Do I have any options?

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I have a useless bachelors degree. In 15 years I have never found employment in my field and have had a string of fast food jobs to Help my husband sustain our family. I began the track towards nursing and got a job as a nurses assistant. I love my job. I got mono last semester (semester two of clinical for me in my ADN program) and was forced to take that semester off.

In that time, my husband left. And yes he pays court appointed child and spousal support, I am still running out of money every single paycheck. I only pay for essentials barring a Mc Donald's frozen coffee once or twice a week when I have to be up for 24 hours straight for work.

I just did the math. After rent, I have 200 dollars left. My childcare provider for clinical is 100 a week. That leaves nothing for groceries. I am facing the stark reality that after working toward this goal for ten years, stopping every time my husband pitched a fit, only to try and return later, that I may not be able to finish.

My job's education plan is 1k a year and the expectation you will sign on for 3 years each time they give it to you. They do not pay ahead. I would have to pay out of pocket and they would reimburse if my grades are fine.

I seriously contemplated a second job, but with my kids and their therapies (2 high functioning ASD) it would be a moot put because all study time would be gone.

I just don't know what to do.

I contemplated an online degree but hear so much negative about them, and I had to purchase a computer through my bookstore, just so I could use my financial aid as I had no money for the purchase. If I drop out this semester I am stuck paying the college back for the computer and not sure how that will affect my financial aid. I will obviously not have the funds to pay for it until I have my degree.

I just don't know what to do at this point and am pretty down and out and overwhelmed thinking about it all.

Have you looked into nursing scholarships? Nurse Corps has a scholarship program that will not only pay for your classes, books, and supplies but will also give you a $1200/month living stipend. The tradeoff is that you have to agree to work for 2 years at a critical shortage facility after you graduate. Still not too bad though as you do get to choose the facility you work for. I've included the link...

http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/scholarships/nursing/

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Have you talked to the nursing faculty and the directors???? It sounds as though you have taken an "all or nothing" approach, although many options have been suggested. I have yet to hear that you talked to your program, which I suggest you should do... FWIW, in my experiences in nursing school, not everyone get's kicked out, just saying...if they knew what you were going through, and you are a student that is passing, they would do whatever it takes to make sure you are successful.

Another option as someone has stated, is PN school. You wouldn't have to pay for your loans while you are in school, plus it will be a full time vocational program (at least the program I went to was one), which financial aid works a little more differently in terms of disbursement, which can help.

Before utilizing this option, make sure you talk to your program.

Your previous degree can help out a church that you could utilize for daycare assistance...I suggest you seek them out and utilize your talents while going to nursing school. There IS more help out there; you have to be willing to see the end in sight; one thing I learned from my own challenges is that success is the victory after the struggle.

Sending positive vibes in the choices you have to make.

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Yes, yes I have spoken with the program. I've kept them abreast of the situation.

Secondly church is out of the option. It would be hypocritical for me to serve in a capacity I don't believe in anymore (which has nothing to do we my current situation). Would you hire an atheist to work in your church daycare? I think not.

LPNs here get paid the same amount as experienced aides. That will simply perpetuate my financial situation.

Unless someone comes up with something I haven't tried please stop accusing me of being negative when you haven't been fighting this fight. The options presented I have tried already. I guess there's nothing more to do. I definitely do not need to be condemned for being very down about my circumstances.

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Yes, yes I have spoken with the program. I've kept them abreast of the situation.

Secondly church is out of the option. It would be hypocritical for me to serve in a capacity I don't believe in anymore (which has nothing to do we my current situation). Would you hire an atheist to work in your church daycare? I think not.

LPNs here get paid the same amount as experienced aides. That will simply perpetuate my financial situation.

Unless someone comes up with something I haven't tried please stop accusing me of being negative when you haven't been fighting this fight. The options presented I have tried already. I guess there's nothing more to do. I definitely do not need to be condemned for being very down about my circumstances.

