I Need Advice!!!!!! Help!

colleen10 · Sep 6, 2002

Hi Tooty,

I'm 27 and a returning student after finishing a BS in 1998.

There are a lot of options open to you and I think you should start by checking out nursing programs in your area. You can do a 4 year BSN, a 2 year ASN, or even go through a hospital that has it's own nursing school. Those programs usually take 18 to 24 months.

Yes you will have pre-req's to take but since you did take some classes back in '95 you may not have to retake basic pre-req's like English or Math or Psych. At my school if you have taken a class within 10 years they will usually accept it.

As for paying for school, a BSN is going to take at least 4 years at a University or College. An ASN will take you 2-3 years (thats including pre req's) at a Community College which tend to be much less expensive than 4 year universitys. Because of the shortage a lot of hospitals will pay for all of your education, books and student uniforms if in return you agree to work for them for a period of time upon your licensure. From what I have seen it is usually 2 years, or 1 year for each year of education that they pay for.

I don't know if you actually complete college or not, but if you did not there are tons of grants and forms of student aide out there.

And trust me $4,000.00 is nothing.

Good Luck,

Col

JailRN · Sep 6, 2002

The mother of one of my best friends asked me if I thought she was too old for nursing school. She was, at the time 55 or 56. I told her it would take, probably 4 years. She sighed, then I said, well, how old will you be in 4 years if you go to school?

She answered.

Then I asked "How old will you be in 4 years if you DON"T go to school"?

Hubby will be 51 on Monday and just started his 2nd semester(out of 4) 2nd carreer. Better late than never

Neon8 · Sep 7, 2002

I returned to school in '97 at the age of 45. I graduated in June of 2002 with a BSN. I'm 50 now. I wish I had listened to that nagging voice telling me to go back to school sooner. Anyway, I applied for grants from the federal government and student loans to pay for school. go to

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

to apply for a grant.

I would say don't waste your time on anything less than an RN. Good luck to you.

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2002

YOur never to old to go back. 4K is not bad either.......

Go for it.

renerian

Scavenger'sWife, RN · Sep 7, 2002

Total agreement here...I went back to school at age 44. Did ADN RN program at a local school. Completed in 2 years going full-time. You are never too old if it is your desire to do it!

Like Neon8 said, look at fafsa...also ask for a forbearance on your current student loans. As long as you are enrolled in college, you can postpone payment on all student loans until 6 months after you graduate. You can pay just the interest on the loan you owe, or let it ride and be added to the loan amount. Repayment at graduation is pretty cheap per month. My daughter's loans amounted to 20,000!!! She pays $158 a month.

Also look at the schools and see if they have scholarships. My school paid for my books ea qtr because I got a scholarship that I qualified for by my GPA and my age (smile).

And ck the local hospitals where you live. My hospital will pay all costs (tuition, unis, books, etc.) if you agree to hire after grad. They will obtain the loan for you, then at the time you start working, they give you the amt of your loan repayment onto your paycheck every month.

Good luck!!!!