Help! Pre-Nursing Job advice!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi,

I have a plan.... sorry this will be a long post!

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I over think everything and tend to try to account for every possible outcome. This is a good thing and a bad thing.

Anyway, currently I work for a Bank. I've been with the company a little over 2 years and may almost $19 an hour plus monthly bonuses(usually $500). I've started my Pre- Reqs and will be applying to my community colleges nursing program spring of 2019 for fall 2019 admission. My ideal program is the schools night and evening fast-track program which would run from August 2019 to December of 2020.

My plan is to save $100 a pay check starting feb. 2nd until June of 2019 which is will be about $3500, put aside $2000 each from tax refund from 2018 and 2019(thank god for my sons birth lol), and then dissolve my 401k(amount I'll be able to get unknown... I'd be quitting so I can get a hospital position so I'm sure about penalties and such currently between my 401k and pension there $8000 there... but I doubt I get to take even half of that...).

i round everything down to leave wiggle room so with saving and tax money I'll have 7,500. With my 401k I'd say at the very least I'd think I'd get to take home $2500( low estimate) so I'm Hoping on $10,000 to help supplement income when I go part time...

So the point... regardless of where I go it'll be a pay cut... I want to work in an ER/ED when I become a nurse. Do you think getting an EMT certification and doing that for a awhile(working as an EMT) would help my chances? Or should I look for more like a ER tech or nurse aide? I'm trying to think about finances as well and a position that will pay at least a 13-14 and hour... I'm already taking the pay cut so I don't want to make it too drastic Incase something was to happen financially. Ideally I'd want a position I could do 2 12's and have good flexibility during my class schedule while in school(evening and weekend fast track program). I know there are student nurse position at my local hospital(Pittsburgh, pa), but usually they want a semester of clinical... I want to start as soon as possible so I'm shooting to start whatever position I choose June of 2019 prior to the start of the semester.... Any ideas???

It may be different here in California, but to become an ER Tech you have to have previous experience as an EMT-B, EMT-P or CNA.

I think it's preferred here too, or at least to be enrolled currently in one of the courses.

Oh how I have dealt with this exact situation. Counting every single penny I made and figuring where I can cut costs where I can add a little extra income here and there. I had my 401k savings and I was going to live off of that and I'd be good. And then LIFE happened!

My dad died, my dog died (same day, 12 hours apart btw!), I went into a deep depression, I left my job because I couldn't deal with it. I associated all my sadness and grief at that place so I found another job. My 401k went to paying for funeral services and to sustain me while I recovered from my depression.

Prior to taking my last pre-req i knew I wasn't going to be able to support myself financially anymore. I had a car payment, my two other dogs, and my household to maintain. Granted I don't have kids but that didn't really make things any better. Oh how I cried. Every. Single. Day. I cried because I worked for this for such a long time, my dad was supposed to be at my graduation, every obstacle life put in front me I pummeled through it and then it handed me this. So there I stood with a very important decision, do I a. Save money again and quit work once I save enough? Or do I b. Say screw it, quit now follow my lifelong dreams, ruin my financial life, ruin my credit, most likely get my car repossessed, and take the bus every day to nursing school until I graduate?

You have no idea how hard a decision like this is. I literally saw my life's work, my dreams slowly slipping right through my fingertips and I could do absolutely nothing about it. Oh, it was utterly devastating. For the first time in my life I knew what devastation was, I felt it hit me like a speeding train and man did it hurt.

I signed up for my last pre-req, Microbiology, and said f it I'll just see what happens. Then I got my textbook and I cried again out of pure joy. I held on tight to that book and said to myself, "I HAVE to do this!" That book reignited the absolute passion and love affair I have for nursing.

And now, here I stand, with you my fellow nursing students. I am no longer confused as to what to do. I have decided to f it, I HAVE to pursue my dreams, i did not sacrifice so much and invest so much time into this to give up because my precious credit will be ruined. My dad would have told me to follow my dreams. And you know what, that's exactly what I'm going to Do!

As life would have it, I got fired from my job last month sooooo life decided for me I would be without income but you know what, I couldn't thank it enough. Getting fired at this time was the best thing that could have happened to me.

So as someone with a similar situation I say you, follow your dreams!!! Take the student loans and make it work! My therapist told me, "In 10 years from now do you want to be sitting behind a desk with your perfect credit or do you want to rushing down the hallways of the hospitals saving patients? Do you think your credit will matter then?"

As far as working while in school, here in California you can take the CNA test after your first semester but I haven't heard much for EMT. I know you said you've accounted for every situation, but life has it's own way of doing things so just keep that in mind. And FYI, I started school when I was 24, I just turned 30 last month. I didn't expect to take this long but you know...life. Now my worries are, should I stay at mt. sac or should I go to LA County School of Nursing?

Hope this helps and I k ow long post í ½í¸Š

Ah okay, well I can only speak from my experience, but I've been an EMT for over three years now and the experience has been invaluable. Acting as the PCP, alone, you learn how to manage patient care so much more effectively in the most dire situations. Along with that, we learn the ins and outs of so many hospitals. It's not for everyone, but the experience is amazing and quite applicable to the nursing field.

Hope this helps and I k ow long post ������

No! Thank you for the detailed answer and personal experience! I'm going full force I know I can't account for everything and I plan to push forward no matter what happens. If I have to take it loans I will. I'm just excited for the journey! Thanks!

Ah okay, well I can only speak from my experience, but I've been an EMT for over three years now and the experience has been invaluable. Acting as the PCP, alone, you learn how to manage patient care so much more effectively in the most dire situations. Along with that, we learn the ins and outs of so many hospitals. It's not for everyone, but the experience is amazing and quite applicable to the nursing field.

thanks for the feedback! I'm planning on doing a EMT certification program next fall. So excited! Wish I could start sooner!

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