u/SignalBell4733

I go to nursing school out of state and am now back home for the summer. I wasn’t working during the semester but was working as a CNA at a SNF just prior to moving for school. Since I have nearly 3 months at home, I was wondering if there were any temporary healthcare job ideas (with relatively fast onboarding) that would be good for the summer? I’m thinking something that’s flexible where I can pick up as much as I want. I also have two week long vacations between now and the start of class so flexibility is ideal. I was considering doing agency CNA but not sure how long that process is. Any similar ideas would be appreciated!

TLDR: Looking for temp nursing support/healthcare job ideas while home during the summer from out of state nursing school.

In 2021 I started my prereqs, and since it was all online I opted out of taken any science classes yet. In 2022 I started my science classes, ended up retaking chemistry 3 times and that pushed me back 2 years. I took a gap semester in the middle of it to do a CNA program, and worked during my last semester. I finished my Associates in Health last spring after 4 years in CC. I took the TEAS and got an 80%. Being in California, and with my repeats and TEAS score, I knew I had virtually zero shot to get into any local programs. I considered Chamberlain, West Coast, and Unitek just to get in even though I heard how unorganized and expensive those private programs can be.

I ended up applying to a non-profit private nursing school across the country, and I got accepted in December. It sounded a lot better to pay $40k vs $100k for those private programs. So 3 weeks later, I moved across the country and started my first semester in January this year. I passed health assessment and dosage calculation, but ultimately failed fundamentals which means I have to repeat the whole class. I technically passed the class with an 82% (passing is 80) but my exam average was only 76% (exam have to be 80% on its own without adding quizzes, hw, etc).

If I can’t even get an 80% in fundamentals, how much more for MedSurg, OB? I’ve also considered going for my ADN instead (yes I know it’s the same classes) to finish faster and bridging to my BSN online. Will probably take me the same amount of time overall.

While I’m no stranger to having to repeat and getting set back I cant help but feel I moved across the country for nothing. It was very isolating, as I had to leave my family and friends at home. I missed the city (I lived by SF) and the plethora of things I could do back home. From January until now I never really went out of the house. School was hard and I tried, but I definitely had all the time to try harder. It just sucks because I felt like I was so close. I met with the program director today and she said I can join again in the fall. I’m planning on finally seeing a psychiatrist this summer to see if me getting anxious (in general) and over studying or tests were more than just being nervous. I’ve struggled with procrastination my whole academic life, and I think it’s mostly driven by the anxiety of how much I have to study.

Assuming all goes well going forward in this school, I’m finishing nursing school in 3 years instead of 2.5. Overall, it will have taken me 7.5 years to get my BSN! It’s hard not to beat myself up over not doing more when it took me a lot to move over here and start over. I will keep on going just as I have been these past few years, but it’s hard to get “delayed not denied” again.

TLDR: Took 4 years to do prereqs. Retook chemistry 3 times and took gap semester for CNA program. Worked as a CNA for a year and got 80% on the TEAS, graduating with my Associate’s in health last year. Considered local private programs (costs like +$100k!), but got into a BSN program across the country for around $40k. Moved 3 weeks after getting accepted and started in January. Passed dosage calc + health assessment, failed fundamentals with an 82% (need an 80%) with an exam average of 76% (need 80% on its own before adding quizzes, hw, etc.) Starting fundamentals again this fall, but now my 2.5 program became 3 years and overall it’s taking me 7.5 years to get a BSN. Trying to find the silver lining of getting “delayed not denied” again.