20:06 - way off. You are right, PP. There are programs which you don't even have to test to get into the NP program. Georgetown is one of them. They can barely graduate you, but it won't matter. Many programs are HAPPY to take your money! I am shocked at how many do not realize this, seriously. You have not been seriously looking into it if you think otherwise. You can't call them up and say "you don't need this, right", but if you are savvy, you can get around MUCH. GL.

OTOH, I rather agree with PP who says you HAVE to like what you do. Too many are looking for the next windfall instead of what they know or even LIKE. You can NOT typically change careers at age 50 and make millions. It does NOT work that way. You can NOT get on board what you see as the "next big thing" as if you are getting in line for some sort of hand out because "so and so did it". Again, that is not reality.

It seems so many rode the wave and lucked out for so long, they think they are somehow owed. How much sense does that make? Zero. I always said if we can't afford the area, we'll go elsewhere. Unfortunately we may have to do just that. So what. It's not the end of the world. It is called sacrifice.

So many I know married thinking they were going to have certain things - they were somehow owed certain things. Sometimes that is not how it goes. "For better or for worse" anyone? Are people really that clueless? Really?

Besides, is it really "sacrifice" to leave this area? Very probably NOT!

OP, you need to do what you are trained to do, what you once liked, what you are good at - and somehow apply those. It doesn't just come out of the blue, and money does NOT fall at anyone's feet. That I know at least.

PP is not correct. While the pre-reqs may take some time, there are several good second bacc programs for BSN's in the DC area. There are also ADN programs in the community colleges that do not take 2 years of pre-reqs. (ADN's have a great deal of respect in many sectors.) The 3.5 GPA is also not true. Admission to nursing is competitive -- programs cannot over-subscribe their enrollments because of a shortage of clinical placements and difficulty in finding and sustaining top-notch nurse educators - but it is not impossible. I would encourage anyone interested in nursing to look at the well-established schools in and around the District: there are at least 6 (more if you extend to Baltimore and surrounding communities) and several good community college programs.

Good luck to those interested. By the way, please call or email the programs (ask about their accreditation, btw: they need to be approved or conditionally approved by the state licensing boards as well as by CCNE or NLN). Ask about a) their accreditation b) their admission requirements c) the size of their applicant pool and the number admitted from that pool annually and d) the average length of program completion.

Anonymous wrote:

Another poster here. There is a shortage of good nurses. I happen to know that anyone can be a nurse, but not anyone can be a good nurse.

Well nowadays, not everyone can be a nurse. RN programs in this area are extremely competitive. Your pre-reqs will take at least two years, before you can even think about applying to the program. In addition, your gpa needs to be at least 3.5 + to even have a chance at admission...

Maybe, OP, it would be a good exercise to figure out what you really want to do.

Another poster here. There is a shortage of good nurses. I happen to know that anyone can be a nurse, but not anyone can be a good nurse.

The average age of a nurse is 43 - this is still an 'in demand' career choice still. You can't beat the job choices and flexibility in hours not to mention the opportunities for advancement.