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Discussion

RN Programs Offered During the Evening...Resident of Harford County??

I have only recently started the process of researching programs in which I'd like to pursue nursing. I have yet to finish my Bachelors in Business, although I am about 60% complete. All that said, I have changed my tune, and would now like to reconsider a different career path...ie. nursing. I am also a resident of Harford County, and mother of two with a third on the way.

Given the research I have done, I see that Harford Community College offers a nursing program; although it is only offered during the day hours. I am currently a stay at home mom, and was very hopeful that I'd be able to pursue my degree at night while my husband can watch the kids. I believe Essex offers a night program, although I've read mixed reviews according to this site on the success of the program itself.

I'd greatly appreciate any and all advice on Essex' program or any other avenues that I may have yet to consider. I also know that this is only the beginning of my journey...it appears as though finding the school is the easy part...actually getting accepted...whole other story!!

Thanks!!

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  • Experts

Hi,

Have you considered looking into switching over to a BSN program and using many of the pre-reqs you already have? The only thing I've heard about Essex's programs, all of them, is that they are pretty tough and its sink or swim. Then again my nursing program wasn't at all warm and fuzzy either, lol. Personally I believe that the NCLEX is a solo sport and I knew that I would be able to pass with adequate study time. As for clinical experiences sometimes you get good ones sometimes you don't but the good news, imo is that almost all of our advanced skills are learned on the job as a new grad. Just my two cents but I'd go where ever I could get accepted provided that it was ok'd by the MBON. Good luck.

  • Author

Hi "Jules,"

Thanks so much for your response. I will definitely take your advice into account and question an academic advisor at either Harford CC or Essex CC if that might be a better route for me. I didn't honesty know that that was an option, so I think I had better do a little more research into that. I was originally set and approved to start the College of Notre Dame's accelerated Business Program come Fall 09', and I did notice online that they have a Nursing Program as well. Only catch, I BELIEVE you have to have your RN to pursue that program. Again...definitley worth checking into.

Thanks.

Shana

Hi Shana! We're in a similar situation, and I've been doing a lot of research. I have a degree in another field and I'm a stay-at-home mom to a six month old little boy.

I'm not assuming you know as little as I did when I first made the decision to pursue nursing, but I'll give you a summation of everything I've learned so far.

You can get an AA degree at a community college, and take an exam to get your RN, and start working, or get a BSN at a 4-year college and take your exam. If you've already taken many gen-eds, you may be very close to satisfying all of your prerequisite courses and therefore be close to being able to apply to an AA or BSN program.

I live in Annapolis, so I just know that my county's community college does not offer an evening/weekend program, so I just can't do it. Howard County CC has an evening/weekend program, but I've heard that if you are out of county, you are very often wait-listed for the following year that you apply. Look on Essex CC or Howard CC's website to find out which gen-eds you've already taken, and which you may need to take in order to apply.

Although I have a degree, I am still short some prerequisite courses and am taking them now and planning on applying to a BSN program. I still need Chemistry, Human Growth and Developmentnt, Nutrition, Microbiology, and Human Anotomy I and II. At community college, you can take these classes at night and/or online.

I decided to go the BSN route, because it would take me the same amount of time to complete a BSN after my prerequisites as it would to complete an AA after my prerequisites (plus, the only CC close by that offers evening/weekend is out of county).

Stevenson College, formerly Villa Julie college, offers an evening/weekend accelerated BSN program. It is the only one I know of in the area. UMB has an "online" RN to BSN program, but again, it depends on how many of those gen-eds you have satisfied. It may not make sense for you, as it didn't for me, to pursue you're RN first.

Stevenson seems expesive, but you should know that there is a Maryland nursing scholorship that pays 3,000 a year as long as you agree to work one year for every year it is awarded. Also, several hospitals in the area have loan repayment benefits. There is a post on this board about a couple of them...I think the original thread was about starting pay for new grads.

Best of luck to you! I know I'm excited to get started on this path. :yeah:

  • Experts

I think that Stevenson's accelerated program is the RN-BSN but I could be wrong. I have heard that AACC either has or is starting a night/weekend LPN program and they have a LPN to RN program that is pretty short. The only bad thing about AACC is that I think they still only take in county residents. Good luck! I felt that my education on the different programs, their requirements and the hoops I had to jump through to get accepted was almost as tough as actual nursing school, lol. :D

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