Information about entering nursing school.

Question:
I've been thinking about nursing for a while, but there's a lot to consider. I was up until 6 am doing research yesterday (eek!), mostly because this is one of the most informative resources I've found so far, regarding what I can really expect if I decide to move forward.

As I said above though, I still have some questions I'd like answers to, before I decide to start talking to the local college

Having read some of the more, frank (vbg) discussions, how bad is it? School? The first couple of years? Once you get into an area you like?
How wonderful is it? What's the bad/good ratio? I guess these questions could best be answered by a few of you sharing your perspective on your education and career, if anyone is game.

What about politics? I can do politics, I can be diplomatic, but the ongoing, back stabbing office politics stuff drives me nuts. My husband is in the IT industry, and loved contracting for that very reason, he never stayed anywhere long enough to get really entrenched in office politics. He just did a great job, and went home (not that simple, he's a very sociable guy, but he just doesn't like the ugly stuff). What about travel nursing, is it a way to avoid some of the politics, or does it bring its own set of headaches?

What about doctors? I did a friend a favor once, she had a medical answering service, and I filled in for her for a while, when she was short staffed. Most of the docs were nice, ok, or bearable, but there were some real jerks, one who had this lengthy protocol of how to be contacted that required several pages, and would yell at you for 20 minutes if you didn't follow it to the letter. I'm guessing like any other profession, there are going to be a few that make my blood boil.
How often? How bearable? Are they more predominant in certain areas (surgery?)?

I'm guessing from some of what I read, after you graduate you start out on med/surg? How long? What if you at some point want to specialize? How hard is it to get into those other departments? How does that happen, if all your experience is med/surg? I'm interested in L&D (subject to change, I'm open to the idea something else may interest me when I'm working), but I suspect it's probably pretty competitive?

What about ADN/BSN? I've read so many differing opinions on my questions in this area, and yes, I'm quite sure this question will only yield more, but at least I can hopefully get answers relevant to my specific concerns. Is pay different, and how different, or does that depend on where you live (SoCal in my case)? What about employability, is an ADN really going to block my access to that many sources of potential employment (especially in SoCal)? What about travel nursing, does it matter there?

What about shifts, some are switching to 8hr, does that depend more on where you live, the department you work in, the hospital, what? I'd actually like to work weekends, preferably weekend nights, 12hr shifts in other areas, this is a big plus, but nursing? Do nurses want their weekends off too, or are night/weekend shifts competitive? What about mandatory OT, how common is that? How much notice do you get?

Benefits, what are they like in a hospital environment? Does it depend on the type of facility? What's the chance of me getting a POS or traditional indemnity plan, or at least a PPO? Or do most only offer HMO, or self-insure? How affordable is family medical coverage (if you are comfortable sharing a number, I'd love it)?

What about continuing ed? How much/how often (different by state, I’m sure, but a rough estimate?). What about staying current? This is something that would interest me, I'm a bookworm, and very service oriented (my prior work experience was in a customer service background, so it's just my style). This is more a matter of me being able to feel I'm doing the best job I personally can, but is it good, bad, indifferent? What resources are there, are there nursing journals like medical journals?

That's all (LOL!) I can think of for now, please, if you have anything you think would help me in this decision-making process, feel free.
The more information I can gather, the better. Even ADN is a big investment in time, and in my case, money (childcare). It seems like a good idea now, but I'm cautious about money (read: cheap!). I don't really have to work, but at this point in my/our life, it might be a good time, and if this is a field that will fit my needs, it will certainly fit my interests (long time interest, but kids came first, and I didn't want to sacrifice 4 years, didn't know about ADN).

Which raises one last question, I'd really like to get my BN down the road, would ADN help or hider my chances? Is it possible to finish up the last 2 years, or whatever it takes part time?

Sorry for the plethora of questions, I tend to be pretty thorough about the big life decisions. There's a lot to consider. What I've read so far has been extremely educational, and interesting, although much of it reinforced my bad patient complex (I'm always afraid I'm going to piss off the nurses if I dare push that call button Has caused me a few embarrassing moments in the past!).

Answer:

I went to college full time and my wife worked when my kids were small. It was pretty bad, but I didn't want to be a grease monkey the rest of my life.
I would not recommend it. Now my kids are all grown and I have gone back to school to get a nursing degree. Nursing school is even more stressful than most college programs. Lots of people who try it wind up with stress related psychological or medical disorders, or even divorced. Nursing school with small children at home? No, thanks.

You sound like a smart kid. You have even thought of doing research before getting started! You would be surprised at how many people make major life changes without researching them first. (It makes life more interesting though!) My advice is to stay with the kids at least until they are in school. You will never have the opportunity to be with them like this again. My two daughters are great, but my son doesn't talk to us anymore. I can't help thinking that it is because we didn't spend enough time with him when he was small. When the kids are in school Take College classes in the morning. You should be able to fit one or two in without disrupting your kid's lives. There are at least a year's worth of classes you have to take before making a firm commitment to nursing school anyway.

Have you thought of medical school? I was fifty when I started (again) and chose nursing because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life in school.
If I go to graduate school to get an advance practice license I might do this anyway! College is different from high school. If you start taking college classes and find yourself getting all A's and B's, don't bother with the ADN. Get in the pre-med program!
This is my big concern, and why I'm researching as thoroughly as I can. I am lucky in that we just moved; we're now walking distance to
DH’s work (and being IT, he's got extremely flexible hours), and an ADN program. My thought was I could do the ADN now, and if I can really work weekend nights, finish the BSN part time, at night during the week. 4 years away from the kids, I can't handle, not now. I’ve been home with them too many years, and love it. But the IT industry isn’t what it was even 2 years ago I'd feel safer having a career, and nursing is incredibly flexible. And a 2 year sacrifice isn’t great, but it's doable, given our current circumstances.