I know it is extremely common for women to change careers later on and choose nursing as their new career choice. But I honestly feel totally overwhelmed at the thought of how I will achieve this. I don't even have a date in site for when I could even apply to a program. I am a full-time graphic designer in the Dallas area. I make a decent salary but despise my career choice. All I want is to be able to start over and choose Nursing as my career. I have a few prereqs out of the way, and plan to take as many classes as I can before applying. But how in the world will I be able to go to nursing school and take care of financial obligations (home & auto loans, bills, raising a 2-year old with daycare expenses, etc - you get it).
I would love to attend El Centro in Dallas. If anyone has been or is in my same situation please share your insights with me. I guess I just need someone to say "Yes, it's possible".
Wow it feels like I'm ready a story about my own personal doubts and goals.
I am 33, have 2 children, a husband and a full time job, a pile of bills, etc. I've been an accountant for 11 years & I decided last year to make a run for it and make a career change to Nursing.
I've always wanted to work in a hospital setting and I just wasnt sure if I was cut out to be a Nurse.
I tried to do this 2 times already and I've always had an excuse as to why I had to quit. I got pregnant with my 1st child, then i got divorced, then i got remarried, then i got pregnant with my 2nd child... You know the drill...
My biggest concern is also how am I going to pay my bills while I go through Nursing School. My husband makes good money, but he can't carry all of our bills by himself. Everyone that I've spoken that is going into nursing, is already in the medical field, so I feel like i'm at a very large disadvantage.
When I get accepted (not saying IF becuase that is NOT an option) into the local Nursing program, I'll have to quit my job. There are no other options for me locally. Our nursing program is a full time 2 year program with clinicals 4 days a week, sometimes 12 hrs a day. I am scared to death of how we are going to manage the finances. But I'll do it, just as you guys are all doing it to. I'm not getting any younger so I need to just bite the bullet and figure out way. You will too. Good luck to all of you on attaining your dreams!!
I would definately check out the bachelor and masters programs for 2nd degree students. I know at one of our schools here if you already have a bachelors and have all the prereq's out of the way you can complete the BSN in a year and a lot of the book work can even be done online. Take as many prereq's as you can at the community college though because it's MUCH cheaper, just make sure they will transfer to wherever you want to go.
I am somewhat in the same situation as you are (2 kids and one in Kindergarten). I decided that nursing was the way I wanted to go with my life and have all the same financial obligations. Sometimes taking a step backward can help you make a HUGE leap forward. I cut back on my living expenses. Sold my car to get out from under a car payment and bought a used 4-cylinder car (good on gas) outright with my tax refund. Nursing takes a lot of studying time, so I got rid of the satelight (no time to watch it) and just rented movies if I wanted to watch something. I found a trailer to live in (includes water) instead of an apartment. Basically I cut my bills down by 3/4 and pay less than $400 per month (not including food). I work part time (more time with the kids and less babysitting expense) and live okay. I have about 2 and 1/2 years left until I am finished with school. Kids don't care where they live, just as long as they receive the same love and attention from you. I am making this sacrifice now, so that we have more for the future. By all means, you must make the decisions that are right for you and what I am doing may not be. You can do this, you just need to figure out what steps you need to take to get there!
I am many, many years older than you and about to enter an RN nursing program. I have been a accountant for many years but have always wanted to be a nurse. With a great deal of encouragement from my husband and daughter I am finally going to do it. I will be working while I am going to school (it is an evening program) but I think I have figured out a decent schedule. My children are all grown so I really don't have any home obligations - all I have to do is work, go to school and study!!
Good luck to you - I wish I had done this many years ago.
I know it is extremely common for women to change careers later on and choose nursing as their new career choice. But I honestly feel totally overwhelmed at the thought of how I will achieve this. I don't even have a date in site for when I could even apply to a program. I am a full-time graphic designer in the Dallas area. I make a decent salary but despise my career choice. All I want is to be able to start over and choose Nursing as my career. I have a few prereqs out of the way, and plan to take as many classes as I can before applying. But how in the world will I be able to go to nursing school and take care of financial obligations (home & auto loans, bills, raising a 2-year old with daycare expenses, etc - you get it).
I would love to attend El Centro in Dallas. If anyone has been or is in my same situation please share your insights with me. I guess I just need someone to say "Yes, it's possible".
Thanks - Bridget
Hey Neighbor! I live in Rowlett!
I'm not exactly in your shoes, but I am older than you (the big 4-0 in July:o ), have been a SAHM for 12 years, have no previous college degree and have 3 kids ages 12 (well, almost anyway), 10 and 7. For the last 3 years I have been taking classes online to get my prereqs and support classes - or at least as many as possible - under my belt until. Just this fall, each of my kids were finally in school all day every day and I have been able to take classes on campus part-time and finishing my final 2 pre-reqs and support classes!! If I can do it - You can do it!!!!!
