I Need Advice, Please

[CarlosB]

Hi, everyone. My name is Carlos, I live in Venezuela. I apologize in advance for my English.

My situation is, I am 36 old, married, and I have a 4 years old daughter. My previous 18 years experience in Venezuela is in Telecomunications, mostly as a manager. However, as you all must know, our country is going throught a huge problem, and right now most people are unemployed, most of the companies are closing and about everyone that is able is leaving the country.

I found a way to come and live in the USA, by studying this career. It is however intimidating for me because:

1). It seems like almost 99% of the people that study this career are women. :imbar

2) My real vocation is medicine, so I don't know if after I complete the 4 years career and if I want then to switch to medicine, I will get credits for my previous studies as nurse.

3) I f I decide to stay as a nurse, I would like to specialize on whatever will give me the chance to earn more. Aparently anesthetics is the best paid. However, my litle research shows me that is very complicated to be accepted on schools that offer this speciality. What are my chances, and what other options will give me the chance to earn the best income levels.

4) Most of the places that I have found, are very very expensive, specially taking in consideration that I would be a foreing student so I won't have the chance to get a loan from any bank or institution, and that I would also have to bring my wife and my daugther with me (aparently very soon our government will launch a law that will prohibit people to take their childrens out of the country, so we need to get out asap). In your experiencie, I would like to know what colleges are good and no expensive (In florida, if possible). :stone

5) Since I am 36, and I will have to come with all those issues in my back, what is the shorter way for me to get the chance to be sponsored and work, and if possible, what is the shorter way to complete the whole career, including the specialization.

I hope anyone can help me with advice, and let me know your experiences in any of these issues. I will really apreciate it. :)

[SCRN1]

I know lots of male nurses where I work. Many are working in areas such as surgery, ER, or ICU instead of on regular med/surg floors.

As for schools in Florida, you may want to check the other boards that are for different states.

Most hospitals here will hire you to work as a CNA while you are in school after you have completed the first nursing course or take a short class (the hospital may offer that class).

Once you get a degree, most hospitals will help pay or will pay for you to continue your education.

The fastest way to get a degree in nursing would be LPN. Instead, spending a little longer in school, you could get an ADN and the pay would also be more. To get a BSN, you would spend about 4 years full-time and get the same pay starting out as ADN.

Hope this helps some.

[Katnip, RN]

Huh. I posted a reply but it never showed up. I guess I hit a wrong button.

Anyway, I'll try again.

While it's true that most nurses are women, there are more and more men joining the ranks, and they are offered the same opportunities.

If you want to go into medicine or into nursing anasthesia school, you'll need to have a bachelor's degree. For medicine you will probably have to take a few extra science courses along the way, then spend 4 years in medical schools and several years in residency. For CRNA school, you get your bachelor's degree, your RN, work a year or more in a critical care area, usually an ICU, then spend 2-3 years in school again.

With the above in mind, I'd say the shortest way would be to go straight for the bachelor's. If you start as an LPN (about 12-18 months education I think) you will have to spend time getting prerequisites for an associate degree, and depending on the university you go to, you may have to take even more prereqs for your bachelor's. Not all will require it, but some do.

SCRN1 is right. If you get a job as a student tech or CNA, a lot of hospitals will have you work minimal hours and help pay tuition for nursing school as long as you promise to work for them when you graduate for a couple of years.

Don't let age deter you. I graduated in my 40s. There were men and women older than me in my class.

As far as supporting your family while you're in school, it will be very very difficult. It's been done by single mothers, but I'm sure they had to have some sort of support. It may be that your wife will have to work. I know in a lot of cultures that's unheard of, but it's often necessary in the U.S., especially when a spouse is in school fulltime.

There's a member here who has a wealth of knowledge and resources about immigration and sponsorships. Hopefully she will jump in and help you out.

[renerian, BSN, RN]

My hubby is an RN. Well worth the effort. I am sure it is hard to look at so many struggling people around you.

renerian

[apogee]

I am 6' 4", 250lbs, and very much a manly man. I am also a Nurse. Remember you wannabe expatriot: Nursing is not a job, it is a calling....The very manly man

Michael Patrick Cavenaugh....did I mention I am Irish?

[BRANDY LPN]

I don't know what wages are in Venezuala but they are probally much more in the US so tuition may not seem as high compared to the wages you will earn while you are here. Like somone else said your wife will probally have to work to help support your family while you are in school, and you would probally be able to get government assistance also.

[sunnyjohn]

I am 6' 4", 250lbs, and very much a manly man. I am also a Nurse. Remember you wannabe expatriot: Nursing is not a job, it is a calling....The very manly man

Michael Patrick Cavenaugh....did I mention I am Irish?

6'4", 250lbs.!!! are you married???? (just kidding...)

[safewaygreenbox]

I am 6' 4", 250lbs, and very much a manly man. I am also a Nurse. Remember you wannabe expatriot: Nursing is not a job, it is a calling....The very manly man

Michael Patrick Cavenaugh....did I mention I am Irish?

Nursing is a job to me :)