pashari

I've been lurking and reading the various boards here for the past few weeks and I'd like to get some basic info. Currently, I'm 43 y/o. I'm about 12 credits shy of by BSN in Business from Eastern but that was back in 1999. In the meantime, I've worked in the insurance industry as an underwriter and am now a SAHM to a 5 y/o and a 2 y/o. I'd like to go into nursing. I'm not sure what, if any, of my credits from 20 years ago will transfer - I've not yet talked to any school yet. Either way, I'm assuming that if any do transfer it would be just as general credits. I'm not particular about schools, thinking MCC as it is close but any in the metro detroit area would work. From my reading, it looks like there are a number of pre-req courses that you need to take before you can even apply to a nursing program. The talk of wait lists is a bit confusing. What is the average time to be on a wait-list??? What is the minimum you need to get done to get on a wait list? Is it a certain number of credits or all your pre-req? What do you do while you are on the wait-list? If you were starting from scratch, straight out of high-school, how long would it take you to get your RN???? Any help or info would be appreciated. Thanks!!! lisa

I'm currently a 43 y/o mom of 2 little kids (5 y/o & 2 y/o). I quit college back in 1989 12 credits short of my BS in Business Management. I've worked for 16 years in the insurance industry as an underwriter before losing my job in 2005 after 14 years with the same company (it's a super long story). I've been a SAHM since then. In deciding what to do with my professional life when I decide to return to work I was looking for something that would give me more personal satisfaction than just pushing papers from one end of my desk to the other. During this period in my life I've had to deal with extensive illness in both my mother and step-father as well as my nephew. I really think that nursing is something that I could really be good at and enjoy. How do you begin???? I've done some research and while going for the BSN would be nice the local schools are so expensive. I've been thinking of getting my RN with an Associates at the local community college. From what I understand, once you are in the nursing program (which can be tough to get into as there is a waitlist for most if not all) than it would be 18 months to get your RN license. I guess what I'm trying to get a feel for is what this all entails time wise. I understand there is course work as well as clinical work. Is the clinical work a 9 to 5 type of deal for a certain number of weeks or is it for the full 18 months. If it's not for the full 18 months is it in the beginning or towards the end. I mean I am a SAHM and my DH works afternoons so I am primarily a single parent. I need to get my oldest to and from school every day. I need to get her to her ice skating classes twice per week, to her ballet classes once per week. I also have my youngest child to care for and she does have some minor special needs which require me to get her to physical therapy and occupational therapy once a week. As the only SAHM in our extended family, I also watch a few of my nieces and nephews two days per week. So, as you can see, this will all take some adjusting and I'm trying to figure out if it is feasible or if I should just wait 3 years until my youngest is in school full time. In a perfect world, I'd like to start now going to school part-time and be ready to go to work (or very close to it) once my youngest is school age. I'm sure the easiest thing to do is to get in touch with the college nursing program but I'd thought I'd put it out there to get a better idea. Thanks for any input. hugs - lisa