I have been truly amazed at how many on-line classes are available to all of us!! Even Anatomy and Microbiology are even offered online. If you take a class or two online each semester toward your pre-reqs and support classes it will take you a few years until you can apply!! At that time you will be debt-free and can look at going to Nursing School at El Centro full-time. If it is your Dream, then Believe it will be, and you will Succeed! At first, a "few years" felt like an eternity. But as another poster stated, do you want to be a few years older with only a "dream", or a few years older with steps and actions and classes toward accomplishing that dream!
As the long-haired guy in that Geiko commercial says (as he is working out on that machine) "You can do it!"
I just wanted to let you know that I'm in the same boat as you with wanting to make a career change. Only difference............I'm 33 and making this step. I've been working in the administative field for as long as I can remember and have received my certification for Paralegal, however, the job market has become so slim for this kind of work, and I'm just not willing to wait around to see where it takes me. I've been interested in nursing for some time now, but I've just been afraid to make that giant leap into the unknown. Well, now's the time................I've just mailed my application to a local school here in PA and there's no turning back now. I'm afraid of the huge change that this will make in my life, but at the same time I'm excited. Just remember...........'the only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today' Franklin D. Roosevelt. You know, I think he was onto something there.
If nursing is what you want to do, then I say GO FOR IT!! :)
As many of you, I am changing careers as well, just wish I would have done this years ago. I will start full time nursing school at a community college in the fall. Have to leave my accounting job and maybe find part time work to help with mortgage and living expenses. We have 4 kids from the ages of 20 down to 11. Hopefully I will be eligible for some student loans, other than that savings will have to get me through. I am looking forward to it but get nervous from all the posts about drop out rates in the school. My pre-req's have gone great so far. Winter is my last pre-req of Chemistry. I changed to a different teacher as the one I had last quarter, I didn't feel like I was getting all from the class I could. I think that you should not wait and get started as I said I am sorry I waited so long to make this change but I am glad to be on my way.
I'm 28, an architect and come this September if all goes as planned, I'll be a nursing student too! Thankfully there are 2 yr bachelors programs here, but they're hard as hell to get into. Since september I've been working full time as well as taking classes full time at my local university to get the prereq's I need and up my gpa.
I know it is extremely common for women to change careers later on and choose nursing as their new career choice. But I honestly feel totally overwhelmed at the thought of how I will achieve this. I don't even have a date in site for when I could even apply to a program. I am a full-time graphic designer in the Dallas area. I make a decent salary but despise my career choice. All I want is to be able to start over and choose Nursing as my career. I have a few prereqs out of the way, and plan to take as many classes as I can before applying. But how in the world will I be able to go to nursing school and take care of financial obligations (home & auto loans, bills, raising a 2-year old with daycare expenses, etc - you get it).
I would love to attend El Centro in Dallas. If anyone has been or is in my same situation please share your insights with me. I guess I just need someone to say "Yes, it's possible".
Thanks - Bridget
a) women change careers. hmmm guess I'm off on that one, being a dude and all changing careers like I am, and choosing nursing. :)
b) twenty NINE? oh please. well good for you, I guess :) cuz you could be like me, and be FORTY when you're doing it. Believe me, doing it at 29 will be infinately easier than at 40. And then when you're 40, you'll have just that much more experience under your belt.
c) yeah, the money thing is tough, isn't it? do your homework, I say. Lots of scholarships and loan forgiveness programs out there. Don't give up before you need to give up!
d) Oh it's possible. It better be or I'm sunk!!!
Hang in there, you ain't the only one! We're all bozos on this bus!
Thoc_123
52 Posts
Wow it feels like I'm ready a story about my own personal doubts and goals.
I am 33, have 2 children, a husband and a full time job, a pile of bills, etc. I've been an accountant for 11 years & I decided last year to make a run for it and make a career change to Nursing.
I've always wanted to work in a hospital setting and I just wasnt sure if I was cut out to be a Nurse.
I tried to do this 2 times already and I've always had an excuse as to why I had to quit. I got pregnant with my 1st child, then i got divorced, then i got remarried, then i got pregnant with my 2nd child... You know the drill...
My biggest concern is also how am I going to pay my bills while I go through Nursing School. My husband makes good money, but he can't carry all of our bills by himself. Everyone that I've spoken that is going into nursing, is already in the medical field, so I feel like i'm at a very large disadvantage.
When I get accepted (not saying IF becuase that is NOT an option) into the local Nursing program, I'll have to quit my job. There are no other options for me locally. Our nursing program is a full time 2 year program with clinicals 4 days a week, sometimes 12 hrs a day. I am scared to death of how we are going to manage the finances. But I'll do it, just as you guys are all doing it to. I'm not getting any younger so I need to just bite the bullet and figure out way. You will too. Good luck to all of you on attaining your dreams!!
Cheryl