Where to Start??

Nurses Career Support

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Hello everyone. I am very new to this field and have really been thinking that I want to get into nursing with my ultimate goal to become an RN. Previously I was working in an eye doctors office as a dispensing optician and am not really sure where to start when thinking about a career in nursing. I am currently a stay at home mom and have the opportunity to go to class in the evening while my husband watches our daughter. I am very interested in this career and would just like some guidance to see where I should start since I will need to start from scratch. I have been told to go and get my CNA and get a job in a hospital and then use my employer to help pay for my schooling. Is that something that is possible or is that a goal that I shouldn't be focusing on right now and should just enroll in a college and start an Associates or Bachelors in nursing? Also would online classes hurt me if I were to get an online degree instead of going to a traditional community college/ university? Thank you all very much and I hope you can help me out as I am wanting to get started ASAP.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I would first go to your local nursing school and talk to them. Most schools now off online components to some of their classes, especially the general ed classes like English, Math, etc. With the clinical component needed it's best not to go online so you can get the one on one time with the instructor. Also online degrees are few and far between and not accepted in all states.

Most hospitals have some sort of tuition reimbursement program, and there are many "earn as you learn" type programs where they pay for everything. But that varies from place to place.

Good luck and feel free to ask any questions. :)

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

There are a whole lot of potential paths into nursing. My brother-in-law is a CNA who became an LPN, and is now doing his RN online. I'm in a direct-entry MSN program. There are also traditional BSN and MSN programs, and accelerated BSN programs, as well as ADN programs at community colleges.

Got all that?

You'll have to do research to see which course suits your life situation the best. And then there's what you plan to do after you graduate. For that, I recommend the book 101 Careers in Nursing, which will given you a good overview of the field.

Good luck.

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm also a stay at home mom and I just got accepted into the nursing program for Fall. YAY!!! Taking 1-2 online classes and 1 on campus class each quarter allowed me to be at home when my kids (and hubby) needed me but also to attend school full time.

If you want to be a nurse, talk with advisers at different schools to see which is the best fit for your life situation. I love my community college because of the small classes but especially for the way their nursing program is set up. It is perfect for me, but my cousin likes the college "atmosphere" (I don't exactly know what that means!!!) and so the 4 year university is better for her.

If you are looking for something you can do right away, CNA class is a great idea.

Go get your nursing degree! Figure out what works best for you and your family and then just start working on it. Good luck!

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