Nursing as a second career

You won't be able to go to nursing school part time unless you're already licensed. It just won't work that way.

ASN or LPN to RN would be your quickest options.

Are you sayiing my only option is quitting my job and going to nursing school full time? or do you mean only for one of the programs?

I thought there were evening and weekend programs? I'm still checking around to see my options.

Thanks

once you get your RN license you won't have any problem getting work. As for the schooling, i went BACK to school several years after i had my license, andif that's the case, sure you can go part time, nights etc. However, to get into an approved nursing school to start is difficult in many places and there are waiting lists at many places (II only know this from the threads and listening to people. It has been over 20 years since i started)Maybe if you took all your pre-requisites first, you could slow it down a little. When I went straight out of highschool, i took it all together and it was extremely tough, but fast. What I did was to get my ADN and then went back later in my career on apart time basis. This might be a good idea for you as you can get your RN license quicker then can advance your degree at your own pace.

Doris

Thanks for your reply Doris,

I agree I should probably focus on getting my ADN/ASN. However, are there schools that offer that partime or evenings and weekends.

Take care,

Sonya

Thanks for your reply Doris,

I agree I should probably focus on getting my ADN/ASN. However, are there schools that offer that partime or evenings and weekends.

Take care,

Sonya

Hi Sonya,

There should be schools in your area that offer night/weekend ADN program. The school I attend does, and I know of several others in my area that also do. Each night/weekend program is different. With mine, the clinicals are held every other weekend - friday for 8 hrs and then sat & sun for 12 hrs each for 4 semesters. I'm taking all of my pre-req's at night and/or on the weekend..wherever and however I can get them in! :)

Best of luck!

Kelly

Sonya....I agree with what Kelly has written. There are schools out there that offer evening programs. My school doesn't have that option right now but they're starting it next year.

What state are you in ???

Great, thanks Kelly and Good Luck.

I hope I can do this after being out of school for so long. Not to mention I hope I can find a job.

Sonya

Hey there, I do not know how it is where you live, but I have checked out community colleges and universities. To get a two year degree I was told that you have to go to school full-time. I was also told that it would be very hard to hold down a full-time job with all the course work, and clinicals. However, I have talked to people who have done it, so it can be done, it's just really hard. I would think you would also have to have a really flexiable work schedule. The other option for you, since you already have a Bacholer's is to see if you can enroll in a accelerted 12 month program to get your BSN. I don't think you could work full-time, but it would only be one year, and you would have a BSN right off the bat. I haven't found a college yet that has a part-time program unfortunately. Best of luck to you!

Thanks,

I'm in Southern California.

Great, thanks Kelly and Good Luck.

I hope I can do this after being out of school for so long. Not to mention I hope I can find a job.

Sonya

You can, you will, and you're going to be a great nurse!!:)

I went back and forth for a long time - I want to be a nurse - I'm just scared of change - I've always worked in "the corporate world." As many times as I tried to talk myself out of nursing, I just couldn't get the thought out of my head. So I know that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. It's going to be a long road, but so worth it in the end! And you'll have tons of support from the great people here!

I've never heard of being able to do nursing school part time. Clinicals were always weekdays.

Can anyone show me a link to a progam like this?

Thanks.

i found this school offerring evening and weekend classes and clinicals but its in maryland, the other one below is in ca

http://www.frederick.edu/programcourses/healthscience/index.cfm?documentid=230

from their site:

4. how long does it take to complete the associate degree in nursing (rn) program?

the associate degree nursing program (rn) takes approximately three to -four years for a part-time student to complete the entire program (if the student does not have previous college credits). there are two educational components in the associate degree nursing program. in the first pre-requisite stage, students must complete all developmental course work and the 12 credits of science courses. these pre-requisites can be done part-time or full-time, evenings, days or weekends. the pre-requisites courses are listed on the next page of this packet. it is highly advised that all 37 credits (11 courses total) of general education (non-nursing) courses be completed prior to entering the clinical component. the second educational component, the nursing clinical segment, is two (2) years, part-time consisting of nursing classes and clinical experiences. some evening clinical experiences are available.

there are two class options for the associate degree (rn) program. the day option consists of nursing classes and clinical experiences during the day. a few evening clinical experiences are available for the day students. the evening weekend option consists of classes during weekday evenings and clinical experiences on weekend days.

this one is in ca, i found it here on allnurses.com

mount st. mary's college

department of nursing

12001 chalon rd.

los angeles, ca 90049-1599

the adn program

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in addition to its bsn programs, mount st. mary's college offers students the opportunity to take part in the two-year adn program. accredited by the board of registered nurses this program effectively prepares health care professionals to work in a culturally diverse society while building leadership and ethical decision-making skills through a proven foundation in the liberal arts. this professional breadth and educational balance occurs at every level of the adn program because of the unusually supportive environment

one measure of these qualities is the strong accommodation made to working adults in our program. those working full time, or who are otherwise unable to attend school during the traditional daytime hours, find the mount st. mary's program to be particularly attractive (in fact it is the only one of its kind in los angeles). courses are offered only on evenings and weekends in four 8-week sessions a year. lectures are scheduled for evening hours and clinical assignments are completed on weekends.

hope this helps!