Life as a Nursing Student

One Student's Experience Going Back to School

You have a career. You have a family. And you keep wondering what it would be like to go back to school. You are not alone.

Julie Festa was 30 and managing clinical research at a clinic when she went back for her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). She juggled family life, full-time work, and pandemic setbacks on the way to her degree. Here is how she did it, in her words.

Pursuing: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) School: St. Vincent's College at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut

What were you doing before nursing school?

I worked in a clinic specializing in clinical research for patients with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease. I was a clinical research manager there for about seven years and oversaw a team of coordinators running a 300-plus participant Parkinson's trial. I stopped working in January 2021 to focus on my last few semesters full time.

What did you look for in a program?

A school close to home where I could finish as fast as possible.

Tell us about your family life.

I am married to my husband of three years, a police officer, and I am a fur mom to my black lab Lambeau and tabby cat Chowder. Between my school schedule and his work schedule, it gets hectic. We protect our time together, especially during my breaks, and we love to travel.

What was the hardest part of going back as an adult?

Leaving a job I loved to do nursing school full time. It was also tough financially, since I worked part time or not at all while in school. I could not have done it without my husband. He pushes me to keep going even when it is hard.

How did you choose your school?

I knew a few people who had finished the program, so I applied there and to a few accelerated second-degree programs. I picked this one because the prerequisites and required courses put me on the fastest track to finish. The application was simple: an application, a fee, and a resume, then an interview once I was accepted.

When did you start, and when do you graduate?

I started in 2019 to knock out prerequisites before the nursing intensive courses. I was projected to graduate in May 2021, but Connecticut's in-person clinical hour requirements during COVID-19 pushed my class back almost a full year, so I will graduate in May 2022.

Why nursing?

As a research coordinator and manager, I worked closely with patients and loved learning from them. But I hit a glass ceiling in research, limited by not having a medical license. I thrive on growth and learning, so I needed more education to open up bigger opportunities.

What do you love about nursing school?

It is tough and nearly all-consuming, but I love the clinicals. Meeting new patients and helping them feel better, even just getting them cleaned up in the morning, is the best part. My favorite rotation so far was labor and delivery. I got to assist with a birth, which was amazing.

How is it going?

Well. I have held a 3.9 GPA, which took a lot of study hours instead of time with friends and family. I remind myself why I started and that nursing school is temporary.

What is your dream job?

I am not 100% sure yet. Right now I would say labor and delivery, postpartum, or a neurology floor.

What surprised you about going back as an adult?

How far I have come. I could not have finished this program when I was younger; I was too immature the first time around. With more life experience, I am focused and I understand how doing well in school shapes what comes after.

Advice for adults thinking about it?

Just do it. Stop waiting for a good time, because there is never a good time. If you know you want this career, find a way. It will not be easy, but focus on what you gain once you get there.