[mamatojackn]

question for any of you out there--
i am a CPM but am thinking about nursing school- a home birth lifestyle just doesn't work with my 2 young sons. i'm wondering what path to pursue- associates degree, a second bachelors (already have BA). i'm a full time mama so am worried about a course load taking me away from home too much.
any advice would be great.
thanks-
jen

 

[momto9kidlets]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamatojackn question for any of you out there-- i am a CPM but am thinking about nursing school- a home birth lifestyle just doesn't work with my 2 young sons. i'm wondering what path to pursue- associates degree, a second bachelors (already have BA). i'm a full time mama so am worried about a course load taking me away from home too much. any advice would be great. thanks- jen

I am not a CPM but I am a doula / educator / massage therapist and I am going back for my bachelor's degree in nursing. My background is originally education and I have a bachelor's and master's degree in elementary ed. I got those degrees and while working on my masters found doula work and fell in love. I never went back to teaching after that. Right now the economy sucks and I just had my 9th baby and dh and I got to talking and he said that if I ever thought about going back for nursing now is the time. I found out that I will only have to do three years because I am going to the same school that I got my first bachelor's in so all of those classes are being waived.

When I discuss with my dh about an associates program versus the bachelors program he said it is worth it to go the extra time so that I can be on the top of the pay scale and not be the bottom nurse with the associates degree. I talked with a cousin who has her associates and she agrees and regrets not taking that extra step. For me the difference between an associates degree and a bachelors is one year.

 

[BetsyS]

I have a BSN, so I'm partial to that degree.

However, around here, there really isn't a pay difference between ADN and BSN. Some hospitals (but not all) pay an extra $0.50/hour for a BSN.

But, I work in the south, and we're not known for our progressive ways. LOL

I do think a BSN is worth it, though, just to have it. If you ever want to go to grad school or move into management, it's really nice to already have it done.

 

[~Kristina~]

I'm currently in a community college doing my pre-reqs but instead of following their associates degree/nursing pre-reqs, I'm following the university that I'll be transfering to pre-req information for my BSN. This way I'm not doing unneccessary courses. The way I look at it is why not just to it all the way, then I can make more money doing what I love.

ETA: My Aunt also regrets not getting her BSN, her daughter makes more than my Aunt and my Aunt has been a nurse for a long time!

 

[cathicog]

I would go for the BSN, but when you get to clinicals, be prepared to not be able to spend much time with your children. You will be working 8 hr shifts and then coming home and doing a lot of homework. Clinicals wore me out(and I am not a nurse at heart, I'm a midwife) and i was a single parent and could not quit working (like they said we had to once rotations started) so I switched to Computer Information Systems and finished my BS in that. Just finished my PEP process for the CPM, and am waiting on test results...

If you don't mind the hospital system, then BSN would probably give you the steadiest work environment for the least amt of time- are you looking into a BA/BS to BSN? Some places have a program that you can do that will give you a BSN in a year or 18 mo, and if push come to shove, I could do that...(but I severely dislike working in hospitals)...