Trying to figure out when to start

[makaylasmommy]

Hello. I am new to this site. My name is Melanie. I am currently a deputy with a local Sheriff's Office and I have decided that after 5 yrs that I would rather go in to the nursing profession. I have already obtain my Bachelor's degree in Human Services. So I am in the boat of where I will have to go back to school and work on my nursing license. I have been researching local colleges as to where I can start. But the downside is, I will have to stop working just to get finished with the program. There is no feasible way for me to continue working here and complete the program. But I live in a home where it would require two paychecks because we have a 5 mth old and a 6 year old. Any suggestions?

[GottaGetIn]

Check the schools first. You might need some pre reqs like a&p & such before even applying to a program. You can do those things while you work.

There are night nursing programs though I have been told that it's hard to juggle working and nursing school. However, I am sure it's not impossible.

My best advice is to find a few schools you are interested in and go from there. Meet w/ one of their advisors. If you want it bad enough, there's always a way to do it. There are plenty of folks in the night nursing program where I go to college and they work full time. It's a sacrifice but it's not forever.

Are you looking to get your BSN or ADN?

Oh, and welcome!

[WDWpixieRN, RN]

A single gal I used to work with did a night program through a local hospital...I'm not sure how many nights a week she went, but I know it involved doing clinicals a LOT on the weekends....

I, too, had a previous bachelor's and it took about 2 years to get in to a program during which I took the prereqs to even be able to apply, and then had an additional wait to start...I finished everything that is required in our program except the core nursing courses before I started....

Can you do something like that once you figure out where you plan to go and then also try to save as much money as you can so you won't have to work? An accelerated program would get you back in to the work force much sooner, but can be very intense, which you will want to consider with your young ones. An ASN program (which I am doing) is much cheaper, but will most likely take a full 4 semesters with the summer off, so it's quite a bit of time without that extra income, although quite a few people work (most part-time, maybe 20 - 30 hours) and go to school...

Lots of options, but your best bet is to start picking brains (do you get to the hospital much? Talk to those ER nurses, or the ones in your pediatrician's office or anywhere you can corner one, lol), check in to your local college options (www.discovernursing.com has links to schools), and check around on this site to see what other types of information you can pick up....