Ker-Bear

If there is no waiting list for the RT or DMS programs, maybe you could wait to change your major until you know for sure if you are accepted into the nursing program. Is the wait list the only reason you are thinking of changing or are there other reasons?

I have commuted 1 1/2- 1 3/4 hours each way to work for 9 years now, 5 days a week. It is tough, I won't lie. And, it is really tough in the winter when it takes longer and it beats up on the car. But, it really has been worth it. The pay is better where I work, which makes paying the bills easier. And, housing is less expensive where I live. I just have to suck it up and tolerate the long commute. It really can be done, especially if this job will help you reach your big picture / long term goals. FYI, books on CD are awesome for longer commutes.

I really loved reading this post. Thank you for sharing your experiences!

I've been feeling nervous for the same reason. It's good to see that others feel the same way. I'm considering a career change to nursing, starting my prerequ's in the spring. I am excited about the challenge, but start to doubt my choice when I read posts from some seasoned nurses who are not happy in the field. But, then I read wonderful articles & posts from other seasoned nurses that help me feel like it's worth the risk to change my career. Best of luck to all of you!

Thanks for responding, drmorton2b. I went to the info session on Friday &, for both day & evening programs, it is 7 hrs clinical per wek the 1st semester then 12-14 hrs clinical per wk for 2nd and after. That is in addition to about 4 hrs class time + lab.

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all having a good day. I know that some of you are in the MassBay evening / weekend program and I hope you can answer a couple of questions for me. I am considering applying there and will be going to the info session this week. Regarding clinicals for Nursing II, III & IV....I see in the course schedule that these are btw 12 - 14 hrs a week. Is this true for the eve / wknd program or is this just for the daytime program? Given that this program runs for 3 yrs instead of 2, I thought that the clinicals would be stretched out a bit. Also, do you do all of your clinical time on Sundays, or do they also schedule this for during the weeknights or Saturdays? Lastly, do you generally go to facilities (hospitals, ltc, etc.) in Framingham or do you have to go into Boston? I appreciate ANY insight you can give me! My husband currently works evenings, so I'm trying to figure out just how much creative scheduling we will need to do. Thanks so much... K

Hello, Thank you all for your responses and for sharing your experiences. It is so helpful to get feedback from those who are going / have been through nursing school. I especially appreciate the details you have shared in regards to time involved. It seems as if it is going to be one of the most challenging things I've undertaken (working full time professionally + nursing school + family), but I see that others have done it....so I can too. An update on my husband.....we talked last night and he is not only supporting me now, he is encouraging me!! Through some marriage counseling and some very good, long talks he understands now and is willing to go on this journey with me. He was actually talking about the benefits of a nursing career in general. I am almost in tears as I write this, because his support means more to me than I will ever be able to express to him. :redpinkhe It is a complete 180 from where we were a year ago when I began talking of a career change. Well, thank you again. I look forward to learning from all of you! K

Thanks, anonymousstudent. I appreciate the reply. The community college I went to in the past has a 3 year RN program. I've looked at the class schedule and Nursing II, for example, has clinicals Sunday afternoon / evening and then the actual class time on Wednesday nights. I'm trying to figure out what my study schedule might be (in general), so that I can see what I'm up against before going toe to toe with my husband over nursing school.

Hello Everyone, I am so happy to have found this site! I have been reading posts for a couple of weeks now and find all that I am learning from you to be invaluable. :) I am contemplating a career change to nursing, but am trying to guage what that will entail with regards to how much time will be needed for studying. My goal is to finish all of my co-req's and prereq's before starting nursing school, so that I will only need to take the nursing classes. I would also go into a part time RN program, as I work full time & am married w/ children. How much study time do you put in for just your nursing classes? Do any of you work full time and go to NS part time? How has it been for you and your family? In addition to the above, if you have any advice on how to deal w/ an unsupportive spouse, I would really appreciate it. He does not want me to change careers at all (I'm 37 and make pretty good money). Because of this lack of support, I want to gather as much information as I can on just how time consuming it will be before making a decision. Thanks in advance for your help and insight!