I am almost 35 years and I have 2 children and have been married for 14 years. I have owned my own business for around 9 years. It is in a vocation that I would never choose myself. In about 5 years I want to sell my business and I will financially finally be able to have a career that I want to do because it makes me happy not because it puts food on the table. So I am planning ahead...... I want to become a delivery nurse. I have NO experience what so ever in the nursing field but have a flexible schedule and a desire to learn.
Can anyone help me understand the schooling? I have been told that if I get a bachelors in science/ health management through university of phoenix then I went to Nursing school it would be considered the same as having an RN with a bachelors in nursing.
I may have missunderstood, but you wish to become an RN part-time? Do you mean get your RN via part-time schooling? I sincerely doubt you will be able to do this -all the programs I've encountered or heared of require fulltime schooling to get your RN.
Don't let the age bother you tho, I became an RN in my late thirties.
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
Go for it! There are weekend and evening programs at some of the community colleges. Just check out your local CC and see what their program is all about. Get going on those pre-reqs becuase once they are finished you can get your name on the wait list! Good luck
You can do anything you set your mind to. A couple of suggestions:
First, check out what level you have to be in order to practice in :flowersfoa specialty unit like L&D in your state. (In Massachusetts, many hospitals do not hire LPN's into specialty units, they require a minimum of associates in nursing- RN level). I would go directly into an associates degree program....begin taking your prerequisites one or two at a time, depending on what you have available for time and resources.
I did complete my BSN with UOP, but you must be an RN with at least two years of clinical experience before you can begin a program like that. Also, a bachelor's in another area does not equate to a BSN, so check carefully into the requirements if that is your ultimat goal.
A bachelor's degree in nursing certainly does open up more opportunities for a nurse, but it depends what you want to do with it. There are plenty of opportunities for associates prepared nurses as well.
Hello, I'm 36 y/o married with kids. W/a BS degree in Economics. Was a MA for 1 1/2 yrs. and decided that nursing is my passion. But is sucks 'coz even after taking the prerequisites, one can't get in the RN program here in CA w/ 3.89. So took the exams for VN and was selected (25 out of 250 applicants). The program was great, difficult but very informative. It made me want to be a nurse...more. Even my teachers are telling us it's a lot of advantage to be a LVN first, it makes the transition to RN easier and one can relate more of what the instructor is saying. Just go for it!!
I started college when I was 29 and pregnant with my fourth child. Got my general associates degree (AAS) then transferred to a four year and got my BSN. I was hired in a hospital birth center right out of college, still there and still love it.
I will warn you - very difficult to get into a nursing program, very competetive, and must have very, very good grades :studyowl: . Expect a waiting list, so get on it ASAP. Also, very hard (but rewarding) work once in the program.
My husband said I was nothing more than a bad roommate for about 4 1/2 years :sofahider . We both agree it was well worth it. Good luck!
BTW, I graduated on my 34th Birthday - heck of a present.
Nursing school is very competitive to get in, and then when you do, it's extremely demanding and time consuming. I went back to nursing school at age 29 after working in the corporate world for 7 years. It's really rough, and I didn't even have a family. Many of my professors were not forgiving when family issues came up for my classmates who were parents. They tried to throw it back their faces that "maybe you're not dedicated enough" or "maybe you need to try again when you can be serious about school, etc." or the ever popular, "hundreds of other people would love to have your place in school." (Of course, those professors were just wretched people, and all the parents in my class succeeded, became great nurses and proved them wrong!)
I would strongly suggest you find an OB nurse and follow her/him for a day to get an accurate picture of what it's like. Having a baby in a hospital doesn't give you an accurate picture of all the work the nurses did behind the scenes. I've seen some people who go to nursing school thinking it will be a fun career, and then they see that it's incredibly hard work and demanding academically, emotionally and physically. Or I've seen a lot of nurses who start out thinking they only want to do peds or OB. Then they get an accurate taste of reality, and they change their minds real quick.
I'm not trying to discourage you from going into nursing. Just do your homework. Make sure you get an accurate picture of what it will be like, and confirm that it's what you want to do. Coming from the corporate world, I've been very surprised at how much more much difficult nursing is. We're talking no lunch breaks, barely time to go to the bathroom. And forget coffee breaks. It's a major undertaking. But if it's the right fit, it can be rewarding too. Good luck in whatever you decide.
I am 45 yrs old and I am attending a Technical college with an associate degeree program. there are several people in my class who have no prior nursing experience but have the desire to do it. So Just Do it.
I have no regrets. It has been difficult bu t I am almost there.
nursing school is very competitive to get in, and then when you do, it's extremely demanding and time consuming. i went back to nursing school at age 29 after working in the corporate world for 7 years. it's really rough, and i didn't even have a family. many of my professors were not forgiving when family issues came up for my classmates who were parents. they tried to throw it back their faces that "maybe you're not dedicated enough" or "maybe you need to try again when you can be serious about school, etc." or the ever popular, "hundreds of other people would love to have your place in school." (of course, those professors were just wretched people, and all the parents in my class succeeded, became great nurses and proved them wrong!)
i would strongly suggest you find an ob nurse and follow her/him for a day to get an accurate picture of what it's like. having a baby in a hospital doesn't give you an accurate picture of all the work the nurses did behind the scenes. i've seen some people who go to nursing school thinking it will be a fun career, and then they see that it's incredibly hard work and demanding academically, emotionally and physically. or i've seen a lot of nurses who start out thinking they only want to do peds or ob. then they get an accurate taste of reality, and they change their minds real quick.
i'm not trying to discourage you from going into nursing. just do your homework. make sure you get an accurate picture of what it will be like, and confirm that it's what you want to do. coming from the corporate world, i've been very surprised at how much more much difficult nursing is. we're talking no lunch breaks, barely time to go to the bathroom. and forget coffee breaks. it's a major undertaking. but if it's the right fit, it can be rewarding too. good luck in whatever you decide.
exactly! rewarding, demanding, nothing what it looks like...well said, good description
Gromit
821 Posts
I may have missunderstood, but you wish to become an RN part-time? Do you mean get your RN via part-time schooling? I sincerely doubt you will be able to do this -all the programs I've encountered or heared of require fulltime schooling to get your RN.
Don't let the age bother you tho, I became an RN in my late thirties.