csawilkens

Thanks, SopranoKris. That is some sage advice. The ADN program at our community college will take almost as long (four semesters) as the accelerated BSN programs I'm looking at, for nearly the same price because we pay out of district tuition. So straight to BSN will make sense for me. But I'm hearing from many sources, including you, that taking a break to work after the BSN is critical. I tend to overestimate my "practical" knowledge because I'm raising a couple special needs kids and have spent more than my fair share of time in hospitals and tracking vitals. But I appreciate your sanity check here, that in order to care well for these kids (especially someone else's!), it's way better to have as much direct experience to rely on as possible, not just book learnin'. Just super eager to get started and I feel like I have to jump through a million hoops to even get to the starting line, let alone the finish. Glad to hear it is possible to start at 42, because that's about what I'll be by the time I have the prereqs to apply to BSN programs!

Hi everyone! New to the forum. I am beginning a total career change into nursing. I have a bachelors and masters in unrelated fields. Right now my plan is to get an accelerated BSN, then apply to ACPNP programs for my MSN, but it also looks like many MSN programs require work experience before you can even apply. I'd love to hear from other folks who have made a career switch on the right way to do prerequisite coursework, gain work experience, and finish the right degrees in the right order. I want to get it all done as quickly as possible so I have as many years to work as I can! Hoping to eventually do perinatal and pediatric hospice and palliative care. Feel free to redirect me to other relevant threads... Thanks!