Babs41

Thank you for responding! I am from PA and did notice that we had the majority of the diploma programs but a few had closed / converted to ADN programs over the last few years. It's a bit confusing since the both seem to take the same amount of time and require the same prerequisites? I think what I'm loosely planning on doing right now is taking my 8 or so perquisites part time over the next year (no way I would get into any of the fall 2014 programs so why waste the money applying!) and then apply to any and all programs within an hr or so radius of me. So I would apply to Diploma, ADN, BSN and ABSN prgrams and see if I hopefully get accepted to at least one of them for 2015! On another note is it as hard to get accepted into a program across the country? The CC near me has a rate of 600+ applying for only 100 spots, and that seems to be about average. Yikes! I'm wondering if relocating after my prerequisites for a program and working afterwards would be worth looking into.

Hello! I hope I can explain this correctly (I'm still trying to figure out all the programs available!). I have an end goal of obtaining my BSN and am trying to figure out which way to get started. I already have a degree in a non nursing related field and while I'm still considering it, I don't know if a ABSN program is the route for me. I was planning on going for my ADN and then doing a bridge program to obtain my BSN while working as an RN (hopefully, as I have been reading about how hard it is to get a job!). However, I met with an advisor today and she basically told me that it would be very hard to get into an ADN program anytime soon and that I should look into a Hospital Based Diploma program and do a bridge program from there. I'm just now starting to look into these programs and what it takes to get accepted into them. Is going for the diploma over the ADN a better "first step"? What are the pros / cons of each? I would still be working towards by BSN either way, anybody do it one of these ways? Any insight would be great! Thanks!

Thanks everyone! I just read some other topics on people who worked full time and went to nursing school full time and it made me feel silly for asking about this! I appreciate you all being so kind in your responses. :)

Hello All! I'm planning on going for either my ADN or BSN (as a 2nd degree) but have prerequisites to take first. Currently I work as a nanny for a nurse :) and will be going to school at night until I enter clinicals in which case I will probably no longer be able to work f/t. My question is about my possible future schedule and how doable it is: I work 10 hour days 3 days a week and a 1/2 day once a week. It's always M-F with an end time of 5pm but the days change weekly. I'm thinking of taking two classes (probably A&P I and Chem I) in the spring semester which would mean classes from 6pm-9pm M-Th. So, some weeks there will be a few days when I work 645am-5pm, go straight to class (40 min commute to school) and get home around 9:30/10PM and then wake up and do it all over again. I would have 1 and 1/2 days off of work before class but can't choose what days. I am not someone who math and science comes easily to and I know that I will need to study and apply myself to get good grades in these classes. Anyone do something similar? Would it be better to take one class at a time so that I have every other night off to study? Thanks!

Thank you so much, very helpful responses! I do like the idea of taking the traditional route over the accelerated route as I would like to do it right the first time and if that means it takes a few years longer, than so be it! As for going for the ADN first, that's something I'm looking into as well and am trying to figure out the benefits to doing that over going straight for the BSN (?). I'm considering taking my pre-reqs at a community college and then applying for both and seeing which I get into. Thanks again, you are all awesome for taking the time to respond! :)

Thank You! I was looking into this program: Accelerated Second Degree BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) Programs. I looked into at several schools and they didn't mention anything about an associates degree, but I will look into that as another option. Thanks!

Hi All! I'm a first time poster here and I hope I'm in the right place! I am 26 years old and graduated with non nursing related degree 2 years ago. Honestly, I've wanted to be a nurse since before high school but lost my way and got all confused during college and didn't pursue it. I regret it, but I'm ready to right my mistakes now and have the goal of someday becoming an RN. I've been looking into all the different programs available and am trying to come up with a plan. My first plan was / is to try to get into an accelerated 2nd degree BSN program (http://www.bestnursingdegree.com/programs/accelerated-bsn/). However, I have about none of the pre reqs so I'll have to take all of those first, (which is fine!) and on top of that, I graduated with a 2.7 in my undergrad which is under almost all the minimum requirements for the nursing programs near me. So, if I go this route, I see it taking me several years before I can actually enter the workforce as an RN. I would like to explore all of my options and it doesn't necessarily have to be the fastest way. Any insight or thoughts and advice would be SO appreciated! I'm so glad I came across this site, it's already been extremely helpful. Thank You!