[auwrestler197]

Hello all, glad I found this place. I currently work in construction management and bring home about 35K a year. My wife brings home about 45K (MBA). We have 4 small children. I have decided I do not want to be in construction for the rest of my life and have always admired health care. However, do you folks think I could complete a BSN (already in college and all I would need for prereqs would be Anatomy 1 and 2, and Microbio, and chemistry I think) while still working where I work, which has somewhat flexible hours? Or are BSN programs too demanding in general to work full time? (By the way, I would really like to move on to CRNA one day as there is a CRNA program only an hour and a half away.)

Thanks, and have a great day.

[pipingmad]

I think a BSN program is as demanding as an ADN, they just add a few more courses. In my program, aside from the very first nursing class (which was about theory, introduction, and values), only 4 of my classes didn't have a clinical aspect. Those were basically professionalism, research, pharmacology, and our "synthesis" class. I also had a leadership practicum which did have a clinical aspect, but it was to put us fully into the role of a RN at a given hospital and see what their real day was like.

That being said, you could also go for an ADN and finish the BSN online through a good program.

As with any type of schooling, the more time commitments you have elsewhere (family, work, social, etc.), the harder it will be or seem to be to finish it. But it is not impossible. Many people complete their degrees, nursing or otherwise, despite many obstacles.

You should talk to the BSN program you are looking at and get a feel for their class scheduling and clinicals. That'll give you a better idea of some of the extra time needed to prepare for clinicals.

Good luck and know that regardless of the course or method to get there, it can be done! :-)