Why is it so hard?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi all,

I am new to the forum, and wanted to get some feedback. I currently live in NC and am having a HARD time finding any programs around me that offer classes for working adults. I have wanted to be a nurse forever and ended up going to a college in DE that did not offer nursing out of pressure from parents and them paying. I have been trying to go back to school for 5 years now and have had no luck. I have a 2 year old and work FT, and can't find any programs that I can do. I have been accepted to Watts, ECU, DTCC and VGCC. If there is such a huge shortage of nurses and a high demand, why are there no adult friendly programs? I can't quit my job, put my child in daycare full time and go to school full time during the day for 2 years.

I have my NC CNA, my CCS designation, a 4 year degree, solid work history and can't get hired in any health facility because I have no experience. Can't even get my foot in the door. Does anyone have ANY tips, or ideas that can help me? I have thought about doing an LPN program (all during the day), and I even thought about ECPI, but can't stomach the $30k and 5 nights a week after working all day. Please help!

Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

df77 would love to hear your story! :)

I wish the OP all the best in finding a school! We had one CC that offered a weekend and evening program but then it was discontinued. I know they are out there! Good luck! :)

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Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.

There was a program in NC somewhere near Winston Salem that had evening RN classes at a community college. Cannot remember which one it was for the life of me but that was several years ago before I finished school and I think it was an ADN program. A piece of advice, I'd try to go BSN if I were you, it seems to be much easier to find a job esp as a new grad. Best of luck. You may find with the childcare issues that your best bet is to postpone until the little ones are in school. Hopefully the high demand for nursing will come back around (new grad wise) and you'll be in a better position to take advantage of traditional programs.

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If you look on this forum you will find that there is NO shortage of nurses. At this time new grads are having a very hard time finding jobs and even nurses with experience are having trouble finding jobs. :uhoh3:

.

Amen :twocents:

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
If there is no shortage of nurses then why am I always seeing thousands of open positions for rn's and lpn's? Just curious on that one. It seems like it just depends on the area you are living in.

those positions you might be seeing for mostly for experienced nurses. and there aren't that many lpn position either.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

I'm in NC. I went to VGCC. Great program. I did their program during the day and worked as a CNA in a nursing home in the evenings and nights adding up to F/T. I know VGCC has a daycare on their main campus. I don't have kids, but from what I heard there is a wait list to get a child in there and I think they have it need based as well. It was tough to work f/t and go to school f/t! I remember one student that had 6 kids and worked while going to school. It can be done. If I remember right, the one with 6 kids graduated at the top of her class!

About the nursing shortage part...thats a joke. Its hard to find work around here. I was just recently out of work for 6 months. I think the colleges use the nursing shortage line to make money. Not all students will get accepted in to nursing school. But most will make an attempt at it and will take the pre reqs for nursing. Even if they never get in or give up, the college made their money.

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When I was first accepted to nursing school, I spent the summer before it started taking as many classes that I could squeeze in part time BEFORE going into nursing school. My work load was a little lighter when the program started. Then, when I was an LPN, I went back to school to become an RN. I was married but no children. And, I would change in the ladies room after school, and rush to my LPN job. It's hard. But... do-able! I have children now, and want to go back to work. Childcare makes everything more complicated. But, if you really want it, you'll find a way. Best of luck.

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Specializes in OB.

Your other option might be to do as I did (many years ago) and work night shift and go to school days ( I was a single parent of a preschooler). Not ideal but it depends on how badly you want it.

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