If you already have an undergrad degree, go for the ADN program. You can work in 2 years, not make any less money than a BSN grad, and get any other degrees you want at your leisure, perhaps online, and when your child is a little older. I did. I put off BSN for many years because I already had a 4-year. The only reason I went back was because I wanted a certification, and the ANA said my undergrad degree had to be "healthcare related". I ended up with a BBA in Healthcare Admin and both the ANA and I were happy. I had 2 small children (1&3) when I started my ADN. It's not something I would want to repeat, but it was certainly worth it.
No offense, but this advice doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Why would she go the ADN route, which is two years and a lower degree, than go the BSN route, which if you already have a bachelors degree, an accelerated program is 16 months and a higher degree?
If she can work and support herself while going through the ADN program, then that might be a better route. But if both programs will prevent you from working, go the shorter route with the higher degree. Thats the benefit of already having a bachelors degree.
hi there! i just graduated with an adn. i have 3 kids- ages 6, 8, and almost 10. i'm divorced and have a longterm live in partner, however he has been out of work and on medical leave for the better part of the last year, so the second year i was basically on my own for getting things done and paying the bills. i took out a $21,000 loan in addition to receiving the pell grant. i also had help financially from my family. its definitely doable, but alot of work and stress and sacrifice. my answers to your specific questions are below....
from what i hear, nursing school is very brutal and i should pretty much not expect
to be there for my family while i'm in school. my biggest problem was that when i wasn't studying or doing school related stuff i was exhausted and didn't have the energy that i usually do to give to my kids. i didn't spend alot of extra time with them, but i made most school functions and did what i could.
would you do it with a 2 year old? or would you wait until they got older? i'd do it.
when you have children, do you think you would continue to work in a hospital, or
would you change to something different? i have a job lined up in the er. its tough to work out the hours, but i end up with more days off and i like that setting better than others. the hours of a dr's office would be better, but nurses get paid alot less in that setting, from my understanding.
is it worth taking out about $100,000 in loans to live and go to school to be a
nurse? if you have no other option, i think it is, but $100,000 seems like alot. my $21,000 comes to a $200 per month payment (i can't remember right now for how long, but its a long time) what kind of raises do nurses receive in a hospital environment? how often,
how much? don't know the answer to this one.
what kind of hours do nurses work in a hospital setting? i'll be working 7a-7p on a matrix that goes:work m,t, off w, th, work f, s, s, off m,t work w, th, off f, s, s and then starts over again. so i'll be off 7 days out of 14. will i actually be away
from my family more, or would i really work 3 12-hour days? with an extra day here
and there. what kind of vacation do you get, benefits? my benefits: the usual medical, dental, vision, etc. pto is 3 weeks per year paid, tuition reimbursement, reimbursement for uniforms, as a new grad reimbursement for kaplan review, last semester's tuition and books, an extra paid day off for boards.
my heart really wants to do it, but i don't want my marriage to fall apart or
be selfish and not be there enough for my family. i also have tremendous guilt about putting them into so much debt. you need support from your family to do this, talk to your husband and if he is behind you, i'd say go for it!
what type of jobs are available in hospitals other than rn that don't require
certification? all i can think of at the moment is a secretary, but i'm not entirely sure...there must be more.
so maybe i can switch careers now and when the time is right, go to nursing school.
have you tried to get any of your classes taken care of online? That really helped me in my process, not to mention it saved me a ton of money on tuition since they were offered by a community college. Just make sure that the classes will transfer to the school you doing the nursing program in. For instance, A&P probably would not transfer from an online course since most will require lab practice. But your gen eds are perfect from online.
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No offense, but this advice doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Why would she go the ADN route, which is two years and a lower degree, than go the BSN route, which if you already have a bachelors degree, an accelerated program is 16 months and a higher degree?
If she can work and support herself while going through the ADN program, then that might be a better route. But if both programs will prevent you from working, go the shorter route with the higher degree. Thats the benefit of already having a bachelors degree.