I've been in the hospitality field for about 8 years and I decided that nursing is the career for me. I'll be starting nursing school this summer. The school is an accelerated program and it's very expensive because community colleges weren't very promising of what they can offer to nursing students (at least in my area) With the waiting list and lotteries, I feel time is being wasted. I wanted to know from different people, what was it like in nursing school? Can you balance work and school? Did anyone go to an accelerated program and how did that go for you?Thank you, and I appreciate the feedbacks and stories =)
Cherri
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April 25th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Well, I am a senior student graduating in 3 weeks, so let me tell you – it can be done!!! I go to a community college that is excellent, where admission is based on grades and most people have at least a 3.5 who are accepted.
It is hard to manage nursing life and outside life. The first year is so hard because you are so overwhelmed (I had no prior health care experience) and it is so draining. You are spending days, nights and weekends studying/reading/writing care plans.
The second year was easier in a way (because you understand the basics) but harder because you are covering more complex patients and classroom material.
I’ll be honest with you. I work PRN and it is enough for me (I work 2-4 shifts per month. I’m fortunate to have a husband who works full-time and supports us). I haven’t been on a vacation in 2 years and there are some friends whose Christmas gifts I still have sitting in my living room.
All that being said, going to nursing school was the best decision I ever made. Nursing gave me an opportunity to care for people in a very personal way; it also gave me the authority and confidence to deal with patients. I have more self-respect than I ever did. It is hard work but you can do it!!! Make sure to apply yourself and if possible, work as little (or not at all) because it will consume your life.
Best of luck to you!!!
April 26th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I was talking about this with my instructor recently. You have to commit 2 years of your life to nursing school and basically nothing else. She said, “It’s a lot of pain and hardship for a short amount of time with a big benefit afterwards. But it’s better than a smaller amount of pain and hardship for a longer amount of time with no big benefit.”
I’ve always told other students that work and family sort of have to come second place to the program. If you want to be successful in it, you basically have to see yourself as married to the program and nothing else. Hard, but worth it if nursing is for you.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I commited 4 years to get a bachelors degree. I worked the whole time and maintained 4.0
Did not have much of a social life at times but everything worked out fine.
Nursing school? be prepared to study from sun up to sun down and be treated like crud and degraded on a daily basis, be made to feel like an idiot.
that about sums it up.