Time+Cost+Distance , Parents/Fam

guest908299 · Jun 5, 2016

I'm currently in an ABSN program, and while it's an incredible amount of work and information condensed in a short amount of time, I'm still very glad I choose to go the ABSN route. I would rather complete school in a shorter amount of time, my program is 12 months (we don't get 2 weeks off, 1-1.5wks max). I like to think that I'm only missing out on 1 year of not working rather than 2-4 years.

Our motto is - you can do anything for one year! Or one and a half in your case

Definitely think through all the options and make the decision that works best for you. Also, my area really doesn't hire ADNs, so I knew I was going for a BSN, something to keep in mind when weighing option 1 vs. 2 or 3.

Best of luck!

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Jun 6, 2016

Choosing a nursing program has been the most difficult decision I believe I've ever had to make.
I am 26 years old turning 27 in 2 months. I have no major responsibilities or a family of my own. I can obtain the funding needed to do either of the 3 programs. I believe my single biggest struggle is that my parents being 65+ are relatively healthy, but it is a major concern to me that "what if" something happened to them while I was away for school? Am I irrational in thinking? Will I feel homesick?

OK, so what if?

What if you're off for the weekend and Pop has a stroke?

What if you're home chilling and they get creamed by a semi?

What if you kiss your mom on the cheek as you head off to play softball only to get a call 30 mins later that she had a massive stroke?

What if?

The answer is that you will grieve terribly and, ultimately, pick up and continue to live your life.

You're roughly 1/3 of the way through your own life... at some point you should choose to live it rather than be guided by what *might* happen to your parents.

But, the sacrifice of staying here for school is Time&Cost. Do I want to spend the extra 12-24 months in school? Up to 40k in debt? Missing out on income and experience accumulated from completing my degree more quickly?

Not worth it in the least as far as I'm concerned. Each year that you delay in getting a license will cost you many tens of thousands of dollars in lost earnings. To that you can add the 40k and quickly get up over one hundred thousand dollars.

1. Comm College ADN route + Online RN-BSN (Tennessee)
Time: 1yr waiting for program, 2yr program, 12-18mo BSN (4 years)
Cost: $5000 ADN + $15k BSN = $20k
Distance: 1h30m
***Summers off
2. Private Univ BSN (Tennessee)
Time: Begins in spring 2017 and lasts 2.5 years
Cost: $40,000
Distance: 1h15m
***Summers off
3. Private Univ (Florida)
Time: 18 month ABSN
Cost: $18,000
Distance: 13 hours
***Year round 11 weeks on 2 weeks off.
***Round-trip plane ticket $120
I feel like the FL option is the one that makes the MOST sense overall. But all things considered, It is a difficult decision.

Make out a matrix of pros and cons, assign weighted values to each parameter and then look at the aggregate scores to help guide you.