Career Change

[kaybug]

I'm not sure where to start. I am a 30 year old mother and wife who works full time and I feel like it's time to go back to my original plan which was to become a nurse. I am working in the healthcare field right now but in the administration side of things. What steps should I take first? Are there going to be any classes/programs that will be flexible enough for me to be working while going to school? What schools in the DFW area are going to work better for me? Could I try for an LVN program first and then continue later on to an RN? Any suggestions would be helpful because I feel like I have been out of school for so long that I don't even know were to begin looking. I only went to college for 1 semester and I did take some science courses but since it's been over 5 years I would have to take them over again anyways.

Thanks in advance!

Kay

[newlifecalling]

My suggestion is go to school whatever it takes. Get grants, student loans, look for programs in your area for assistance. Just do it. I am a single mom of two and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm not saying it will be easy, in fact it was the hardest thing I have ever done , but so worth it. Ask family to help if you have kids, anyone willing to help you. Just take that first step and put in applications for school and see what happens. Lot of luck to you . You just have to want it. If you want it everthing will fall into place on its own.

[txpixiedust]

Hi Kaybug,

It can be done, but like anything worth doing it can be hard sometimes. What I would suggest is that you get the list of prerequisite classes at a few schools you're considering first. Then start by taking only 1-2 classes, since you are also a working mom going back to school. Every grade you make can either make a positive or negative impact on your GPA - which can make it easier or harder to get into the Nursing programs you apply for. That's really important to remember. So don't rush into your first semester and bite off more than you can chew - that would only give you more work in the long run. Most schools in DFW require a minimum 2.0 or 2.5 GPA - but because there are so many people applying they accept students with 3.5-4.0 depending on the school!

Also, I'd suggest taking your English(2 courses), Sociology, Psychology (2 courses), and Speech first - these classes don't have a 5 year time limit!!! Then after all the classes without time limits are completed start in on your Math & Science courses (Statistics, College Algebra, Anatomy &Physiology 1&2, Microbiology). This way if something in life throws you a curve, it won't set you back again. And some schools offer Express semesters, and all schools offer Winter & Summer sessions, which is very helpful!

When I went back to school I was a wife & mother who had just turned 31! I was very driven & took all of my prereq's in just one year. I went every semester - including winter, maymester, and two summer sessions. But now, three years later I'm a RN!:balloons:

At my graduation, my brother took a picture of me in front of a sign at the school. He's a graphic artist, so he made it fancy by adding a quote to the photo & put it in a really nice frame for me. It's a C.S. Lewis quote - he said, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

Good Luck & God Bless!

txpixiedust

[Dottie78]

I would say go for it. As long as you have support and someone there to help take care of your kids while you're in school, then you need to do this. It's not easy at times, but in the end, it will all be worth it. I'm currently doing the same thing, and in my last semester of pre-reqs. I took 2 classes per semester at a community college, since I have a full-time job and two little ones. Don't ever give up. Good luck!