Career Change-Going Into Nursing

Hi everyone, I am new to this board, and I have been reading a lot of your posts. I am 43 and I will be finishing my pre-reqs. for nursing school this year and I hope to get accepted for a two year program for next fall. I already have a BS in geology that I have never been able to find work in. I have been working in the casino industry and I can tell you that I can't believe that there could be another industry where you feel so degraded and treated like a child. Also, I don't want to be in my fifties and working in a casino. I really do enjoy helping people and I feel that nursing would be a great way to do that, and as a nurse I believe that I wouldn't be fired when I got older because of my age. I also have a MBA that I hope to use in my nursing career.:)

[NATTY SN]

Welcome paleobug,

I am also new to the board and find myself spending alot of my free time here. It is always nice to share feelings and ideas with others that can understand and relate. Everyone seems to bew so nice and willing to help this is awesome. Best of luck to you!!!

[studentdeb]

Welcome to the board. This is a great place. I too am changing careers.

Good luck and hope to see you on the boards often.

[ST_NURSE_MLD]

Welcome, I think you'll find a great many career changers on the BB.

[kbstudent]

Welcome, I am 44 soon to be 45 and have just completed my first year of RN nursing school. I had been working on my prereqs for years. Finally decided to step it up and here I am. You are never too old. Admire you for going after what you want. Good luck

[Jen2]

Welcome to the Board. This is a great place for advice and info.. Good luck.

[abigailk]

I'm 54 and will graduate in Dec. '03. I'm really looking forward to my last career. I've worked for 5 years as a Resp Tech, and 15 as an EEG Tech, 1 1/2 years as a student nurse's aide( My hospital hires us as aides after our first semester and supplements our income in exchange for promising to work here for 3 years). Just don't give up, even when it seems to get impossible.

[iliel]

Welcome to the BB, I hope you do well this year! You'll find tons of support here!

[agent]

26 yr old father of 2 career changer

[Paleobug]

Thanks everybody. Fortunately, there is this one hospital here that will pay for the entire nursing program once you are accepted. After that, you have to work for them for two years, a gauranteed job. This is great because I have a mortgage and it's not always easy to go back to school fulltime when you have bills. Also I didn't want to end up getting another degree and not being able to use it.

[bob007cat]

welcome

[indrani987]

Hello everyone:) I would like to become a nurse practitioner, and am looking at some accelerated programs as I already have taken many of the science courses. Many of these are offered at private universities and I just don't see how I would be able to afford them! Does anyone have any advice?

I would be interested in applying for a military scholarship, but it seems like you don't get enough money to significantly cover the tuition, and that you also need to be applying to a BSN program first, then apply separately to the masters program rather than a joint accelerated degree. I'm worried about how I would pay back the rest of the loans that the military money wouldn't cover. I've heard that civilian jobs may offer to help you pay back your loans - is this true? And how much do you think they'd be willing to help with?

THANKS!!