Second Career Anyone?

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Hi,

Short and sweet...starting my CNA classes in the fall to prepare me for the LPN-RN Bridge. Currently taking my pre-req's for the Fall 2010 nursing program I hope to get into (the community college I'm going to only takes application for the program for the fall, in the spring). I work from home 3 out of 5 days at a technology company as an accountant. Married, 37 with 2 kids. Question? Is there a quicker way to reach my goal as a RN? (don't look I will complete a AA in Nursing until 2012 and then BSN maybe 2014). Is there anyone else out there that made nursing a second career option? How long did it take you and how did you complete this goal?

Thanks all, Love the site and all the interesting forums I've read!:yeah:

LoveFromAbove,

Val (Illinois)

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Probably the only quicker way would be to attend a for profit school that integrated the pre and co requisite courses in with the nursing courses. Unfortunately these schools (thinking of one near me) can cost as much as $116,000 for a BSN.

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Thanks for the advice! :)

Is that a realistic time line? 5 years?

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The glitch would occur when you are trying to get accepted to the nursing program, if you get caught up in a waiting list or don't get lucky in a lottery. There actually are some who have changed their career goals because after being eligible for three or more years, they were not accepted. They couldn't wait any longer. Five years sounds more than reasonable, provided you don't get tied up like I said. You don't want to attempt more courses in a term (trying to speed things up), than you can handle, because you need to get the best grades possible if you are applying to any programs that base admissions on grades.

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Yeah thats what I thought! If I don't get accepted in the Spring, I will go the AA applied Science route and the take extra classes for the pre-req to BSN Nursing Program (2 years) at a Private College. I would go the private College route now, but its tooo expensive. I need to save at that, and was hoping to get a second job with the CNA and my experience to help save for the program. I will have to quite my job as an accountant to go to Nursing School if and when I get accepted,...

Do you think I could get a good CNA job at a hospital as a clerk,etc? (I know CNA's only make about $9hr.) That way I can earn my experience too.

I have been wanting to be a nurse for a while! Now that I've gotten an opportunity (financially) and have a strong family system, I have to take this chance now. I'm just worried that because of my age and the economy it may not be a good idea:bugeyes:

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If you think you will need to be saving to attend a private school, then you need to keep your accountant job as long as possible because, as you know, CNAs are at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to wages. And you can't count on getting a CNA position in an acute care hospital. Sometimes they can be peculiarly picky (read young and especially attractive). You might consider taking online or hybrid courses to mesh with your accountant job so you can work as long as possible. To get credit for being a CNA in the nursing school admissions process (provided this is included in the criteria) you only have to do a shift or two, perhaps on the weekend. Some people get quite creative juggling their schedules, and can even manage to maintain flexibility once they are actually in the program. Once you get in the nursing program you should keep your employment status, as well as other personal info, to yourself as much as possible. I found that I was discriminated against when my school found out I was working. All schools preach "You can't work and go to nursing school" as if we all were Rockefeller family members. You never know when the attitude will be held against you. I found this out the hard way and my job never interfered with school.

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this is very true! Hybrid? What about the clinicals? They do have a Hybrid program... the CNA will be only for the weekend as well as the CNA classes at night. The Nursing Classes are all during the day, so I will definitely see how that goes. I've been at my job for 12 years so yes I definitely don't want to jeopordize that if at all possible.

Thank You sooo much for your advice :)

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Hybrid courses are those that are part online and part on campus. Some of them meet on campus one day a week, or only for exams, or only once at the beginning....that sort of thing. I wasn't really referring to hybrid nursing courses. Nursing programs with flexible scheduling are normally few and far between. Just glad to be helpful. I could have learned a lot when I was starting out and I didn't have this nursing website to ask questions or anybody around who could or would help. Hope you figure out a good workable solution for you.

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I will and I will definitely keep you updated (if you don't mind)....

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