Work Full-Time While Earning Your Nursing Degree - We Tell You How

A lot of people who wish to attend nursing school have simply given up on the idea because they can't allow themselves the "luxury" of quitting work and dedicate no less than 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 entire length of their schooling, or for people who don't mind graduating from school with massive debt.

For everyone else who doesn't belong into any of these categories, here is the best way to go:

Start out by attending a part-time evening LPN degree program. This will generally be 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 go that path.

When you complete that initial step and become a Licensed Practical Nurse, you can then take any pre-requisite courses needed to get into an LPN to RN bridge program. There are usually about eight classes required. These 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.

After that, it's time to apply to an online LPN to RN bridge program to get an Associate's 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. AND - it is very likely 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.

Going to traditional nursing school is not the only way to become a nurse. As we've detailed above, you can still enjoy a good income working full time, even as you slowly but just as surely get that nursing degree!