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I know that UCF (Univ of Central FL) does have one online.... but I don't know if you have to be local to attend (it's online, and has clinicals once a week or something)

I have exhausted all of my 'leads' and nothing has turned up...church, friends, family. As for family, no there is absolutely no family here. The only one left was dh's gma, and she was the one watching them. She quit abruptly last night. :angryfire So no, no family. We've talked w/ppl from church, the pastor, etc. This is driving me batty. As for childcare...yes, I just need someone to cover the gaps between me leaving and dh getting home. BUT, it'd have to be in-home (as in someone coming to my home) because we have 4 children, all still in corificeats (all aged 5 and under) and so literally dh would have no way of picking the kids up. If there were an option, I'd probably have a friend watch them or something, but it isn't. It's much easier to have someone watch your kids when you can drop them off, versus asking someone to come to your house, though, kwim? AAAARRRRRRGGH So frustrating. I am looking into the Deaconess program. I didn't know it existed, but literally my mind has NONSTOP thought about all options this weekend. You know how when you are stressed/depressed about something you just cannot stop thinking about it. Thats how it is for me now. So I have thought of just about EVERY single avenue that I can think of. *big deep sigh*

OK so you find a nurse and set something up on your own for clinicals, and then after each rotation you must fly out to Missouri to show the instructors there that you have the skills? So how often is that?? And what is/was the application deadline for Fall '06?

Thanks guys. The thing is... I AM in the evening LPN program (which btw, our clinicals are evenings too) No, my school doesn't have childcare (and I have 4 children), but it'd be nice if it did! I am so stressed out this weekend, trying to decide what to do, what is the best solution here. It seems like finishing my Bachelor's and then doing that program at UoWI may be my best option?

I am trying to figure out....IF I decide to do this program, how can I know what classes will transfer over (the sciences)? I have one science I've already done, but I can take all of the rest at the local community college....but then, things are different. For instance, at UoWI, they say "Human Anatomy" and "Human Physiology". OK, here it's A&P. What does that count for, two classes? And do I need A&P 1 AND A&P2?? Really confused about that... and Microbial Survey, what the heck is that? Is that Microbiology? This is confusing because I wanna know what to take, and how many classes that's gonna count for at UoWI, if I go that route? ARGH~ who here has BTDT? LOL

OK. Here is the situation: I am currently a student nurse (LPN). However, abruptly my sitter has quit on us. Now, we have been searching for awhile for a replacement/backup, but are not having any luck at ALL. So I am in a situation of either dh quits his job and finds something else (btw, not gonna be easy-he makes 12.50/hr right now doing Admin Asst in a Dr's office....around here, that is a fortune for Admin., so he would have to take a big paycut, plus he'd have to go to part-time to have something w/hours that would let me get to school....IOW, not really an option), or I quit nursing school. This is an extremely serious situation for us. Now.... I was working on my BS before starting LPN school. I have one year (of full time) left to get my Bachelor's. I could then go on to do that Bachelor's-BSN program at UoW (meanwhile I would have to take 1 science class each semester for the next year to finish the pre-reqs for UoW.) Had I continued along the path I was going, it'd be nearly 4 yrs before I'd have my BSN. I never even dreamed of this being an option, until tonight when she up and quit, and I thought "perhaps I should go back to FSU and just finish my BS, then I could eventually get my BSN". Should I look into an online LPN program and carry on the usual route (LPN, RN, BSN).....which btw would mean I'd prob have to wait til the program started at Deaconess, right? So maybe add even MORE time to the already 'nearly 4yrs'. OR do you think I should finish my Bachelor's, then do BS-BSN, which means about 2.5yrs from now I could have my BSN? (still need to look at what month of the year the B-BSN program starts at U of WI anyway...)

Ivy, you're right--you can do RN-MSN at Excelsior if you want to. Sue, you are absolutely right though, which is why I have decided to go the traditional route after all. It seems no matter what ideas I have that I may want to do in the future, where I want to go to school, etc...it ALWAYS comes down to them wanting science classes WITH labs, which isn't what you get at Excelsior.

OK I know the main answer to my question is going to be...."It all depends on YOU and how well YOU would do as an online student." I know THAT much And I have no doubts as to how well I would do (as far as online learning goes) because I did distance learning for 3yrs and maintained my A avg. So, that part I'm not worried about. What I am worried about is........ (and this is all 'planning ahead', exploring my options, etc.) If I decide to continue on with nursing (leaning that way)....I will want to eventually get my MSN, most likely. So that means LPN-RN, RN-BSN, BSN-MSN (or any variety of options, whatever, that isn't really the point lol) BUT--another route would be to take traditional pre-req science classes, which means taking forever just to get the RN (since I am missing A&P 1, A&P2, BIO 1 &2, Chem, and Micro.) I have an Assoc. of Arts, not AS. Well, makes more sense to me to just go all the way with an online program, such as Excelsior, and go RN, BSN,MSN, because it'd be quicker. But then I wonder.....which would LOOK BETTER to a potential employer?? Degrees from Excelsior or degrees from "such and such State University"?? If I want the "such and such State Univ." degree, I'm gonna have ot spend years working on the science pre-reqs....and my goodness, by the time I finish those science pre-reqs, I could at least have a BSN from Excelsior. Get what I'm saying? I would LOVE to just do everything online, because that is sooooo much easier with having a family/children to support. But I'm scared to spend all the time and money on Excelsior degrees, if when I go to apply for a job position they are gonna go "humph! online BSN/MSN?? sorry, you don't get the job." Maybe I'm just used to the whole "who went to what Ivy League school and what's the ranking of that school" mentality I've always had...maybe it's different with nursing......or maybe it's NOT different. ??????

