Single Mom starting January 2017

[klwinkleman]

Hello!! Well....I have been pondering going into nursing since I graduated high school but chose a different route due to my mother being sick....that was in 2000.

But it has been something I have wanted to do for so long that I am ready to take a HUGE leap of faith and make it happen. I start my pre-requisites in January 2017 and hope to start the nursing core in January 2018. I have 2 boys, ages 4 and 13 currently, so by the time I start the core they will be 5 and 14. My oldest son is really good at helping out so I know that he will help but I am scared to death about this transition.

As a single mom I currently work full time as a paralegal, I have been in the legal field for 7 years. My questions is- what type of work (part-time) might work well for my situation? I want to keep child care costs low. I believe my course will be from 8am-1pm or from 8am-3pm, so my boys will be in school while I am in school. Do you think it would be better to not work during the week and work every weekend? Maybe find a job at a hospital where I could work 2-12 hour days on weekends? Or try to find something in the evenings, say from 5pm-10pm and take weekends off to spend time with my boys and study?

If there are any single moms that have gone through this process, I would love to hear your stories.

Thank you in advance!!!

[Buyer beware, BSN]

OP:

Sounds like you have the income flow and the logistical support to do this.

Of course, the work schedule is something that is unique to your circumstances and needs.

On the surface of it I would stick with the paralegal work. Getting a job doing scut in the hospital will do you little good except to tire you out.

One class at a time should be done at first to see how well all the pieces fit together. As you gain academic steam so to speak, you could take more.

If you do this slowly and methodically, you will succeed.

May I ask what school you are attending in January?

[klwinkleman]

OP:

Sounds like you have the income flow and the logistical support to do this.

Of course, the work schedule is something that is unique to your circumstances and needs.

On the surface of it I would stick with the paralegal work. Getting a job doing scut in the hospital will do you little good except to tire you out.

One class at a time should be done at first to see how well all the pieces fit together. As you gain academic steam so to speak, you could take more.

If you do this slowly and methodically, you will succeed.

May I ask what school you are attending in January?

I am scheduled to start my 4 prerequisite courses online through Keiser University. I am not 100% positive how the core nursing courses work, but I have heard that it is one-two at a time, but with a full time schedule (M-F from 8am-5pm) which definitely makes things a little tricky as far as work and being a parent to my 2 children.