[Phil76]

Hi everyone. Let me start off by introducing myself. My name is Phil and I just got accepted into the nursing program from a local community college. I have worked very hard the past 2 years at all my pre-reqs while taking care of a family and working full time. I am sure that sounds very familiar to all of you out there. I am a computer engineer right now, but decided to go into nursing after I got ill and had to spend some time in the hospital. I saw the polar opposites in nurses, a great one, and one that was absolutely horrible. I saw what kind of a difference a good nurse makes, and at that moment I decided I wanted to be that person. I am really glad to have found this forum, and I hope you don't think it is rude for my first post to be a question, but here it goes...

I am trying to figure out how I am supposed to support my family while in the program. Right now I make good money and completely understand that my income will drop a lot. But are there any options out there for nursing students besides Stafford loans? I guess what I am wondering is how others have done it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

-Phil

[nghtfltguy]

well phil...

it is very hard, time consuming and expensive....
if you work in the computer field. i suggest you keep doing that as much as you can while you are in school...
oh.. and the stafford loans.....
you better take all you can get from em!!
trust me..!!
i had the GI bill when i went through nursing school... still took the staffords!!
they are there for that very reason.... to save your arse!!
i wish you the best of luck...

[maxamillion]

i also was a in IT (sys and net engineer) when i made the career change. my advice to you is to work during weekends. during the week you'll be doing lots of stuff for school. i worked 32 hours during the weekends for a little over a year. made car payments and mortgage payments. of course having two incomes helped.

[cityhawk]

Same here. I've been a software engineer for 20 years... I still do some software consulting as I get the work and time (and can do this at my own schedule from home). It helps that I had been doing this type of work for a couple of years before starting school. Also, after you've done your first clinical, you can work as a nurse's aide per diem. Doesn't pay nearly as well as your tech job, but it's learning experience and sometimes the extra 100 you make working a shift can really help. Of course, having a spouse to help keep the bills afloat can help. And yes, I took all the stafford loans I could get.

Welcome Phil, and good luck!

Karl

[anonymurse]

Cut luxuries to the bone (or take the opposite tack like I did, spoil your family rotten and let the plastic take a beating--it'll recover). Involve your family as a team--show them the future and lay out the map on how you're all going to get there together. I have a friend who dropped back to part time school. He's going to get where he's going just the same, and he won't have compressed himself into a nervous wreck doing it. You can do it!

[reckton]

Originally Posted by cityhawk

Same here. I've been a software engineer for 20 years... I still do some software consulting as I get the work and time (and can do this at my own schedule from home). It helps that I had been doing this type of work for a couple of years before starting school. Also, after you've done your first clinical, you can work as a nurse's aide per diem. Doesn't pay nearly as well as your tech job, but it's learning experience and sometimes the extra 100 you make working a shift can really help. Of course, having a spouse to help keep the bills afloat can help. And yes, I took all the stafford loans I could get.

Welcome Phil, and good luck!

Karl

Maybe I could piggyback this post with a question.

I've paid for my schooling out of pocket thus far. But as far as the Stafford loans, how exactly does it work.
I have always thought that you can only get a stafford loan for the cost of tuition for any given semester. Am I wrong???

[PeaceKeepr]

Originally Posted by reckton

Maybe I could piggyback this post with a question.

I've paid for my schooling out of pocket thus far. But as far as the Stafford loans, how exactly does it work.
I have always thought that you can only get a stafford loan for the cost of tuition for any given semester. Am I wrong???

Yes, you are wrong. You can be eligible for up to like 4K/semester or more, and you're allowed to use the cash anyway you see fit. Check w/ your financial aide office @ your school and they'll spell it all out for you.