Not sure which route to take!

[2bNurseNik]

I'll try to make this short but I really need some advice.

I really want to be a nurse. Possibly won't get into a BSN program until 2009. It's a weekend/evening program. Can possibly get into a community college in 2008 but will have to quit my full-time job to attend. I can't afford to do that nor can I afford to take a huge pay-cut for a Tech or NA position. Don't have the best grades due to slacking and losing focus. Currently retaking courses to bring up my gpa. Having doubts of whether I would succeed in nursing or not since my gpa sucks; and, working fulltime (also a wife and mother) is hindering my ability to give 100% to nursing; yes, I know others can do it but my time management skills need improvement. Already have a lot in student loans now and will need thousands more for nursing school no matter which route I take.

Okay, next, I work at a very good company now (insurance field) making good money and have lots and lots of opportunity for advancement. Company will pay 100% of my tuition of I go for something in the "business related" field. I like my job but I also am fascinated with healthcare. I must say that this is the BEST job I have had thus far. But, I don't wanna regret going to nursing school and my family and friends are all behind me and support me going to nursing school. However, my brother questioned why I would consider leaving such a good job with good pay, benefits, advancement opps, etc. All I could say was, "I don't know".

I just like healthcare, wanna "help" people, make a difference, there's a demand, pay is decent, etc. However, with my low grades (ok, I'll say it, 2.52 gpa) nursing may not be the best choice for me. I am smart, just don't study - again, time management.

What do you think?

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

well, despite all the downsides to your situation, one thing u said stuck out the most, you said you really wanna be a nurse and you love helping people. we all hear these success stories of people beating the odds and doing what they love and making it and then we look at our own situations and say ''yeah right'', do i think you can become a nurse, yes, yes, yes, !!!, when you have a passion for something in life, nothing holds you back, if you never consider it, you will always wonder what could have been. now, of course you will have to plan everything out as far as your family, discuss the financial details with them, and plan everything out. look for nursing schools, try a 2 yr associates program where you can become an rn, then go back to school while the hospital or union pays for your bachelors degree. get real focused, for real and just go for it!!! good luck, !

[Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN]

I wonder if it would be possible to find something in the healthcare field that is business-related but would allow you to help people. I'm thinking of some sort of healthcare administration position.

I confess I don't know everything that's out there...but I do know that healthcare is a huge and growing field, and it is likely that you will be able to find a position there that uses your skills, perhaps even in working with patients and their families.

I say this because I get the impression you very much like your present position and that it offers you many opportunities. If you hated it I would tell you to go for nursing or something similar. But since you don't, perhaps it makes sense to find something that combines the two, rather than forcing you to choose between business and healthcare.

[2bNurseNik]

Thanks to both of you for your responses.

Maybe something combining the two would be better but, I don't know what's out there. I think it would really interesting working for JHCAO (if that's the right abbrev.). When I entered college, my degree was Healthcare Management, then I was wooed into nursing. Maybe I should follow my first mind. Who knows.......

[Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN]

You might like medical records, or what they now call health information management. There is no patient contact but you get to work with health information all the time, and indirectly help people by making sure their information is complete and accurate. I started my career there but didn't finish my degree, and instead went into transcription - which I don't recommend because jobs are disappearing. But I loved working with information. That is how I found out I was fascinated with medicine and wanted to learn more.

http://www.ahima.org/