RN-BSN... Advice Appreciated! Start now or Hold Off?

tcvnurse, BSN, RN · May 29, 2012

Hi. I work on a similar sounding PCU and yes! the learning curve is huge. I would maybe wait a year to get your basics under your belt without having to stress about school and studying and stuff. I am pretty sure your plate will be full regardless! :)

But, you know you better than me. If you feel like this is the right time for it, then go for it. Aiming high is way better than aiming low.

fathertod, ASN, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · May 30, 2012

Start now before you have impluses to have a family.

CarryThatWeight, BSN · May 30, 2012

My first thought is to go for it and get it done. You have a good job now, but it is getting harder and harder to get a hospital job without a BSN. Would you rather wait until you have kids AND work four 8's?

happyinillinois · May 30, 2012

Start now, the time will never be right. I started, fresh off orientation, while also earning ACLS, PALS, ENPC and critical care orientation. It is all about priorities, and right now yours is Nursing!

commonsense · May 30, 2012

I graduated last December from an associate degree program. I worked for a couple of months in a LTC on a short term rehab unit before landing a job on a Cardiac Progressive Care Unit. I will be off orientation for this position in the middle of July. I work 4 8hr shifts per week. I have a husband, but no kids.
I applied to a RN-BSN program that meets one time per week in a local city. We take two classes at a time for 7 weeks at a time. It is structured for the working professional, and many say you can work full time while doing this program full time as well. I like this program better than my States BSN @ home program, because it is mostly in person vs being 99% online.
IF I were still working at the rehab place, I would 100% be starting this program this fall. I am apprehensive now that I have gotten my acceptance letter, because I will only be 1.5 months off of orientation on a step down unit. I have many employer obligated training/certifications, and my floor has a super large learning curve to say the least.
So my question is... Have any of you been in this situation? Newly off of orientation and contemplating entering a RN-BSN program? I am just wondering how it went for you? Was it completely overwhelming? I am wondering if I should put it off a semester or two? Part of me really wants to just start the program, but a large part is thinking "are you crazy?" I will appreciate any insight that I receive! Thanks in advance.

The trick here is about knowing yourself and what you can handle. I'm facing a similar situation personally. I'll be starting an ICU residency a week before I start my RN-BSN program. The main reason I decided to go ahead and start school was that I was able to balance 3-6 hours of BSN prerequisites each semester while attending nursing school and working 20 hours a week. Nobody knows you better than yourself, weigh the options and make the decision you feel is best.