what school? (Nursing...)

njbikernurse · Jan 18, 2007

Are you by any chance already an LPN??? If so, Excelsior College offers a distance learning program for an ADN degree. It's very tough unless you're self-motivated and can comprehend nursing textbooks without a lot of help. It's www.excelsior.edu in case you're interested.

jenni82104 · Jan 18, 2007

Exoskeleton, are you in the Philippines? If so, you should post your question in that forum for more help.

NeosynephRN · Jan 18, 2007

I am currently enrolled in an Evening Weekend program...at my school you have to have ALL the pre req classes done before getting into the program which means when you start the nursing classes that is all you will be taking, no comp or micro with you nursing stuff. At the begining of the program we went 2 nights a week to lecture and on the weekends to clinicals. Now that we are almost done we do wone night a week in class and weekend clinicals and we will have to work in our internship. The program takes the same amount of time as a reg program. I would say that 90% of the people in my class work full time and 98% have a family with kids at home to. No nursing school is easy and this is no exception, but my family life has not fallen apart, like so many want you to think it will!! Good luck with your decision!!

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2007

I just read that a community college I took a lot of my pre-reqs at has started an ADN program on weekends for working people. You have to have all the pre-reqs finished and of course, it is ALL weekend.

They got some grant money from community sources but when I communicated with the program head she said it had been unbelievably popular. I can imagine...when I was a career changer 20+ years ago, the huge dilemma was having to leave employment to get my nursing education. I'm thrilled there are now more flexible options.

The college I refer to is County College of Morris, Randolph, NJ.

Gromit · Jan 18, 2007

Thanks Exo, I appreciate that :)

As others are piping up show, it IS possible, and there are programs out there (if your area doesn't yet offer one, make sure the college knows that there is an interest in programs for those of us who work and wish to go to college) -No two ways about it, its not easy to work and go to school, and to be honest if I'd thought about it before I actually started it, it might have scared me away -but I've always been a 'feet first' kinda guy. That is, I jump in with both feet and swim or sink (and make no mistake about it, I've royally screwed up from time to time, and sank -but fighting all the way down -grin. I often don't know when to just quit and leave). I could have taken a slightly easier course by bridging over from paramedics to RN (they have a program here for that -it only cuts a semester out, but... ) but didn't because I didn't know what I would have missed (they cut the fundamentals out -in my opinion this is a big mistake. Fundies may be something of a drag at times, but they are so essential to good nursing -and paramedics are NOT taught most of what is in there -why should they be? -my point is, the bridge should not exist. )

I really hope you decide to do it -its an adventure (grin).

One piece of advice if you will -it seemed to help me quite a bit. :

My fondest goal is to build (and fly) my own airplane -it was before I started nursing. I had the plane in mind that I wanted. I printed out pictures of it, and put them inside my notebook cover (so it was always there to see). My PROMISE to myself was that when I became an RN, I would put my next efforts into being able to afford to build and fly this plane. I'm still working on that part, but thats the point. When things looked pretty dim, and I was just sick and tired of school, the hospital, always being in debt and behind the ball (felt like you could never catch up), while my friends went on about their lives enjoying their free time etc etc, I would look at the pictures of that plane, and imagine being able to start that project, and (I just love to fly) flying.

Find "your promise to yourself" and put representations of your goal in your folder, locker at work, wherever. When things are tough, THAT will be your push to continue. Doesn't matter WHAT it is, but it must be something you truly feel strongly enough about, that you can reward yourself for finishing what you started.

matt59 · Jan 19, 2007

thank you matt...i guess i have to resign!

Well, don't be too hasty; I could very well be wrong, I often am. I was basing my reply on my own experience & the experiences I have heard of (until this date) of others. That made me think that there was no such thing as nursing school only on weekends. (Personally, i wish I could take night classes; I am not a morning person, nor have I ever been.)

Anyway, that's what I did--I resigned from a job that probably paid relatively well (in light of todays economy) to attend nsx school. There are students in my class that work part & full time & are able to adjust their work schedule to accomodate their school schedule, but not me. My ex-employer prides themselves on being employee unfriendly pricks. Not only that, Iam not all that intelligent, & nsx school has stressed me out bad enough when that is all I have on my plate--if I had to work also? I'm pretty sure I would crash at both.

