What It Really Takes to Become a Nurse - Cost, Burnout, & School Reality | The Beauty Outlaw

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Thinking about nursing—or already in prereqs and feeling overwhelmed? In this episode of The Beauty Outlaw, we sit down with Nadia (about to graduate from an accelerated BSN program) and Charlotte (in an ADN community college program) to break down the real path to becoming a nurse: prerequisites, the TEAS exam, program competitiveness, cost differences, working while in school, burnout in hospitals, and how to survive the hardest semesters.

Whether you’re choosing between community college ADN vs. private accelerated BSN, or you’re wondering if nursing is worth it—this one’s for you.

Timestamps:
00:03 Welcome + who this episode is for (future nurses & nursing students)
00:35 Meet Nadia (graduating BSN) + Charlotte (in nursing school)
01:41 Nadia’s story: why she chose nursing + growing up in San Diego
02:48 Getting sick, finding purpose, and working as a CNA
05:13 Why Nadia took a wellness/aesthetics job while in school
07:35 Charlotte’s story: from vet world to skincare → nursing
10:45 Choosing an affordable program (Saddleback/Santa Ana)
11:24 Saddleback point system + CNA/TEAS/GPA competitiveness
14:48 Prerequisites: what you actually need (and what varies)
16:18 TEAS test explained + why it’s stressful
17:53 Tutor + TEAS crash course + what to focus on
21:18 Don’t forget prereq expiration rules (you may need retakes)
24:35 Competitiveness + acceptance rates (public vs. private)
25:41 Accelerated BSN: 4 years packed into 15 months
26:05 Costs: ~$60K accelerated vs. $100K+ programs
27:34 ADN route: 400–500 applicants, 50–60 accepted
28:04 Community college cost estimate (under ~$5K)
31:18 Can you work with a family while in nursing school?
32:30 Weekly 12-hour clinicals + school intensity ramp-up
35:18 Cohort support, relationships, and mental load
38:35 The truth: hard—but not “the worst time of your life”
39:40 Survival tips: learning styles, practice questions, study systems
44:02 Hospital reality: burnout + missing compassion in practice
49:33 Nurse advocacy: don’t be afraid to “bug” the doctor
52:58 Career goals: bedside, critical care, L&D, aesthetics, holistic health
55:29 Tuition repayment programs + signing bonuses (Kaiser mentioned)
56:20 Where to find them on Instagram + closing toast