Well, I just found out today that I was granted a research assistantship (full tuition, $20,000/yr stipend, plus health insurance coverage for me only) in my BSN-PhD program. I would be required to work as a RA for the standard 20 hours a week in the Fall & Spring semesters (which I would be thrilled about).
Here's the rub: my husband is also a full time student (engineering), and has 2 more semesters left. I am carrying our health insurance, because he is self employed until he is done with school. I actually have great benefits, and an easy job working from home as a disease management educator. My boss is wonderful, and is really willing to bend over backwards to tweak my schedule around my classes, as long as I get my 40 hours in.
If I take the assistantship, I will have to pay out of pocket for their insurance, and my income (including student loan money) will drop by about $16,000/year. It's not so bad a bargain for working $20 hours a week, though.
I really, really want to do this, but what I want to do is not agreeing with what I need to do. I'm also afraid that if I turn down the assistantship this year, that it won't be offered to me next year, when my husband will be done with school, will have a much better income, and can carry the insurance.
So, what do you guys think my chances are of getting this opportunity again if I turn it down this time? Have any ideas as to how I could make this work? We don't have part time positions where I work, so that wouldn't be an option. I can't go back to the bedside, due to a tibial nerve problem in my right ankle. I may be able to go back to teaching clinicals part time, though.
I am kicking myself for thinking of turning this down.
marachne
349 Posts
I'm so glad it worked out well for you!