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StarvingRtist makes some really great points! I definitely second the advice of enrolling in your pre-reqs asap. If there is a nursing program you have in mind already, I recommend contacting their admissions department to discuss their specific pre-req courses. I know a lot of nurses who took their pre-reqs at community college to save money and then transferred the credits to their nursing program. This is a great idea, HOWEVER, it's extremely important that you check with the admissions dept. at your desired nursing school to make sure any courses you take at community college will transfer directly into their nursing program. Otherwise, you could end up re-taking some courses. Here are a few more tips from a nursing school admissions director if you'd like to get their point of view. While you are taking your pre-reqs, use it as an opportunity to develop strong study habits. Don't procrastinate! This will put you way behind once the madness of nursing school begins. Try to make a schedule and stick to it -- set aside time every day to study flashcards, review notes, complete assigned readings, etc. I hope this helps! Best of luck. You can do it:)

Great advice everyone! Congrats on finishing your first year:)

Possibly Timberland PRO Renovas? I know they are similar to Danskos in style and support, but I don't know about the noise factor... I like Brooks personally.

Here is a pretty helpful article about making your application stand out, though it sounds like you are well on your way to getting accepted. Keep up the great work!!

I have recommended this article a few times to students in the same situation as you: Juggling Act: How 1 Nurse Balances Work, School and Life | Scrubbed In: A Nurse.com Blog It's a great interview with a nursing student who is also a working mother. Here is another good article with a few tips for mothers in nursing school. I hope these help! You can do it!

Thanks so much for your responses! I too am finding that new grads in my area are looking to move elsewhere for jobs. @Annachu512 I'll pass along the Atlanta tip as well:) Any input/advice from nurses or students on the West Coast??

It seems like I have been reading a lot of blog posts that continue to quote the Bureau of Labor Statistics report from 2012, stating that between 2010-2020, the RN workforce is estimated to be the top occupation in terms of job growth. The report estimates the number of RN jobs increasing over 700,000. But most of my friends who are currently looking for a position as an RN are having a lot of trouble getting anything. There is a ton of competition. So I'm curious...are these Bureau of Labor stats accurate in your area? Is there a thriving job market for RN's where you live? Or is it highly competitive? Thanks for your input!

Making time for regular exercise is a great idea! I would definitely be sure to include that in your weekly schedule. Things can get pretty hectic during the semester -- especially if you are also working part time -- so I would say a feasible goal is to workout 3 times a week. Try setting aside 30-45 minutes for each workout. For me, the biggest challenge with this was keeping my motivation up to actually DO the workout. So I started focusing on activities that I naturally enjoy anyway (swimming, biking, tennis, etc.). This made me WANT to workout -- unlike the insanity dvd's I had been trying. I hope that helps!

Hi @RubySlippers06! Being a nursing student while working and being a mom is tough, but you can do it! All three things are demanding, and most likely, you won't be able to spend as much time with your kids as they are used to. However, if you talk with your children ahead of time about the changes they can expect, it helps them mentally prepare. Time management is so important when trying to balance school, work, and family life; I highly recommend setting a specific time aside each day or week to spend with your family. Here are a few great articles I read about this same topic: Tips for moms in nursing school and How one nurse balances work, school, and life. I hope that helps a little! Best of luck:)

Time management was absolutely key for me. I lived by my outlook calendar -- scheduling daily study time, group reviews, due dates, etc. Best of luck! You're going to do great!

If nursing is what you love to do, then I vote go for it:) I didn't have a family while in nursing school, so I don't know that I would have any useful input on that aspect. But maybe this Scrubbed In post would help? The nurse they interviewed worked as an RN for 15 years before returning to school for her BSN.

I definitely agree with the above responses. I wouldn't recommend going through a nursing program if your dream job is to be a paramedic. Becoming a paramedic requires less schooling, and you can always go back to school and enroll in a bridge program to get your RN if you decide to continue on. I would recommend researching both options as you try to decide. Here is a helpful article about becoming a paramedic if you are looking for a place to get started.

