subject: It's Possible; You Can Work Full Time While Getting A Nursing Degree [print this page] It's Possible; You Can Work Full Time While Getting A Nursing Degree
A lot of people who want to go to nursing school have simply given up on the idea because they can't afford to quit work and dedicate a minimum of two years of their life, full-time, to their education. After all, two years is a LONG time to go without a salary.
And that's only for people who want to get an Associate's Degree! The traditional Bachelor's of Science in Nursing is a four year degree.
That's fine for the just-graduated high school students whose parents will foot the entire bill, or for someone who has a spouse who is working and can support them for the duration of their schooling, or for people who don't mind graduating from school with massive debt.
For the rest who have different circumstances as those described above, this is your best option:
Start out by attending a part-time evening LPN degree program, which is usually an 18-month program. Full time LPN programs which are more rigorous, would only take about 12 months but you won't be able to handle any work if you take that path.
When you complete that initial step and become a Licensed Practical Nurse, you can then take any pre-requisite courses that you will need before you can be accepted into an LPN to RN bridge program. There are about 8 of these subjects which include college level Algebra, Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Psychology, Nutrition, and Human Growth and Development. You may already have taken some or all of these classes previously but if not, you can take a few at a time. Even while working full time, you can enroll online or at a local college.
And then, it's time to apply to an online LPN to RN bridge program . With this, you can earn an Associate Degree in Nursing. Expect to complete this within a year and a half; but don't forget that you are still juggling both work and nursing studies. Plus, it's possible that your employer will help pay for some or all of your continuing health care education, particularly if you are already employed a hospital or health care facility.
So there you have it - the traditional nursing school model is not the only option for aspiring nurses any more. There are lots of ways to a nursing degree, and we just showed you one where you can still hold down a full time job without flunking out of nursing school!
