Whether you’re dealing with a toddler who doesn’t want to get dressed in the morning, or battling with a teen who knows it all, motherhood pretty much makes everything else in life seem like child’s play. And it doesn’t matter if you work or stay at home, being a mom is hard—period. Therefore, it’s important for moms to take time for themselves. If that time involves going back to school as a mom to earn a second bachelor’s degree in nursing, our Accelerated BSN program, available in Boston or Charlotte, makes it possible in as few as 16 months.
Your Learning Path
Our ABSN program affords learning flexibility in that you can complete the nursing theory (didactic) portion of your education online.
Through our dynamic e-Learning platform, you have the option to work on your coursework at any time of the day or night, and from almost anywhere.
Bear in mind, online classes are just as challenging as those held on campus, maybe even more so if you struggle with self-motivation. Because you’re not tied to a specific classroom schedule, online learning makes it easy to want to push off your studies. Procrastination in an accelerated nursing program, however, is not an option. You’re still responsible for instructor deadlines and keeping up with the rigorous learning pace.
You also need to be mindful that our ABSN program is not 100% online. It is a blended education model that combines online coursework with:
- Hands-on nursing labs at our ABSN Learning Center
- Clinical rotations at nearby healthcare facilities
Unlike online coursework, our onsite curriculum follows specific schedules that require you to spend several days per week away from home.
Generally speaking, one might compare the program format to a full-time job where the hours are different every day. Therefore, your success in the program is highly dependent on having a good support network of family and friends who can step in to help out whenever you need it.
From One Mom to Another
Whether you realize it or not, you’ve been a “nurse in training” ever since your child was born. You've treated wounds, fought off illness, administered medication, and handled diverse moods.
As a result, you now have the innate ability to think on your feet, roll with the punches and get stuff done—all qualities that make for a great nurse.
We’ve watched several mothers achieve their dream of becoming a nurse through our ABSN program. While going back to school as a mom is no walk in the park, the consensus among these women has been that nothing worth having comes easy.
Take, for example, Patti S., a current student in our Charlotte-based ABSN program. Mother to three young children, Patti decided to become a nurse after her oldest child, who is now 8, was born.
“Having my own children introduced me to the important role nursing plays in pregnancy, birth and lactation. I want to be able to help other women during this significant and special season of life,” she said.
Because Patti had a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a master’s degree in communication management, she was able to take the accelerated path to nursing. While you don’t need a master’s level education to get into our program, you do need a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
Find Your Stride
Patti says the flexibility of the online courses works great for her, but she definitely has less free time now that she’s in the program. “I’m able to get my school work done after my kids are in bed or while they’re in school, but a large portion of my weekend is devoted to school,” she said. She also relies on her highly supportive husband and parents to assist with childcare, prepare dinner and run errands.
For Patti, the biggest challenge of being an ABSN student is scheduling group projects. “It can be tough working around my family’s schedule. Anything requiring ‘extra’ time that I haven’t planned for in advance will throw a wrench in the system. So, I have to be really efficient in my planning,” she said.
She believes prioritization and planning are key to success in the program, which, in turn, has required her to accept the fact that some things in her life need to be put on hold while in nursing school.
For now, Patti's mantra is “I can do anything, but not everything.” She keeps this statement top of mind every day—it’s featured on the cover of the day planner her best friend gave her.
You Are Not Alone
A National Center for Education Statistics study predicts college enrollment for students over the age of 25 to increase by 14 percent between 2013 and 2024, with moms included in the demographic. In our ABSN program, your peers will not be teenage freshman. You will be among other moms, career changers and recent college graduates.
Second-degree programs are for individuals who’ve had time to reflect on their career choice. They know what they want and are highly motivated to achieve their goals. You’ll find everyone in our ABSN program shares the same goal, which is to learn, work hard and graduate with a respected BSN in 16 months. There’s a real team spirit in this type of environment and a mindset of “we’re all in this together.”
We Have Your Back
Going back to school as a mom takes a lot of courage, and we understand the stress associated with the transition. We’ve helped a lot of moms overcome their fears of starting nursing school by offering them the encouragement and support they need while applying to and participating in the program.
We have a team of admissions counselors who work exclusively with ABSN students. These champions of higher learning know the ins and outs of the program and can help you determine if an accelerated nursing education is the right fit for you.
If our program is for you, your dedicated admissions counselor will be ready to assist you in every way possible, from helping you create an enrollment plan to ensuring you meet the application deadline. And the support doesn’t stop when you start the program. You can expect to receive a high level of personalized attention throughout nursing school via small student-to-faculty ratios and plenty of support from program staff.
You Can Do This
As a nursing student in our ABSN program, your job will be to study hard, manage your time wisely, look to others for support and not let yourself succumb to “mom guilt.”
"Just remember, you’re doing this to better yourself and help your family in the long run. In fact, you’re setting a good example by showing your child(ren) that anything is possible when you put your mind to it."
If you’re ready to take that first step toward a nursing career, please contact our admissions team at 866.891.1490. You can also complete our online form to have someone contact you.
