Seeking Advice: Work FT and go into accelerated BSN or Work through AS-RN & RN-BSN?

[ladivabsn]

I am close to 40. I am changing careers and going into nursing. I went into an accelerated program and did not do well enough in Patho and would get held back for way too long for me to stay in that program and make it worth it. In that program it was impossible to work and attend classes and clinicals. I have not been feeling great, but I am eager to lick my wounds and keep moving.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about how to continue. Here are my ideas and I want to know if anyone has experienced similar situations and can give me some advice on how to proceed. I am now back staying at my parents house trying to figure things out and I have to move quickly to register for some of these programs.

I have been considering going into a nearby community college associates program and getting licensed that way so that I can work full-time and then afterwards go into a bridge RN-BSN program that also allows the student to work full-time. This way, I could stay at my parent's home, work full-time while earning my degrees, pay down my excessive amount of student loans, and maybe begin saving some money. Also, I was hoping that by the time I went into the bridge program, I would be with a hospital that would help to pay tuition. I also like the idea of working through the BSN and not stressing about taking the NCLEX because I will already be licensed at that point. This option is nice because I should be able to work the entire time, but it seems as though it will take longer to complete this way.

The other option is to work full-time asap, and possibly try to get an externship for some experience for the summer and enter into a state second degree BSN program this fall. I will not be able to work while in that program, however it will only be 3 semesters and I will be all finished. I will need to save up money for living expenses and nearly half of the tuition. It is faster, more expensive upfront, but I would be earning more sooner, because I would graduate and start working sooner.

Thanks in advance for your replies!