors for tips/handouts on how to set up and write an academic paper using APA format
Practice, practice, practice

Stay positive, believe in the best and keep pursuing your dream!

dishes