Part-time Nursing programs........

Anyone in one? I am scheduled to begin classes in July, attending two days per week for two years, with only four weeks or so off per year. The description of the program says that the coursework is "compressed", which I don't really understand. Yes, you are going to school only two days as opposed to four, but you are also going year round and longer per day??? Anyone have insight on this?

If any of you are in this type of a program, can you work more this way? I mean, is it easier to handle working more hours outside of studying/going to school? I would love any comments!!

Janice

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

Well, this is not offered at my school, so I have no first hand knowledge of it. THough, is this an ADN program? SOunds to me it will be quite difficult, managing that much work in that short of a time, plus, with only a short break each year. YOu'll likely get a bit burned out, and fast. You say you don't understand the compressed coursework idea, my thinking is that it means that you will be doing lots of study on your own at home, that they will go over things quickly, etc. YOu may have more days off, but you will likely need those to study and keep up.

Good luck!!!!!!!

[lisamc1RN, LPN]

I am in a part time LPN program that sounds very much like what you will be entering. The majority of people in my class work and go to school. We are finishing up Pharmacology and our first clinical rotation in the next couple of weeks. We started in July. The program is intense, but then so is the full time program. I love it and am glad I chose this route! It is a perfect fit for my family! Good luck to you! :)

[S.N. Visit, BSN, RN]

Anyone in one? I am scheduled to begin classes in July, attending two days per week for two years, with only four weeks or so off per year. The description of the program says that the coursework is "compressed", which I don't really understand. Yes, you are going to school only two days as opposed to four, but you are also going year round and longer per day??? Anyone have insight on this?

If any of you are in this type of a program, can you work more this way? I mean, is it easier to handle working more hours outside of studying/going to school? I would love any comments!!

Janice

My school offers part time evening classes too. (classes meet two days a week for 2-4 hours plus clinicals are on week-ends) The PN program takes 30 months to complete vs the 1 yr it takes to go full time.

The ADN evening course is only for current LPN's , which takes 36 months to complete vs the 12 month bridge for full time students.

Your classes may be a bit more accelerated/concentrated than ours since it won't take you as long to get through. I think what they are meaning by compressed, is that you're going to be covering the most material in the least amount of time.

I have a couple friends who are in this program and they absolutely love it. They have more time to work, spend with family. (I'd go for it myself, but my husband works nights and with three kids, it's better to have them in school while I'm in school.)

[PatricksRNMommy]

I am in a part-time ADN program and so far it is great! I go to class one night a week for three hours and then every Saturday I have skills lab for 6 hours. Once I start clinicals, they will be on Saturdays also. My teacher has a website set up also where we can communicate with her and eachother via discussion boards and e-mail and she posts discussion questions. I think it is really great for people with other responsibilities (work, family, etc.) who can't stop working to go to school. I'm a single mom and thought I'd never be able to cut down on hours at work to go to school and this program was my solution. Good Luck! :)

[gerry79]

I am in a part time program that is 2.5 years in long. I go to school Monday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm which is the skills lab, Tuesday for lecture from 4:00 to 9:00 pm, and clinical is on Thursday from 2:00 to 10:00 pm. The program is the same as the 2 year program. The first 6 months of the program are for non nursing co reqs. We have a 2 month break from May until July the first year, and then pretty much a total of 4 weeks off the second year (2 weeks for Christmas, 2 weeks for spring break. Three 5 1/2 month semesters). It is a very fast pace program, but can be done. Good luck to all!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

How many hours of clinical time is included?

Two years of 2 days/week - is it one day of class & one clinical day?

[lisamc1RN, LPN]

How many hours of clinical time is included?

Two years of 2 days/week - is it one day of class & one clinical day?

For us, yes it is. At first, though, we spent a lot of time in skill labs. My schedule this semester is 8 hours on Wednesday for clinical, and 8 hours on Thursday of Pharm lecture, plus there were 4 pharm skill labs. :) We only take one class at a time plus the clinical and/or skill labs.

[ashemson]

I am in an eve/weekend LPN program. It's not really part time, because I am taking 13 credit hours this semester. But we meet Wed and Thurs 5-9pm and every other weekend from 8-6. Clinicals start March 26th, and they will be 12 hour clinicals. Instead of the 12 month day program, we will go 17 months.