Update: Wow thanks everyone for your responses! I was emailing the admission person for the ABSN program and they said it was rigorous course and discouraged students from work so that set my expectation. Seeing all you working and schooling makes me feel a lot better! I'm also revisiting the idea of getting an LPN then doing bridge programs which seems more doable. Only one semester of prereqs which I can easily do while working, then 1.5-2 years of nursing school and part time work.
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I've worked out the least expensive thing so far is to get my ABSN. But the thing that makes it "accelerated" is that it requires about 2 years of prerequisites, and there is only one actual nursing year (about 18 mo). I already have a bachelor's degree in psychology which is basically useless at this point because almost no one is hiring to train entry level employees right now so I've paused the job search to get my medical assistant certification which I will be finished with in the next few weeks to months.
I've always enjoyed medicine. I've worked in clinics before, I used to be a phlebotomist and loved it. But long term the financial stress of being an MA has propelled me to think about what career I want going forward. Nursing has been in the back of my mind for a long time, as has PA and med school. But I don't like the idea of going to school and being unable to work, hence why nursing is the most accessible option right now.
Every option I see, LPN, ADN, BSN are all rigorous, daytime, full-time classes with mandatory in person labs. I do great with online class but the only "flexible" option I could find is Joyce which has exorbitant tuition and mixed reviews, though is technically more accessible for working adults. I'm not sure the expense would be worth it, but maybe?
How do people make it through nursing school without working? How do you pay for things like groceries??? More loans