soon2beNP

jenbripsu that's what I'm thinking as well...hopefully when it's time for my RN to BSN...i can do that online and maybe my employer can help me lol

Ok thank you for your input!!! Yes, the diploma program is fully accredited and recognized and has a few articulating agreements with certain schools in my area...my other concern is student loan max...but that's a different topic. Good luck on your decision as well!

Recently I was accepted into a lpn to rn program in which i would ultimately be receiving a diploma when I finish in 1.5 years. I have a bachelor's in a different subject and nursing is my second career. In my state of NJ, my alma mater is currently offering an LPN TO BSN program in which costs about double of what I would be paying with the diploma program. Since I have a bachelor's already, I don't qualify for grants etc and another factor is during school, I have to keep on working. Being that I have a bachelor already but in a different field, which option makes more sense? I would have to apply to the program through my alma mater whereas I'm already accepted in the diploma program. Wouldn't I be able to apply to an RN to BSN program later in the future if I wanted to?

I've taken all of my pre-reqs thank God! Lucky you with a flexible schedule! Good luck!

what did you decide?

I have also been accepted into HNSON. Does anyone know how the schedule is going to look? I was actually accepted into the bridge program...will anyone here continue working and going to school?

nursing is my second career and due to financial constraints, I went the LPN route. I'm almost 40 and just got accepted into a bridge program...wish I would've started earlier instead of wasting my youth trying to achieve a BA in business. Expensive mistake! My first love was occupational therapy but I started a family young and there went that dream! Not much of a support system. Hopefully my future allows to become a pediatric NP...at this point alittle far fetched...and I almost feel like it's too late.

Thank you for your insight I greatly appreciate it! Job starts in a week and school starts in August, wedding is next year in May. I almost thought about postponing school until next year August but I would be afraid to lose my spot! I am hoping that my new employer will be wiling to extend a Friday, Saturday, Sunday schedule. Being a newbie, I am almost positive no one wants that shift anyways. This bridge program is in the morning and has a set schedule. Worse case, school comes first right? Thanks Ruby Vee! Any pointers on how to handle the load? I already feel like I am going to lose my mind! lol

I am in the middle of planning my wedding and my dream job calls me and I accept, but before the job offer, I applied to a bridge program that is difficult to get into and was recently accepted! Now I am stuck on not knowing what to do. I have waited 6 years for my dream wedding, waited 2 years for my dream job, and waited 3 years to get accepted in to a bridge program! This school's acceptance rate is under 40%! I don't know what to do... Side notes, work schedule will be 12 hours shifts overnight...I am trying every which way to fit both of them into my schedule but the truth is I might have to drop one eventually. Unless they will allow me to work weekends but being that I am going to be a fairly new employee when school starts in August, that might not happen, And the wedding venue is already booked. Insight would be greatly appreciated. Any advice? Please help!

Ivyleaf, My experience is mostly in peds and I really enjoy it. I don't necessarily enjoy the hospital setting very much but I feel that the market demands experience in trachs, vents, and gtubes which is what this job at the rehab facility for children entails...especially in NJ.

You definitely have a point. The benefits are much better in the way of tuition reimbursement and retirement benefits, but that is pretty much it. The fact that it is in a hospital setting, the experience I need, and to put that in my resume, is why it calls my attention. But you are totally right, the grass isn't always greener. ​Thank you for the insight!

I have been a nurse for 2 years now with my first jobs being in Pediatrics, mostly in offices...I love pediatrics and I am comfortable with it. I moved to NJ from the south and picked up a job in Care Coordination for a small internal medicine practice. The position is really laid back, and offers very little supervision, hours are 9-5pm M-F and after 90 days, 5 sick days. After the first year, 2 weeks vacation. Pay is average and i get 1 hour lunch daily. The job is alittle boring, but it is steady. No patient care at all. Recently, after about 5 months of waiting, I received a call for an interview at a huge children's hospital in their LTC department. I love pediatrics so I definitely went for the interview, and got hired! The pay is the same as now, better benefits; however, the hours are 3 days/12 hour shifts 7pm to 7am and I haven't touch a trach/vent/gtube since LPN school. I know that I need more hands on experience, especially since I want to go on to getting my RN eventually, but I am torn between a really low key job, to potentially high stress but more hands on. Can someone shed some insight?