part-time second degree programs?

Spartan05 · Jul 5, 2007

I'm new to allnurses.com, but I'm in the very early stages of trying to figure out how to get to nursing school. So here's my question:
This winter, I'll be graduating with my BA (pretty much a general studies degree, though I took a good amount of science and psychology). I've decided that nursing school would be right for me, but I have a young daughter (not quite 2) and my husband and I want more kids, so I would like to go on a part time basis to avoid day care. We live close to MSU, but it seems that they only have an intensive accelerated second degree program. What other options do I have? Should I do a part time program through a community college? Is it really important to have a BSN as opposed to a BA and RN if you're planning on going on to a MSN program later?
Thanks in advance!

I am also debating whether MSU or LCC may be the better fit for my situation. MSU has a traditional two-year program as well as an accelerated program. I would probably stay away from the accelerated program since time seems to be a priority for you and you want to avoid day-care costs and those types of programs are short but very intense.

However, maybe long-term it is worth it for you to get done with school faster even if it means for one year you'll be very focused on getting your classes done.

LCC does have three different (accelerated, full-time and part-time). options and the price of becoming an RN is quite a bit more affordable. From what I have found out talking to people, RNs are RNs. You have to pass the same exam regardless of whether you got an associate's or a bachelor's. You may be payed slightly more for having a BSN (I am talking about cents here not dollars an hour) but the biggest benefit you get from the Bachelor's (as opposed to an Associate's) is the opportunity move into specialty and advaced practice areas. I don't mean to knock Bachelor degree programs or MSU, in fact I think both are great but I think LCC is a better way to go.

My plan is to go to LCC because its way more affordable and also because many hospitals around here like the LCC grad more than the MSU (LCC has more clinical hours and people have told me that they learn a lot more practical information vs. MSU grads).

I know that I want a Bachelor's and many hospitals do have tuition incentive programs for RN-BSN completion programs so I'm hoping to get set with one of those and have my work pay for "the rest of my Bachelor's."

Hope that helps!

Spartan

SC ANP · Jul 5, 2007

Let me preface my remarks by saying that I am by no means an expert in this area, nor do I play one on tv.

That said, I think you will want to seriously consider the accelerated program. You may want to avoid daycare costs by going part-time, but if you are planning on having more kids, you may find that you want to stretch your education out over a longer period of time to make that work, which may or may not be feasible. (i.e. if the part-time program has a time limit restriction) (sorry, that's a horrible run-on sentence, but I can't make it work ) The accelerated program may require a bit of daycare, but less time to completion. And if you're planning to go on to MSN, I believe that you do need a BSN. So if you get an ASN, then you'd need the ASN-BSN completion program before going on to MSN.

I guess I'm a firm believer in getting things done in the least amount of time possible. If you go thru the accelerated program & get your degree in a year, you can work as an RN, have more kids & go from there.

Here's something to think about - Would you need daycare to do clinicals with the part-time program? And if you had more kids & had to go back to school for ASN-BSN, would you need daycare for that?

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Sue

nurselizk · Jul 8, 2007

The accelerated programs are not for the faint of heart. They are 20+ credits per semester for 3 semesters. Many people find it is not worth the price to family and sanity to be done in 3 semesters rather than 5 in a traditional BSN program. On the other hand, community college nursing programs are notoriously difficult to get into unless your grades are very high, because they are so affordable. If you haven't already, you should sit down with an advisor from MSU and figure out how long it would take you and whether part-time is an option there, to help your decision process.

thyme39 · Jul 15, 2007

The question you ask is very complex because there are various programs that take different amts of time, money, and resources and also because what fits one person doesn't fit another. The other posters all bring up good points. You need to do some research. Don't discard the 2nd degree pgms. All the schools in MI have info sessions for 2nd degree. Start going to them and ask questions and see what they say. And look at several traditional ASN and BSN pgms. (Schools have BSN pgms that don't take 4 yrs if you already have a bachelors. I think you go for 3 yrs but not summers). Some people also feel more comfortable going for an ASN and then working and doing the ASN-BSN pgm. Has advantages like work paying for school. Since you already have a bachelors you won't get as much 'free' money from the gov. or school. I guess they figure we all have enough saved up or something. You will get loans but you have to pay them back. It all depends on what YOU want. Personally, I am in a 2nd degree pgm. I am giving 1 yr of my life to my school but then again, I'll be done in 1 yr. It's a decision I and my family made together. Thinking about your situation, if you want to have more kids but you take 2 yrs for an ASN and then maybe 1 or 1.5 yrs for the ASN-BSN bridge pgm and then go for your MSN, well, were you thinking about having more kids between programs or while in them? I'm not sure that would be easier. But it's a decision you have to make. Keep in mind if there are any time constraints to getting into either a 2nd degree pgm or ASN or BSN pgm. You may have to wait 1 or more years just to enter. What about the pre-reqs that you need to take? Find out where you want to go and then what pre-reqs they require. Each school is slightly different. Hope this helps you to think of some of the things to consider. And bring in your family too. Not only your spouse but any relatives that may lend support, either financially or with time (babysitting?, fixing meals?). I do have classmates with small children who are in the 2nd degree pgm and they are doing it but even without kids it is stressfull and takes almost all your time. I still do stuff with my husband and 2 children but it is limited and school usually comes first, expecially since I need the good grades for graduate school. Best of luck.