Forgive me for sounding harsh, but you seem to have an excuse for everything. There are a tremendous amount of resources and I doubt they are all out of the question. People keep making suggestions to try to help and you shoot everything down. Do you really want help or just want to vent?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Forgive me for sounding harsh, but you seem to have an excuse for everything. There are a tremendous amount of resources and I doubt they are all out of the question. People keep making suggestions to try to help and you shoot everything down. Do you really want help or just want to vent?

Maybe she wants to vent.

OP, people have given you the options presented; if anything, you have asked what you could do, and all those options are a NO for you.

Many of us have gone through similar challenges. My house was in foreclosure a couple of ones after a major medical incident; I didn't know if I would even be here on this earth; and after surviving it, I still felt dead.

I didn't reveal this to you To minimize your situation, but to help you understand KNOWING that dark place, and feeling as though there is no end in sight; that there was no one out there that could "understand". That is a lonely and frightening place, and it can be very damaging, to the point that one cannot see straight or reasoning is questioned at every turn. Hopelessness can be very consuming, and crippling.

I wrote to many donors and outreach programs, and came up dry. I was ineleigble for a lot if programs because of my occupation (I was a LPN at the time and had a degree). I searched and searched, and found a way to secure funding to help save my house, go to school, and I was able to return to working by becoming an independent contractor; I applied and got accepted into nursing school, bit the bullet and finished despite medical issues.

I KNOW you can survive this, even if you have to appeal and find emergency funds from SOMEWHERE. :yes:

There are no easy answers, and no, we are not in your shoes; it will be up to you ultimately to do what is best; however, it may mean sacrificing and giving up a little to get out of your situation; and that is scary and mournful as well.

The last thing I am going to suggest is I seek out counseling if possible. You stated that you were "In a dark place," and I am concerned for that. One of the best places to start, for me was talking to a counselor; a lot of the options that helped me through my dark times were my counselors; they had resources that I didn't even think of, even if I thought I thought of them; and sometimes hey can point you to that direction and when you got a no before, you may get a yes. At this point, you have nothing to lose, even if you still think you do.

That is all...best wishes.

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I know crappy things can happen to you. Believe me...I grew up with a serious drug addict in the house...my dad. My brothers and sister did not go to college, our family has been poor for as long as I can remember, all the odds were stacked against me. I have a 2 year old son and a fiancee that makes barely over minimum wage. I severely fractured my leg in my 2nd semester of the ASN program (6 months ago) and then contracted a staph infection which almost resulted in amputation. I have since picked myself back up and taught myself to walk again...but not without paying a high price for it. It is physically painful for me to go to school and work everyday, but I do it because I know I have to. I am working literally JUST to pay the bills right now, as there is no way I can resume my full time hours because of school and the fact that my leg just can't withstand it quite yet. My medical bills are outrageous, and I fear I may have to file bankruptcy. When I was laid up in the hospital for 4 (count them...1, 2, 3, 4) weeks...I had a lot of time to be mad, to be sad, to be inspired...and everything in between. I came out of this fight with more desire to be a nurse than ever before. I never want to see someone else go through what I did, at least not without a support person. I want to be that person who goes the extra mile because they appreciated it when someone did it for them.

I am telling you...where there is a will, there is a way. It sounds cliche, but it's true. If you want this bad enough, you can do it. Do NOT give in. POSITIVE thoughts go a long way. If you think you can't do something, then you're probably right. Please explore more options. You can't control what a man does, your family does, your kids do...but you can control what YOU do. You owe it to yourself and your babies to make this happen. Do or do not, there is no try!!!!!

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No one is trying to "condemn" you for feeling the way you do...but your post title says, "Do I have any options?" meaning...you were asking a question. Then you come up with a reason why each of those options will not work. There is NO room for negativity. If you want it bad enough, you'll make it happen. I don't believe crappy things can just happen to you and you have no control. Believe me...I've been down that road. It leads to pain, agony, anger, and misery. Not where you want to go.

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Forgive me for sounding harsh, but you seem to have an excuse for everything. There are a tremendous amount of resources and I doubt they are all out of the question. People keep making suggestions to try to help and you shoot everything down. Do you really want help or just want to vent?

Thank The Lord I'm not the only one who thinks this!!!!

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We all have problems. Issues. Imperfect situations. ALL OF US.

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