Any way to do this w/out life altering situation? (switch to nursing career)

[health care analyst]

I've always been interested in being a clinician. I started off wanting to be a dentist when I was a kid and literally stuck to it until my junior year of college. I decided I didn't want to specialize in teeth. Anyways, I completed my bachelor's degree program in biology. I wanted to switch to nursing but caught a lot of grief from my parents and didnt listen to myself. I then went on to get my masters in Health Administration. I have a good job as a health care research analyst but quite frankly, I feel a little bored and can't stop thinking about nursing. I've always wanted to be hands on with patients and regret not switching from bio to nursing.

Now I'm married, 26 and want to go into one of those accelerated 1 year programs. The problem is once you leave college, life really settles in. There's no way I can afford to stop working completely. I'm paying my bills, which include rent, my car and also the big bills (my student loans from undergrad and grad). I just don't see how I'm going to stop working to go to school. I'm trying to figure out a plan given that it'd only be 1 year of craziness I suppose....

I worked 30-40 hours a week while I was in grad school with a little flexibility here and there. Honestly, I think I could handle working and going to nursing school but when it comes time for clinicals I know there will be no way around that...

Has anyone done the accelerated program and still worked maybe 3 days a week? For the career switchers out there, did you experience a big cut in pay when you switched over to nursing? I'm expecting that you will still be paid as a new grad even though you have other work exp. I'm thinking it will be worth it for me though b/c I've always wanted to do this.

Also I should note that Im in the Washington DC area

[leenak]

Good luck. Our student loans are paid off, our cars are paid off and I'm married. I will be quitting my job when I go to school. I've been saving money for tuition and we will be going down to a single income. It is scary but exciting. I am applying to JHU for the fall. Where are you looking to apply?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I really don't want to be a party pooper, but why don't you keep on working, and let your life settle down for a bit? I think you already know that the demands of an accelerated program are too great to keep on working. The nursing education process cannot be compared to any other type of educational experience - so the fact that you were able to work in your MHA program has no bearing in this case. So, realistically, you are going to have to change your strategy.

I would also ask you to really analyze why you think nursing is so much better than what you are currently doing? Don't get caught up in the healing myth - the 'ideal' that nursing will transform your life into one meets all your emotional and economic needs. Don't drink that Kool-Aid.