Career Change Male Nurse Help

[Spartacvs, BSN]

I'd like to bounce something off of you...

45 year old father of 3 teenage children living in Orange County New

York. Wife works part time in the local grammar school. House w/

mortgage that I can afford :) 2 cars and very little debt.

I had decided to pursue a nursing career over a year ago because of

a dead end job that I was in working in NYC. 5 hour commute left no

time for anything but work. I was going to quit my job re-mortgage the

house and go back to school full time. This plan was based on the fact

that I couldn't work in the city and go to school at the same time.

Out of the blue I got a local job last March. This has allowed me to

go to school, cut my commute down to 1/2 hour, GEEZ what was I

thinking, and have a life.

I'm in a quandary. My current job has turned out to be an okay job.

Okay because it's s stable company where in all likelihood I can work

at for the next 20 odd years and it pays me well enough. Nothing is

for certain though. I'm at a point in school where to continue I will

have to leave at 3:00 in the afternoon in order to get to school. My

job would have to let me leave early. I'm not sure they'll do that

even if I make a deal where I come in earlier than I all ready do.

"Why are you leaving early"... I ummm have to go to school so I can

change careers in a few years and leave you. I would have to come up

with some hair-brained excuse. The other part of this plan was for my

wife to get into a full time job and that hasn't happened. It's

extremely hard for a person transitioning back into the work force.

Her job was going to offset the salary decrease I was going to take

when I got a job as a nurse. It was also going to help towards paying

for school. We've been able to swing it at this point but when the

nursing classes start the tuition is going to go through the roof. I

make too much for financial aid so I've had to pay my own way. No

chance of a loan either.

My reasons for choosing nursing were to enable a means of employment

no matter what the economic situation. Their are plenty of jobs in

every location in the country. It would allow me to stay employed and

provide for the family for the next 20 years or longer. I also like

helping others! My current job is a dead end. If I lost it tomorrow

there aren't any jobs given my range of experience in this region. I'm

not sure what the prospects of looking for a job outside the NY area

are but I can't imagine they would be any better.

So, I'm at a crossroads and I don't know what to do. I've been able to

transition back to school and excel at it. I'm a straight A student.

I've finished A&P 1, Chemistry & Biology. I'm taking A&P2 at the

moment and I'm on track to get an A there as well. That leaves Micro

bio for next semester which finishes up my science. My core math and

english are done as well so the only thing left are the nursing

classes. It felt great to be challenged mentally, something that I

haven't had to do in a long time. It's not furthering my current job

though. It will force me to start over, take a salary cut in the midst

of all this economic turmoil. Oh, did I mention that I got a raise

last week, sweetened the pot a bit. Gotta love golden handcuffs.

I guess I have some apprehension about not being able to get a job if

I lose this one. I want to continue to be challenged mentally. This

wont happen working for my current employer. It's very mundane. There

is no room for advancement here either. Nursing, on the other hand

will always be challenging.

Reply's on or off line would be appreciated.

Spart

[missi30]

Hi,

Have you looked into online RN programs such as Colleg network, etc?

[pielęgniarka, RN]

Hi,

Have you looked into online RN programs such as Colleg network, etc?

College Network is not an "online" RN program!!!! They sell study guides and cannot give you a degree.

Many distance learning programs (Like Excelsior College) require you to be an LPN prior to enrolling for your RN.

OP, I say go for it if you want to be a nurse. You'd be setting a good example to your teens about the importance of an education.

[StrwbryblndRN]

From what I read in your post it seems that it would be better to go to school. You want to be challenged and your current job does not do that.

It may be hard but it is doable.

My hubby lost his job one month before clinicals started. We had 2 small kids and I made it through nursing school. I did whatever I needed to do for the sake of my family. I could have skipped school and gotten a job but would still be struggling. I finished school and everything got better when I got a job. It was well worth the 2 years of struggling to get to a point where I can pay debt and enjoy life at the same time.

[woody436]

From reading your post..I think you answered your own question brother...Welcome to Nursing! :)

I lost my job in high-tech in 2004 just as I was turning 40. Wife, 4 kids all in private school. I managed to start from scratch and complete a BSN in 4 years, keep on top of the mortgage and tuition payments and feed everyone. Oh and did I mention my wife decided to persue an ADN at the same time? We were very lucky that she works 24 hour shifts on the Chicago Fire Dept as a paramedic, so we had decent money coming in, but not like it was prior to me losing my job. I also picked up a part-time ER-Tech job where I now enjoy a position as a staff RN in the same dept. My wife has also graduated and now is working as an RN part-time in an ER as well as maintaining her F/T job with the fire dept.

If it's something you want, then just do it. We only go around once! Plus look at the great example you'll set for the kids! I have instilled in my kids a strong sense of work ethic because of school. They take it much more seriously now then they ever did.

PM me anytime if you want to chat.

Jeff

[uscstu4lfe]

Go for it! It'll keep you very busy for the next few years, you'll learn a lot, etc. :)

Just make sure you can afford to pay all of your bills with whatever arrangement you work out :)

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

You're looking for a challenge...brother, nursing would be a heck of one. With very little debt, and a mortgage that you can afford NOW, I would sit down and try to figure out a budget with whatever you can do. Keep in mind that most NS programs are during the day....some are at night, or weekends, but those are rare.

With the kids, do you have no problem with having them try to afford college on their own? Fin aid, loans, jobs, etc....would be plenty to get them their education.

Like you said, if you lost your job tomorrow, what would you do? If the options are not plentiful, it's better to have a plan B. I wouldn't lie about your schooling, but I'd just leave it at "I'm going to school at night."

It may be hard for your wife to get that FT job, but she's really gotta try too. That would help. Also, as a nursing student, you probably could get a 2nd job as a aide...it wouldn't be a lot, but every little bit extra helps.

Tuition wise, what's your cost per credit hour? Many CCs only charge 60-70 an hour for a ADN.

I think your reasons for choosing nursing are VERY apt. You're spot on, you could find a job doing just about anything. AND it's a challenge everyday. No two days are the same.

My advice is to make that budget, look into what the job WILL let you do(won't know til you ask), and get the wife to take that FT job. You don't want to be 50, looking back and going "what if?"

Personally, I am a 3rd generation nurse. I had a job out of school working as an activity director for 197 mentally ill residents...but it was tough...all for 10 bucks an hour, salaried...no overtime, no pick up shifts, etc. Even had to deliver for papa john's for a 2nd job.

I got sick of it. Went to school...only had to stop working there during the last 1.5 years. Went to the hospital, worked as a CNA for the 2 years before I got my RN, and work on the same floor. I'm familiar with most cases, and I know a lot of the docs already.

Good luck with whatever you do.

[firefox828]

If you like/love nursing, go for it. I took the 2-yr course because I don't want to end up with sky-high loan. It works for me... if I decide to continue towards BS, will apply and have the hospital pay for it. Good luck!

[picurn10]

We just had a former student visit our class yesterday. He was in his 50's and had been a general contractor for 30yrs, running his own business. He knew that in the future the housing industry wasn't the place to be so he decided on his LPN. He's now working on his RN!! He had nothing but good things to say about his choice and it sounds like he did really well in nursing school. If you think you'll enjoy nursing, I say go for it! As a single mom, I LOVE the fact that nursing is going to give me some real financial/career stability.