Paying For Nursing School - 2nd Degree

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I am a career changer! I have my Bachelor's Degree in Business/Leadership and have worked in corporate as well as teaching business courses in middle school. I LOVE teaching but am not passionate about business. I knew I wanted to be a nurse during my senior year of college but was so close to finishing I thought I would just go back.

BAD DECISION! 5 years later I am struggling with going back because we relocated to TX for my husband work we had 2 little ones. I know I am GREAT at time management and organization so I can handle the demands of nursing and kids but the issue is cost! The cost of tuition and the cost of daycare.

My husband makes a good salary and works a very demanding job. We live very comfortably. Because I already have a Bachelors degree I am not able to get aid for an ADN or BSN so my husband will have to pay for it out of pocket. That is going to be tight then he would also need to pay for daycare for the 1 and 2 yr old which he said IS NOT POSSIBLE! He thinks I should wait until they are in school which makes sense but I have already wasted 5 years and I do not want to waste another 5 years. I am 32 and wanted to be established in my career by 35.

I would love to hear feedback as well as if anyone is a mom with non-school age children, how do you go to class, clinicals, and remain flexible and afford childcare?! I am hoping I am missing something with how to make this happen sooner than later! Thank you in advance for your time and input!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Why not take pre-requisite courses part time at a community college? Generally affordable and transferable. Some county/community colleges offer reasonable child care for part and full time students

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Yes I did start. I took anatomy while pregnant and was planning to take my other 2 prereq this summer and fall but that would still be a long time before I could go to nursing school. My youngest will not begin school until 2019/2020 depending if she goes early and there is the 5 year limit so I would need to retake classes. I did look but the one community college here does not offer part time only full time and my husband can just pay for the tuition and books nothing more. :(

I will look into the full time cost of child care at the comm college for if I got into the program next year.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You may just have to push out your self imposed deadline/goal of being established as a nurse in 3 years. Most ASN programs take 3+ years.

You also likely need general psych, developmental psych, statistics, sociology, microbiology, nutrition and other classes. Full time is the nursing program likely, part time is most often available for pre-reqs

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Specializes in L&D.

I had a previous bachelors degree and got loans for my asn program. Did you take out loans for your bachelors degree? If not you will be eligible for aid. If you did...you may still be able to get aid. There are also grants if you qualify and scholarships. Also there are private loans(although I'd be leery of those)

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Specializes in FNP.

I, too, had a previous bachelor's. I started later, and graduate around 36. It wasn't the end of the world, but I understand wanting to get started earlier. I realize you're hoping to pay out of pocket, which I applaud. I was able to do that, and am very thankful. But one option to look at is the loan forgiveness program. Some offer loan forgiveness if you work for 2-3 years in a "rural hospital. Quite frankly, the job I most recently had qualified and it was only 1 hour from a major city. Perhaps you could see if that was available within a reasonable drive from where you and your family live. If so, it would make it so much more affordable. Good luck!

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You can take online courses at your community college (or elsewhere to transfer in) to avoid going to campus as much as possible. Do as much of this as possible in the beginning until your children are older.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.
I am a career changer! I have my Bachelor's Degree in Business/Leadership and have worked in corporate as well as teaching business courses in middle school. I LOVE teaching but am not passionate about business. I knew I wanted to be a nurse during my senior year of college but was so close to finishing I thought I would just go back.

BAD DECISION! 5 years later I am struggling with going back because we relocated to TX for my husband work we had 2 little ones. I know I am GREAT at time management and organization so I can handle the demands of nursing and kids but the issue is cost! The cost of tuition and the cost of daycare.

My husband makes a good salary and works a very demanding job. We live very comfortably. Because I already have a Bachelors degree I am not able to get aid for an ADN or BSN so my husband will have to pay for it out of pocket. That is going to be tight then he would also need to pay for daycare for the 1 and 2 yr old which he said IS NOT POSSIBLE! He thinks I should wait until they are in school which makes sense but I have already wasted 5 years and I do not want to waste another 5 years. I am 32 and wanted to be established in my career by 35.

I would love to hear feedback as well as if anyone is a mom with non-school age children, how do you go to class, clinicals, and remain flexible and afford childcare?! I am hoping I am missing something with how to make this happen sooner than later! Thank you in advance for your time and input!

Unless you have maxed out your loans having a previous degree does not preclude you from receiving financial aid. You will not be eligible for pell grants but everything else (loans, scholarships, etc) you will be eligible for.

ETA: I have a previous BA and MPH and am receiving loans and scholarships for my ADN program

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