Nursing as Second Career in IL?

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I currently have a great (albeit stressful) job and a young child. I'm thinking about quitting and taking a few years off to stay home with my daughter until she starts school. Once I leave I don't think I'll be able to come back to this career again.

I'm thinking to figure out what my options would be in a couple of years when I wanted to go back to work. There is a local CC here that offers a ASN program. I already have a bachelor's degree in a non-clinical area although Ive worked in healthcare for many years.

What kinds of opportunities are there for ASN grads in the Chicago suburbs now?

I see there are several accelerated BSN programs in the Chicago area but they cost so much more than the the local CC. Would an accelerated program be better for someone like me? Or what about the ASN and then a RN to BSN program like the one they have at NIU?

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Specializes in Public Health.

I'm currently looking for a job with an ADN/ASN. It's difficult. Despite my 5+ years of solid ICU experience I'm being denied interview opportunities simply because I don't have a BSN. My experience doesn't count for much here. Hospitals would rather hire new graduate nurses that know nothing other than what they learned in school.

If you have a second caregiver and can afford to not work, the accelerated program would be better, I think. It'd certainly be a shorter route than the ASN and then the RN-to-BSN program.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

ADN job market is tough. If you wait a few more years, it'll probably be tougher.

Since you already have a BA or BS, I don't see the value for you to go for a AD.

Why not go for a BSN or MSN entry program? You could start now, get some of the pre-reqs/co-reqs out of the way by taking one course at a time at your CC for little cost. That would still leave you time with her, and also give you a lighter load a few years down the road.

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I have my BS in a non clinical field as well and just completed my ADN and got a job prior to even taking my boards. There is still hope. Good luck!

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

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