Any advice on becoming a nurse?

I'm not a parent, but I am a f/t nursing student. I had a previous BA in English when I applied to nursing school and had to quit my job as a substitute teacher b/c I was so overwhelmed by all the reading (esp. chemistry) after I was accepted into nursing school. I took out loans to cover about $30,000/yr in tuition costs, so I did not want to risk failing for a $8-10/hr job. That's my view. There's going to be a major time & financial investment for at least 3 yrs full-time if you're applying for a BSN program. An associate program isn't that much shorter (but def. more than 2 years depending on if you have some pre-reqs done already). U would have to arrange for family or friends to agree to babysit (perhaps at a negotiated price if necessary to convince them). My academic advisor told me that 1/3 of students either drop out or flunk out of the nursing program. Ur basically forced to cram a year's worth of material into a few month's time (textbooks are typically 1,000 pgs long and the entire books are covered in 1 semester). It's not for the faint of heart, but it's doable if you're willing to give it your all. I'm single & live @ home, so I can handle it w/o too much trouble. Since you have a family, you'll need to talk this thru with your family & make sure that they understand that your time would be severely limited as well as finances. Also, you might ask your husband to clean/cook most days of the week b/c you'd be busy studying. Take your time in deciding; only you can make the choice what's best for you & your situation. If you decide to go to a cheaper city (CUNY) nursing program, it's a lot tougher both to get into and to finish since everyone wants in & to save money. Perhaps you may want to consider a LPN program? It may take you 1.5 years, and many employers offer you some money towards getting your RN later down the road (that's what I'd do if I was in your situation). Good luck!