If you have dreamed ever dreamed of a hands-on career in the healthcare field, a career fully dedicated to helping others, you may be perfect for the role of nurse. Nurses are the backbone to the medical field. Hospital patients receive most of their direct care from nurses. And if we have learned anything from the outbreak of COVID-19, it is the importance of quality nurses in our healthcare system.

There are many benefits of being a nurse. Nurses enjoy a rewarding work life, getting close to their patients on their important road to recovery. On top of this, nursing is a job that’s always in demand. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects nursing to grow 12 percent over the next several years – much faster than the average for all occupations.

Whether you are looking to go back to school and launch a new career, or you have already begun working in the healthcare field and would like to advance your role, you may be thinking of enrolling in nursing school. Nursing colleges can be intimidating, especially as a working adult. You may have questions like:

• Can you go to nursing school as an adult?
• Will I be the only adult learner in the classroom or clinic?
• Is there a nursing college that’s specifically geared towards adult learning?
• What are the perks of training to be a nurse as an adult?

Read on, as we answer all your questions before you head back to the classroom.

Just as there is more than one type of nurse, there are some different paths you can take in your journey to becoming a Registered Nurse (RN). The right nursing program for you will depend on your career goals, your needs, and your interests.

Assuming you are a busy and working adult, you may be looking for a nursing college that can accommodate your jam-packed schedule. A flexible program, like the nursing programs available at Goodwin University, will offer convenience and work around your lifestyle. Goodwin strives to offer flexibility to adult learners, which is why online classes and part-time scheduling is available. We understand that going back to school as an adult can be tricky. You have a job. You may have a family to support and care for. You have a social and active life outside of work and school that you would like to maintain. This is possible with a flexible nursing college.

The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is typically considered the fastest route to become a nurse. This requires the least amount of schooling and, at Goodwin University, may be completed in as little as 20 months part-time. Once you have earned your nursing degree, you may sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), which is the required test in order to become a licensed RN.

If you have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field, and you are looking to make a career switch, you don’t have to start all over again in college. Goodwin understands this dilemma, which is why we offer the Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing (ABSN). This 60-credit program may be completed in as little as 16 months full-time. Through this route, you can become a nurse without that feeling of wasting years and money on another program.

While it can be intimidating to launch into a new college program, you should know that it comes with unique benefits. Now that you are an adult learner, you probably have a deeper appreciation for your education. You may be a more serious student now than you were as a teen or young adult. You also have a better understanding of your goals, and landing your dream career as a nurse is on the top of your priority list. With that mind, you’ll be more focused on absorbing information, learning the necessary skills, and reaching graduation day.

But you also have responsibilities and obligations that you feel might hold you back. Reaching your goals of becoming a nurse shouldn’t be such a challenge. If you need to maintain your 9-5, you should be able to study at night with a program that is offered online. Even family vacations don’t have to be put on hold. Goodwin University offers six program starts per year, so you can start when the time is right for you.

Our student body is also full of other adults like you. Our flexible college is designed for working adults, and almost 70% of our student population is over the age of 25. In fact, the median age of our students is 28-years-old. Many of these adult learners have other obligations at work, at home, and in life, and that is the very reason why they chose Goodwin to pursue their degree.

“Goodwin was the only college with a nursing program that offered a flexible schedule that included night and weekend courses.  Without this flexibility I would not have been able to pursue my desire to become a nurse.” – Ed Baxter, RN and Goodwin nursing school graduate

“Balance was key when attending a school for nursing and Goodwin college made it possible.  I was able to work fulltime, attend clinicals, study and care for my family.” – Jaime Aniskoff, Associate in Nursing student

Whether you are looking to switch careers, or you want to climb the ranks within the healthcare field, Goodwin University has the perfect nursing program for you. Call 1-800-889-3282, or visit us online to request more information.