Desparate for advice...or just give up?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I've wanted to be a nurse for as long as I could remember. Unfortunately, when I had the chance right out of high school I messed up. Now, years later, I'm married with kids and all the responsibilities that go with it. I pretty much figure the boat to being a nurse for me has sailed, but I can't help but think about it still.

I know I could go back to school and take classes, but here's what's stopping me...

My family is on my health benefits. We can't get out own health benefits bc hubby is a Type 1 diabetic. The nursing programs around here are only full time day. Since I can't quit my job to go to school, should I just give up and walk away? And I should add that hubby is self employed so the option to get insurance through his employer isn't there right now.

Advice? Give up? Or start taking pre-reqs one at a time and hope that in three years when I'm ready to apply to a nursing program that hubby either gets a job that offers benefits?

Thx.

I will tell you that I faced a similar issue. I was the bread winner of the family, with benefits, 401K, etc, two children with chronic medical issues and all my husband's VA would cover was him (we weren't married when he was military). I finished my pre-req's and he had just gotten a new job that would support us. I arranged my nursing schedule and two weeks before starting, he lost his job and I was beside myself thinking I had come so far and now I couldn't go. What did I do? i asked advice of my family then with their support, I quit my job. Found a part time gig, won several grants to cover at least one semester of tuition, borrowed federal money for the next semester and rent for then too and enrolled us in public aid. My boss told me I was nuts-but when I went from not seeing a way through to having what I needed to scrape by, I jumped at the chance. I am one year from that decision; I have my LPN and am working as a nurse on my way to my RN. Where this is a will there is a way; be responsible, but if you've got it in you to go-do it! Take the pre-req's part time if you have to, it takes longer but it's smarter. good luck!!

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Bump for more advice... Keep it coming!! I'm super grateful. :)

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And... I'm throwing this out there to see if it would be a possibility... Anyone know if working as a Cna during nursing school might help with the insurance issue?

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Many schools have low cost insurance for students and I believe you can add family. Check into it. You won't have to worry about pre-existing (sp?) conditions if you have no lapse in coverage. Also, you can get private insurance that is not connected to a job (that is what I do). It may be more expensive for a few years, but don't let this insurance issue be the reason to not pursue your dreams. As a last resort, you can do COBRA for 18 months (used to be 3 years) after you quit your job.

Most jobs require you to be full time in order to get insurance, and I do not think full time work and nursing school are a good mix.

~K

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I was just researching and found some listings at my local hospitals for pt cnas with benefits. I'm sure these positions are hard to come by but it gives me a glimmer of hope. I was told by an insurance broker that type 1 diabetes is an automatic decline in the individual insurance market so we can't buy our own. :(. Really sucks.

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Update!

I had a sit down with hubby to discuss this. He has been trying so hard to become a cop so that he can bring home the benefits. So there always that possibility. Up to now I was reluctant to move forward with my dream because there's always the possibility that he won't get picked up by a department.

Then, he said that if I realllly want to be a nurse, that he will either look into buying his own health insurance or look for another job that will provide it by the time I'm done with pre reqs and ready to enroll in a program. He's the best! Now... I have to see this through. No more excuses I suppose. :)

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Specializes in School Nursing.

This is the best news-- get enrolling in those classes!

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At my CC you can take your science classes online with at least 1 day of lab a week on campus. This is how I took my Chemistry class and I had a great experience.

I just applied to an ADN program after retaking all my sciences as they were greater than 5 yrs old. I would make sure you know the requirements ahead of time. Looking back I shouldn't have quit my job as I was the bread winner as well until I had applied to the program.

Good luck and it all depends on how bad you want to become a nurse!!

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I really do want this and have for some time now. I started taking pre-reqs years ago and know that my chemistry has since expired... but I don't mind taking it again anyway....

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

You won't necessarily have to retake chemistry-- definitely double check with the programs you want to apply for. Some schools don't even require it.

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Aww I appreciate it but I know for a fact that for my current school - and many others around me - that Chem expired about 2 years ago!! Lol. I could use the refresher tho so it's ok.

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Go for it. Take one class at a time and hopefully when the time comes you will be in a better position. Believe me I felt the same as you do with the whole "my boat has sailed" type of thinking. Still I felt this urge to try. If I try and fail, at least I will not live the rest of my life wondering "what if?" Go for it. Take it one step at a time and chase your dream.

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