HumbleDaughter

Thank you, and I apologize for the typos. Wrote this late after work and had to write it a few times before it would post and I got a little sloppy in my subsequent attempts

Im finishing up my first year of nursing at a SNF and have spoken with two agencies in my area that specialize in work in my state. Both say 1 year of experience is all they require to work everything but acute care (in my case). My husband works out of town frequently as well as working around the clock and any day of the week. We just bought a new home and I have one 4 year old and one on the way. I couple women I know working for agencies have told me some very exciting things about traveling and I don't want to be overly optimistic, but they tell me they chose their schedules, make a very good salary, often work in town and both have benefits. We were lucky, we didnt have to put our eldest in daycare until he was 2 or so but I am not interested in putting my infant in daycare and depending on my mom and sister to get two kids to and from daycare on days that I work. I am hoping that as a travel nurse I can make a great income working within 60 miles of my home easily and on the days that work best for my husbands schedule. He makes a good deal of money so he does take priority. I'm trying to get words of caution, encouragement, personal wisdom etc. Do you think this could be a good option for me to be there for my babies and still bring in a decent income? Thank you for your responses

My bridge program has 2 classes that requires clinical hours. A grand total of 45 hours each! Doable!! I pay under $3k for 9 credits every semester and am paying as I go. Tight, but doable. I have a little pell grant left and I also have a little help paying for it, so I'm grateful for that. Might check with some of the hospitals in your area. Perhaps you even work for one now. There's a good chance they will offer a program to help pay for your education if you sign a contract to work for them for x amount of years after completion. Good luck

Your best bet is going to be finding a university in your state that offers the bridge program. Stick with in-state tuition if you want the most bang for your buck. I don't know of any better way to save thousands.

Both med-surge classes at once? I do not recommend this. You need to really soak in all the info and there is PLENTY of it in both classes. Taking both of them at once, in my opinion, is setting yourself up for failure if not in the short-term then in the long-run.

I'm in my RN-BSN program now taking 9 credits and working 36 hours a week. I also have a 4 year old and really supportive husband and am paying as I go. It is totally doable doing it the way I have been doing it. I'm taking 9 credits every summer too until I finish. I will admit it is difficult sometimes to balance everything, and paying as I go does make money tight sometimes but what I always tell myself is that for me, it's now or never. The bridge program, so far, is nowhere near as stressful as the ADN program. If I were you I would just jump in and do it. I don't think we will ever regret just jumping in and finishing it. I will have mine completely finished in just over a year. What's just a little more commitment? You can do it!