dilemma

[bmw804]

Hi,

I am new to this site, and I just want to say this is a wonderful site and I am hoping I can get some insite on which path I should follow. My first concern is that I am a single mom of 2 small children and I'm 31 years old. I am 3 courses away from completing my master's in computer science. Over the past couple of months I have decided to apply to nursing school. Nursing has always been my first choice, but the waiting list was too long 9 years ago, so I just wanted to hurry and finish school with something. Lately I have become bored with my current job just sitting behind a desk, with no opportunities for advancement no matter how many degrees I obtain. This male corporate environment is not for me. I want to have equal opportunites with peers on the same level. I want to be able to spend more time with my children and get involved with their school activities. Nursing will allow my time to be more flexible, and if i want the option to pick up a shift i would be able to. I am anxious to work nights as I used to when I worked in a hospital years back. I have applied to a local hospital program for the diploma RN. My interview is in March. My concern is if my interview is in March, what if the program is full by then? Will I have to sit out and wait? Or do they interview everyone first and then make their selections. The receptionist says they are still accepting applications and the program accepts 60 students. Has anyone had this experience with getting accepted? I am just very anxious. I have completed all of the prerequisites, but the sciences are right at the 10 year mark. I have begun taking the anatomy over.

In case I don't get accepted my back up plan is to attend a new evening weekend lpn school which is 10 months. The only problem from what I have read is that the school is accredited by the ohio board of nurisng, but it doesn't say anything about being accredited by the other leage of nursing nin that's required. Because the program is new I am a little skeptical. If I go this route then I can later apply to Case Western Reserve University which is a very excellent school and they have an entry master's RN program for non nursing students that already have a degree. I would have liked to apply to this program originally, but its all during the day, and I just bought a house so I have to work full time. I was thinking if i become an lpn then I can work nights and attend the RN program during the day. It seems like everything will depend on if I can get accepted into the diploma program.

I would like to eventually go into teaching b/c there seems to be a shortage with nursing instructors. I just wanted to hear the opinions of others for advice or maybe someone who has been in a similar situation.

[passing thru]

Interesting situation.

If your objective is to spend MORE time with your children, then

commiting to 3-4-5 years obtaining a nursing degree--

and simultaneously working, ................

sounds counter-productive...

to your goal of spending more time with your children.

These years when the children are small and needing their only parent ....

well,................

I can hear Dr. Laura now.................

[bmw804]

I think I should elaborate a little more. I feel I would have more time to spend with my children working nights or going to school while they're in school. When I get off work and pick the children up from day care its already 6pm. We only have 2 1/2 hours a night to spend together before its time for them to go to bed. My oldest daughter will be turning 5 this year and i may not have anyone that can pick her up at an earlier time from school. I want to pick the kids up and drop them off, and if there is a conference or workshop at the school I don't want to have to take off from work to participate. My job has been somewhat flexible, but I don't like staying later at work.

[sandy06]

I can relate ... I have 2 small kids (3 and 5 years old) and I had a profession - I was a full-time photojournalist for 13 years...I stopped enjoying my work and decided that I really wanted to go into nursing. I left my job and started a long path to that goal. I have a BS degree already, so some of my classes transferred towards my RN, but I was missing 5 classes. I am in the process of taking them all online. It is a bit harder than going to class since I don't have the traditional instructor to help with questions, but so far it has worked out great. I study while the kids are napping, sleeping or playing around the house. In addition, I teach preschool 3 days a week to help bring in some extra money and spend even more time with my kids. This August I will start going to nursing school full-time, but since I have completed most of my classes - all that is left is nursing classes at a rate of 1-2 per semester. Those I will take while my kids are at school - my 5 year old will be in 1st grade then and my 3 year old will be at preschool either 4 or 5 days a week while I am in class or clinical. And, I am also working PRN as a CNA at my local hospital to get some experience (and a bit of spending money for all of these books for my classes .... sheesh!)

I am a firm believer that if you set your mind to something then you can accomplish it. Thankfully, I have a very supportive husband. He travels quite a bit with work so I occassionally run into daycare issues, but I have great neighbors and some babysitters.

Good luck!