I would recommend going for the RN. Though it is often tough to find a job with either one (LPN or RN), it's a bit easier if you are a registered nurse, especially if you are also working towards your BSN online. A lot of hospitals are starting to require thir current RNs to earn their BSNs, and they are only looking to hire BSNs. So I think going for the RN at this point would be nore beneficial for you than the LPN program. I just read a really helpful article about the job market for nurses (comparing LPN, RN, and BSN) if you are interested: Job Market for Nurses Best of Luck!!

I'm afraid I can't fix the frustration you are experiencing with your husband, but I want to encourage you in your journey. I know you are working extremely hard and it will all be worth it soon! It's great that you have the support and understanding of your sons. Try to focus on the fantastic lessons you are teaching them by being such a great example of hard work and dedication. You go girl! You can do it:)

You can definitely do this:) I'm not familiar with the housing market in your area, so I don't know what the average rent would be. But regardless, I would recommend finding a roommate. Chances are there is another person in the program you decide on who would like to live in a an apartment. Once you choose your school, you could advertise for a roommate on campus boards, facebook, etc. If you can find a situation like @RubyVee had, it would be the most affordable option I think. Best of Luck!

Hi RestoringHope! You have some really great questions here. Honestly, I won't be able to give you answers for every question, simply because it really depends on your personal preferences, your work ethic/determination, and schedule. Since you have just begun your nursing career, I would recommend putting in a little more time before jumping back into school. I suggest this mostly for practical reasons - it gives you time to save some money or pay off some school debt, it allows you to focus 100% on your new job so you can take full advantage of the hands-on learning opportunities there, and it gives you some time to consider all your options as you look ahead at furthering your education. Once you feel like you are ready to get back into a nursing program, I would definitely recommend that you consider an online program. A person really needs to be disciplined and motivated to do an online BSN program, but it does allow you to work around your current nursing schedule a bit better. And often times, you can decide how fast you want to progress through the course work. Also, you can definitely find schools that emphasize community health and the future of the healthcare system. You just have to take a close look at each school's curriculum. I found an article that may help give you some idea of what to think about when considering an online BSN program. Take a look at the article here. I hope this helps!

I'd say about half of my co-workers are going back to school for their BSN right now. As many other people have already commented, many hospitals are now requiring RNs to get their BSN. So I can definitely see why someone starting a nursing program now would just go straight for the BSN option. For someone who already has their associate's degree, but still wants/needs to work while earning their BSN, I'd recommend an accredited online program. I'm in the Northeast and have some co-workers doing an online program with PA College of Health Sciences but there are a lot more to choose from depending on where you are located.

Yep, get the BSN - even if you end up taking some time off for your family.

I definitely agree with pmabraham. There is no room for procrastination in nursing school. Keep at it! You'll do great:)

1: My outlook calendar (I scheduled myself to within an inch of my life, but I can't argue with the results!) 2: Caffeine 3: Amazing instructors

In my area, it is tough to find work with an associate nursing degree. And you can definitely get your BSN in under two years. I know for me, I could not afford to be in school for my BSN without working part-time somewhere. So I ended up doing some of my BSN courses online through PA College. Best of luck with the job hunt!

I use a mac now, but I would have to agree with what @acmj wrote. If you are using the laptop for taking notes, doing research, writing papers, and surfing the web, a pc will definitely do the job and save you a lot of money while you are in school. All the best to you!

I agree with the above comments. CNA experience is only going to benefit you. I am so grateful for my CNA experience. It helped me and two friends get accepted to nursing school -- of course there are many other factors as well. I had a fairly strong GPA and some additional volunteer work.

As long as you have good time management skills and enjoy inorganic chem I think you will be fine. If you are someone who struggles with chem, I would try to spread the classes out a bit more so you aren't so fried by the time that final class rolls around. Good luck:)

HIGHLIGHTERS for sure:) Laptop/ipad & chewing gum are my top three!