Where to begin

[sillytilley]

Hello everyone

I am looking into becoming a registered nurse but I don't know where to begin. After high school I was accepted into SD state university, but I didn't go. I just needed a break from school and the money wasn't there and honestly I didn't know what I wanted to do in life. My grandma was a caregiver and she absolutely loved her job, every time I think about a career it comes back to healthcare. I currently work full time 6am-3pm and am trying to find a school that can fit around that schedule but its so hard! My idea was to become a cna then an lvn and then an rn through community college ... But most classes are during the day and I can't quit my job. The only school I found where the lvn program can be done on nights and weekends is over an hour away. Idk if I should take the path of community college which is cheaper and just try and find a job in the evening so I can go to school during the day or pay ridiculous tuition at a private school that I can probably get afternoon/evening classes. How did you guys do it? I mean there has to be a way right?! I just need some help thinking outside the box here. I appreciate any and all advice you guys have :)

Thanks!

Ashley

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

My school was over one hour drive each way, in terrible traffic. I worked full-time, 6 days per week, and I had 2 small kids at home. I worked until my last semester. My husband (at the time) worked a lot of over-time to pay for my tuition and books, because I did not qualify for a grant, and did not take out loans. My nursing classes were from 8 till 4 during the day. If you want it bad enough, you can do it. You may have to put on blinders and put everything else in your life on hold.

[Monah86]

Just like the previous poster said if u want it bad enough you will do whatever u have to. I also worked well am working full time my entire nursing school career. (Im just goin into my last semester in the next week actually) I'm not sure if u could switch around ur schedule to work possibly only weekends or something else but I work nights which wasn't great for clinicals or class time but i was determined to make it work. I switched it to wear I worked thurs- sun's so I would have my clinical and class days off. My classmates tell me all the time how they cant believe im working full time and my response is always 'you do what you gotta do'. I'm also paying out of pocket since I have a degree already I didn't qualify for loans at the community college I attend but it was affordable thank God! If nursing is something u really wanna do it will work out as long as u make an effort to make it work. I was there thinking about how your not sure it's gonna work.. But it will if u want it to. I've gone without sleep and missed out on a lot of fun but again in agreeance with the previous poster u just have to put those blinders on do what u gotta do for that time being. It's only temporary. Good luck!! u can do it!!?