I'm an LPN student and I *plan to* get my RN through Excelsior. Does that count? :) I'm in Sanford, and my school is in Orlando.

Suzanne, from what I am learning and researching, you are right. It really seems to be go one route, or go the other. I *could* do it the way I originally planned, but it seems to be kinda a waste of time. It would literally be like getting a Bachelor's in one field and wanting a Master's in a totally different field. It can be done... but then one would have to back waaaaaay up and work on the Bachelor's in the field in which they desire the Master's. So really, again, a waste of time (though I don't want to say that any learning is a waste of time... but you kwim). I did not realize all of this until I started posting to this and another health-related forum. I know that's what the forums are for tho--I get to post my idea, and ask for feedback, and people say "Wait--what?? That's crazy!" and then I learn what I should be doing instead. Oh, and I have been browsing some med schools and looking at the requirements. What I HADNT done yet (stupid me) was look at the req for the BSN. If I had done that, my answer might have stared me in the face before now. Well I am in an LPN program now, because that was what I had decided to do. I love my program, I love the schooling, and learning. I'm one of those geeky types that just loves always having something to do, something academically challenging, and so that's why I enjoy it. I am doing this because right now (today really) my family needs me to do something to make decent money, and when I'm finished w/this program in a year, I will be in a position to do so (part time,fulltime, whatever.) Meanwhile, probably when I finish this program I will go BACK to the University and finish my Bachelor's (I'm about 30-roughly-credit hrs away from completing my Bachelor's I believe...I need to contact FSU and get more details on that) I guess I could finish them up by changing my major to one geared toward science (as opposed to social science, which is what it was). I will have to ponder that a bit more. Thanks so very much for your replies ladies! :)

Good question, one that I get asked all the time Two main reasons: 1) I need a bachelor's *anyway* in order to get into Med School. 2) Nursing is such a flexible career, it would be perfect (hours worked) for me, since I have a family and will need to work while going to school. I do not have the ability to just enroll in the local university and finish my Bachelor's I was working on. Mostly, because I have a family to care for and for us it just would not work. A BSN can be gotten online. As can some other Bachelor's degrees... I know. And I have thought about finishing up my Bachelor's I was working on, and then doing a Bachelors to BSN program....BUT again I still need those science classes. Always comes back to that. LOL

Has anyone done this, or does anyone have any ideas for doing this? I guess my biggest question is...most Med Schools I have researched want your sciences to be taken with the *lab*...and yet, part of my plans for that BSN one day would include getting the classes online. For instance, if I took the exams thru Excelsior in the science classes, managed to get licensed and managed to eventually get my BSN, would I have to take them all over if I wanted to get into med school??? Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions/career plan? Thanks so much!! :)

Oh ok...so what I'm thinking of is called respite care, then? Does that mean someone is on their death bed or does it just mean 1 nurse per patient (not nec. on their death bed)? And so, are those the typical hours/shifts available? I don't think I could do the daytime home-visits thing (though it sounds nice and very flexible!) because of my kids. I was kinda hoping for something that would let me be able to avoid childcare (I have a dh who works reg shift, 8-4:30 usu. home by 5:30 or 6) 3-11 would be an awesome shift, for me... but would mean needing childcare. I'm guessing you can't bring your kids along with you for those home visits or respite care, huh?

I'm just curious to know what hours a Home Health Care nurse works?? It seems (from reading posts) that most of you work during the day (typical 8-5) visiting pts. Could someone work evenings...like maybe 7pm- say 3am? I don't imagine visiting pts after 10pm.... but maybe if you only had 1 pt you were assigned to...how does that work, exactly? Do you pick your own hours?

Ohhhhhh-k So basically it is saying if you are not even at LEAST an LPN, then you cannot go through the program and later be licensed. BTW I am an LPN student currently, going to school locally, the traditional route, but cannot for the life of me figure out how to do my signature!! LOL Anyway, when I finish LPN school, and assuming I take and pass the NCLEX-PN, I can then go to Excelsior and do their programs, and be licensed (assuming I pass exams) as an RN, and later a BSN.......right? Dutchgirl--what did this mean? Please let me know! :) Are you talking about pre-reqs or regular classes or just info. Oh, and btw, since I'm would be starting the program as a licensed LPN, how do I go about doing the pre-reqs that are required before you even START a nursing program for RN? What I mean is...I do have an AA, so many things will transfer over, BUT I don't have A&P I/II (and I believe Bio I/II are pre-reqs for that) and I don't have Microbiology. Can you do those with Excelsior?? If so, how do you do that, since I would think that would have to be done in person, for lab stuff?? Overall, this is great news, to hear that you all are reading this the way I am in that I'd be ok to do Excelsior. Of course, just to clarify and be 100% sure I want to try to contact the BON here in FL. Line seems to be busy all the time though.....