Crossroads of Giving Up and Picking Another Degree.

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Hi All,

Thank you for taking the time to read this and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.

Here is my situation: I am two semesters from obtaining my AA, my spouse and I are both full-time employees, in inflexible jobs, barely covering our expenses (we live very basic, no extras like cable tv to cut out). I started planning for nursing school a year ago by applying to jobs, diligently, that would give me a flexible schedule to attend nursing school. Here I am at almost zero hour and nothing has materialized. I must maintain health insurance since my spouse has a health condition that needs continuous care and treatment.

I've scoured all the South Florida schools for a night/part time BSN progam, considered getting my ADN instead (I would have to defer loans since the only two programs worth a sniff only start in spring term and I'm trying to avoid that), I've looked into night LPN school those are in Kendall or Palm Beach (considered Palm Beach but they would not give me the financial aid necessary to cover their $20K tuition). I even considered getting my CNA the one that covers EKG and Phlebotomy is full-time day only. I looked into the other option for CNA but would have a significantly reduced salary based on the salary research I did and my spouse and I have no wiggle room for that right now at all.

Bottom line: I'm about to give up on a goal I've worked for so hard these last two years. Even as I write I came across two more jobs that I applied to, but I am at a crossroads...application deadlines are coming and there is no way I can apply at this juncture. I'm truly very sad and frustrated over this situation to the point of yelling at my spouse on more than one occasion, and if something doesn't come of fruition I am looking at having to consider getting a degree in something else. It's not a good feeling knowing you have to pick something you aren't passionate about or don't like because things didn't work out. :drowning::cry:

Does anyone know anything I don't or know of schools that I have over looked? It feels like I've spoken to every school offering a BSN program in the Tr-County area. Another option I had considered was getting my BA in say psychology then doing an accelerated program to get my BSN those are all day from what I found. I even started looking at Orland and Central Florida for online programs and then would drive up on a Friday night after work to start clinicals through the weekend then come back.

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I'm curious as to where you are exactly, since you said you'd be willing to go to Orlando. Do you have children? DO you rent or own? I'm just trying to get a clearer picture of your situation. I know in St. Petersburg, at SPC, there are hospital expansion programs that will pay for school, allow you to work while in school (you could work enough hours to get benefits although it's not recommended), and you'd have a job after completing school at the hospital that paid your tuition (along with a two year commitment). Are there any programs like that where you are or would it be possible to look into SPC? It's and ADN program.

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Hi,

I live in the Ft. Lauderdale area and we currently rent and have no children. The hospital I work for has a tuition reimbursement program but only for if you pay out of pocket, and the aid (at this juncture) is not an issue. I have looked around for hospitals that offer something along that line down here and have been unsuccessful. As a side note due to the decrease in admissions, ER visits, and surgeries many ED and registration positions are being eliminated or transitioned to PPD only.

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Palm Beach State offers a part time program that starts every spring. You could check them out. Also, there are options through several state colleges to do most if not all of your lectures online and you just come to campus for skills and clinical days (some have Saturday options). But again, the part time and online options are exceptionally competitive so you will need to have a high GPA and high score on your entrance exam. And I understand money is tight for you right now. Are you able to move back in with your parents so you can go back to school? Or maybe put school on hold for a bit. It's not like you need to give up your dream, just give it time. Maybe get a second job and save up in order to get back into school. I do hope you find a solution. Don't give up!

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I can wait another year I guess but am going to have to defer loans which I'm trying to avoid. Neither my spouse or myself have family. I don't have enough time to pick up another job. I'm currently carrying twelve credit hours and working full-time. My GPA is average since I screwed up as a teenager (not proud of that). My only problem with the schools here that offer online is the clinicals are full time day. The only schools I've found that offer weekends are the part time programs. It seems South Florida doesn't offer many options for those of us that cannot give up our jobs.

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I'm not trying to be a debbie downer, but the time you speak of: I've been waiting and trying to make moves for two years. It's very disheartening missing the application deadline for January by three weeks then knowing you gave to wait another year. Having to change your degree so the loans folks don't come after you, being able to get your AA but when you finally get into school will only graduate with an ADN, not even a BSN.

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Since you rent and don't have children, you can look into getting a smaller place. I'm a single parent and live off of one income and have the smallest size apartment I can have with a family of 4. I don't completely know your situation but rent is usually the biggest expense. So, would that make it possible to live off of your husband's income for the time you are in school? If he is also full-time, isn't he able to carry the health insurance? Once you get that first semester of nursing school done, you could pick up shifts as a student nurse in your local hospital to help with bills so you're only talking 6 months tops that you'd be reduced to one full income.

I've waited years for nursing school, because it was never the right time for whatever reason. Now, I have the chance to start in January and I'm not letting anything stop me. I have to make sacrifices but I'm thinking long-term and that's how you have to think.

And hey, maybe now isn't the right time for nursing school, but that doesn't mean you give up completely.

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Thanks for the advise. His job does offer health insurance at a premium of 500/mo for just him. Health insurance through my job is 200/mo for the both of us. we are currently locked in the lease and to break the would be $3000. Still we are only paying $850/mo as it us. you can't get too much better than that in South Florida even in the crappy neighborhoods. According to the government we make approx 1500/yr too much to hit the threshold for any kind of assistance. That also effects my fin aid requiring me to take loans. I don't qualify for Pell so I have to be careful with my deferments.

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Then I would definitely urge you to go the community college route- cheap tuition = less loans....if you decide to go for nursing. Sounds like a really tough decision. Especially since getting in a nursing program is only the start of an uphill battle for you. But don't give up. Maybe look into getting a roommate. You don't have family but what about friends?

What about health insurance through the Marketplace? I don't quite know how that works when you are able to get insurance through your job but maybe you could talk to a rep and see if that is better than his insurance rates. Look into HCA hospitals. I know one in St. Pete has a program and one in VA, so maybe other HCA hospitals have that program. If you're major concern is deferment, that may be the lesser of evils, so to speak.

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