Krankenschwester_2

I'm wrapping up my BA in History right now. Next fall I will be enrolling in an ADN program. After I'm through with that I would like to work as a nurse part-time (is this possible???) while getting my PhD in History. Eventually I'd like to be a nurse part-time and adjunct faculty at a university teaching German History (and mainly researching and publishing German History). Is this too much, that is to ask to work part-time on my terms:mortarboard: ? Will hospitals accomodate my academic interests and allow me to work part-time? I have to drive over two hours to the closest university that allows PhD work. Thankfully, most of it will be in the form of research and not classroom settings.

Do you think you can handle it? I personally am good in both subjects, so I could definitely handle them both. If Chem or Bio isn't particularly strong for you, I'd advocate not doing it. However, if they are the only two classes you're taking (8 hours), 8 hours and a full-time job is very doable.

I just have a few questions to ask each of you concerning your working conditions. I just want to get a general idea so I know what to expect. #1 Work Hours How many hours constutes a shift (e.g. 8, 10, 12)? How many days do you typically work in one week? #2 Health Benefits Right now I'm still under my father's Tricare insurance--which is excellent! Do regular hospitals offer a comparable insurance? #3 Vacation How does vacation time generally get distributed? (e.g. does it increase by seniority, how many days do typical first year RNs get for vacation? #4 When you first started ,did you get assigned to your unit, or do you have any choice in where you want to work?

If you were to apply at a community college, having a bachelor's degree would set you apart from the field, so even with gpa less than 3.5, you'd probably, but notice I said probably (at a community college!) get in. As for competitive accelerated BSN and MSN programs, I doubt you'd get in with a 3.3 or 3.2 or something. You can always try, but I'd also apply to some community colleges if being a nurse is what you want to do.

Pre-Med is no easier. I know at my University they weed people out that are pre-med by making Genetics and Chem classes extraordinarily difficult--and my school doesn't even have a medical school! Also, here at my school the Nursing School is one of the best in the state and they won't hardly consider students who did not attend my university as Freshman (ie no transfers). My question for you is why do you want to get a BSN instead of an ADN? Why not get your ADN and have them pay for you RN-BS program or RN to MSN program? I even turned down the opportunity of an accelerated alternate-entry MSN program (because I'll have a bachelor's in History in May) in Nursing because it's getting to be too expensive. In your position, firstly, I'd rather not have to repay to take a course that I may or may not get an A in. Secondly, even if you do get an A there is no gurantee that others won't be more qualified--all for basically the same pay as an ADN. Management doors probably won't open immediately anyways, so why not get an ADN and get a BSN (or an MSN!) while working??

For me, I'm presently a Senior at a University persuing my Bachelor's in History, yes History. I didn't decide I wanted to be a nurse until my junior year, last fall. I had planned on going to law school (and then on into military law), but then I met my boyfriend, now fiancee, two years ago and once we got engaged--plans changed. To change my major to Nursing now, I'd be here persuing my Bachelor's for the next four years. Whereas, I can graduate in May with my Bachelor's and get my ADN at a Community College while living at home (e.g. saving money). I simply can't afford to take any more student loans out at the University level... After a couple years after becoming an RN I plan on enrolling in the RN to MSN program, so I can at least have a Master's. Most people, in my opinion, choose community college because it's several thousand dollars cheaper each semester. I am confident that the college work I'll do at the community college will be much easier than the rigorous honors in History program I'm pursuing now. However, that was no motivation in my decision, money was. I can't tell you whether or not it's easier to achieve a 4.0 at a cc since I've only had university courses beyond high school. I have a 3.65 at the University, including courses such as Genetics (which was no easy pie to slice). In my experience I have had 200-level Sophomore classes that I had to bust my butt in to get a B+ and other 300-level, research intensive courses that I had half the committment and got a A in. To me, it's all about the instructor (and whether or not they have graduate TA's who make things 10 x's harder). Subject matter is a huge difference, I suck at Math, so math is harder--whereas I'm really good at Microbiology, so an A is a synch.