Anyway, good luck with whatever you do.

matt

exoskeleton · Jan 19, 2007

Thanks Exo, I appreciate that :)
As others are piping up show, it IS possible, and there are programs out there (if your area doesn't yet offer one, make sure the college knows that there is an interest in programs for those of us who work and wish to go to college) -No two ways about it, its not easy to work and go to school, and to be honest if I'd thought about it before I actually started it, it might have scared me away -but I've always been a 'feet first' kinda guy. That is, I jump in with both feet and swim or sink (and make no mistake about it, I've royally screwed up from time to time, and sank -but fighting all the way down -grin. I often don't know when to just quit and leave). I could have taken a slightly easier course by bridging over from paramedics to RN (they have a program here for that -it only cuts a semester out, but... ) but didn't because I didn't know what I would have missed (they cut the fundamentals out -in my opinion this is a big mistake. Fundies may be something of a drag at times, but they are so essential to good nursing -and paramedics are NOT taught most of what is in there -why should they be? -my point is, the bridge should not exist. )
I really hope you decide to do it -its an adventure (grin).
One piece of advice if you will -it seemed to help me quite a bit. :
My fondest goal is to build (and fly) my own airplane -it was before I started nursing. I had the plane in mind that I wanted. I printed out pictures of it, and put them inside my notebook cover (so it was always there to see). My PROMISE to myself was that when I became an RN, I would put my next efforts into being able to afford to build and fly this plane. I'm still working on that part, but thats the point. When things looked pretty dim, and I was just sick and tired of school, the hospital, always being in debt and behind the ball (felt like you could never catch up), while my friends went on about their lives enjoying their free time etc etc, I would look at the pictures of that plane, and imagine being able to start that project, and (I just love to fly) flying.
Find "your promise to yourself" and put representations of your goal in your folder, locker at work, wherever. When things are tough, THAT will be your push to continue. Doesn't matter WHAT it is, but it must be something you truly feel strongly enough about, that you can reward yourself for finishing what you started.

hi sir gomit, this is another good thing to do. i will follow your style sir. i have to think for a goal in life ang glance on it everytime i feel down and imagine as you said to start that project. that's the very nice thing you've share...thank you again for this wonderful inspiring thoughts.

good luck for your career! wish me luck too

thank you also Quickbeam,calla2114,jenni82104,njbikernurse,CASbeezgirlRN

thank you guys

cc_nurse · Jan 19, 2007

The college I attended (Cedar Crest College) offers a part -time day and an evening/weekend program option. You complete your liberal arts courses during the first 2 yrs and then junior and senior year is strictly nursing. You can complete them in the same 2 yrs that full-timers do, but as a previous poster stated you really don't get any breaks. It is brutal but people do it all the time, it depends on how badly you want it. I just finished in December and am still in 'recovery' ;-) but I am thrilled to have stayed the course.

Good luck!

Gromit · Jan 19, 2007

I wish you very good luck on your schooling and career. I expect to be debt free (well, except the truck and house payments) by the end of this year, and will begin saving (and once I've saved enough to begin, I'll begin building and buying parts as I go along) for my plane. The wife and I have great plans to travel with that aircraft :)

ethereal_chic · Sep 4, 2007

:studyowl: hi! there's quite several nursing schools here in the philippines who offers BSN program for working professionals like you. you can enrol at Southwestern University in Urgello St., Cebu city. Usually, classes starts at 5:30pm and ends at 8:30pm from Mon-Fri. There are times also that you need to go to class on a saturday, depends on the subjects the you are taking for the semester. Although, you really need to file a resignation in your job by the time youll reach 3rd year in BSN since there will be a lot of hospital duties and community health development programs (like go on a immersion program at far barangay). Or, you may also enroll at West Negros University in Bacolod. I think their BSN program is just 2 to 3 years since youre a second courser. they hold classes every saturday and sunday so in case if youre from cebu or manila (i suggest you live within the visayas region to cut down travel and lodging costs), you have to fly or ride a boat to bacolod on a friday night.

But I would suggest that you go on full time student since taking up BSN program takes so much of your time.

Hope i answered all your query. Just let me know if ever you need to get the contact details of the schools that i mentioned earlier.

ethereal_chic · Sep 4, 2007

Good day! Im searching the web and found this forum.. thank God.
Guys...i wanna ask if what school offers nursing program for 2nd courser? i mean if im working mondays to fridays, is there a school offers sat & sun classes for a case like this?
thanks in advance

hi! there r quite several nursing schools here in the philippines who offers BSN program for working professionals like you. you can enrol at Southwestern University in Urgello St., Cebu city. Usually, classes starts at 5:30pm and ends at 8:30pm from Mon-Fri. There are times also that you need to go to class on a saturday, depends on the subjects the you are taking for the semester. Although, you really need to file a resignation in your job by the time youll reach 3rd year in BSN since there will be a lot of hospital duties and community health development programs (like go on a immersion program at far barangay). Or, you may also enroll at West Negros University in Bacolod. I think their BSN program is just 2 to 3 years since youre a second courser. they hold classes every saturday and sunday so in case if youre from cebu or manila (i suggest you live within the visayas region to cut down travel and lodging costs), you have to fly or ride a boat to bacolod on a friday night.

But I would suggest that you go on full time student since taking up BSN program takes so much of your time.

Hope i answered all your query. Just let me know if ever you need to get the contact details of the schools that i mentioned earlier.