Second Career BSN

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I'm sure this question or topic has been posed before, but I'd like something a little more personalized towards myself.

I am 29, work full-time, and a mother to a two year-old (in a positive co-parenting relationship). I decided last summer that I was going to jump back onto my path towards healthcare. I have a BS in Sociology and am now finishing up my pre-requisite courses this semester to officially apply to an accelerated BSN program. Ideally after finishing my BSN program (15 months long) I will have applied to and be accepted into a MSN or DNP program.

During the BSN program which is fully online except for the clinicals, I plan on continuing to work at my current job full-time as I am right now. It is necessary for me so that I can still provide the comforts of my current lifestyle and pay for my responsibilities. With getting through my full-time courses last semester and now this semester, I've been telling myself that being tired or at times overwhelmed is just temporary and continued to power through successfully (last semester at least). But I want to know from others in similar situations, how has it been working out for you or how did it?

When I talk to others about what I'm doing or plan to do they look exhausted and praise me on the comittment with everything else on my plate and I admit it sounds like a lot, but I'm optimistic that its more than doable. It would be great to hear from non-outsiders how things could actually pan out.

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Geri - Edu - Infection Control - QAPI.

Since I am technically one of the outsiders you don't want to hear from í ½í¸‰, I'll be brief.

I had a coworker who was in an accelerated hybrid (online & in class) nursing program with a full time job, two teenage children & also positively co-parenting. I mention her because she needed to travel out of state for her in-class sessions, which was exhausting on top of everything else.

You sound like you've weathered the storm before so you know what worked & didn't work. My friend also loved the accelerated program because she knew it was spurts of stress. When the class was done, she could relax, regroup & prepare for the next.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

I turned my BA in Sociology into a BSN in 15 short months. I am surprised you're able to hold a full-time job and do the clinical component necessary for nursing. Either your work or your schooling will suffer. I held a minimum (10 hours a week) job for the first 9 months and then had to give it up. My husband had to pick up all parenting duties. I shed all my other responsibilities. My house was a mess. But I got out with a 3.6 GPA - not that anyone's ever asked.

Nursing is about prioritization. What isn't on fire isn't important until later, and nursing school is the same way. You will be tired. Eventually it will get better.

Also - although there are on-line programs that will take your money and tell you that you can successfully get a masters or terminal degree without clinical experience - this is not the norm. You will need a solid clinical foundation before you move on.

Best of luck to you.

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Sorry my "non-outsiders" comment may have read a little snotty. I meant that I would just like to hear from people in the nursing population in general to help give me some perspective and not my engineer Aunt. Lol

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Specializes in Critical care.

I completed an accelerated program. Nobody worked full time, but some did part time (and even that was strongly discouraged) A good friend in the program was married with 2 small children. The program was very difficult for her because of the toll it took it took on her family.

If you need to work full time I feel your best option might not be an accelerated program, but only you can make that decision.

Best of luck with your endeavors!

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