Does this length of time to complete an RN seem excessive?

Yes, it does seem excessive, but there's no way around it, and the pre-reqs are important, so try to study smart. I've cramed all mine, esp. the A&P to the point that I'm gonna have to review while I'm doing my BSN. If you have the option to get a BSN I think it's worthwhile for the extra year of school.

I think part of what is going on with me is that I am starting to back out of thinking I want to go through with this whole process. I've gone through all of the process to get a student loan, register for classes. BUT I have NOT signed the student loan promissory note as of yet. I just cannot bring myself to do it. I am having major second and third thoughts about the time, expense, and energy involved in doing all this and not sure if I really want to invest the next 3+ years of my life into doing it. I would be 58 when I got the RN license and starting over. Not sure I want to be doing that at that age. I have other interests as well. This is a really hard place for me right now as I have got to make the commitment or not. I am leaning toward "not" at this moment!!!! My last few days have been tough trying to work through all of this. I am talking with friends and family who are all saying to do what makes me happy. Even I'm not sure. But facing all of the above seems to be too much for me to feel "happy" about. Am I nutso? Sometimes I wonder....

Hey, I hear you there. I'm 34 and by the time I finish, I'll be 37 and will have borrowed roughly $100k to support my family while I'm in school. There's a 42 y.o. woman that works in the ER (I'm in ICU) that will be in my nursing program, so don't feel that it's impossible. But as you said, it's a lot of money to borrow later in life. I wish you peace with your decision, but I'm still pulling for more life-experienced nursing students, we have a lot to offer.

Thanks for your support. And it's not just the money owed (mine would be about 100K too!), it's the stress involved in going through the program and in the job itself. I know much of what nurses struggle with on the job after working alongside them for almost 20 years in health care. In some ways I feel like I'd be "jumping out of the frying pan into the fire".

I told myself when I started this "process of exploration" that it was just that, a "process". Now I am at the end of the line I just feel sick at heart at the thought of "pulling the trigger" to go forward. Guess that's my answer, eh?

Meanwhile I am unemployed 18 months, can't find a job in my previous field, and still thinking about going to school in some other area to strengthen my employability. None of this is a guarantee, I know. But I've got to REALLY want whatever I pay big bucks for in more coursework. 3 years, 100K, tons of stress during and after an RN is just not what I want in my "heart of hearts". At least it feels that way right now... I feel so confused and frustrated!

go with your gut. I might suggest something like sleep lab tech or any of the satellite fields, but it sounds like you've looked at those too?

I applaud your reasoning & want to assure you that you are making the right decision -- NOT to pursue nursing if it means having to run up that much debt at this time in your life. I'm a bit older than you (heck, I'm probably older than everybody. . . ) so I really understand where you are at.

With

Years ago I was a CNA during college years and in the summers between high school teaching. I enjoyed that and went back this summer to a 2 week vocational school program to get a certificate in that. I have yet to take the state exam, but I am thinking that doing something like that in home health a few days a week or doing some of that with a local LTC might be enough of an involvement for me. I liked interacting with the older adults and helping out in that way. Things I used to be able to do as a medical social worker in home health no longer exist and it is all about "assembly line service provision" with patients. I hate that! I have an older friend who even does some private duty with one client as an STNA and loves helping her and spending her days with one person. I think about doing some of this (or similar) and it appeals to me more.

I've made "big bucks" in the past yet was not happy due to the stress. After 18 months my body and spirit are in a calmer place that I do not want to leave in order to enter back into a hectic, chaotic, insanely stressful lifestyle. I don't think it's worth the years I may have left on this planet.

Your comments are helpful! I need to get clear in my heart and this process helps of receiving feedback. I've only got a few days to make the choice now or not. And the choice is permanent as the window of opportunity is narrow for next academic year. Thank you!

I'm struggling also. I'm 33 and want to go to school for RN, but is so hard and takes so long and a lot of money.

Recently I found BSN at West Coast Univ and is 39 months and over 100K. Thinking to go there because seems to be to shortest way.

So I''ll finish when I'm 37...

Seems that I'll be so old and a lot of debt.

I am also going to check into a Medical Assisting program at this same school. I see it involves a bit of direct patient care, some administrative work, some medical billing/computer work. I might like that variety too and it talks about getting a certification. It takes 6 quarters to complete.

I need some marketable skills in healthcare as my MSW options appear to be "dead in the water". There is no where left to go with that anymore. And around my area the LPN is being phased out for the RNs to take over. I've heard it's difficult for an RN to get a job around here and almost impossible for an LPN to get one!

I've got to do something! I can't sit around here for another 18 months sending resumes out into the abyss. I've got a financial aid award and I'd like to use it this academic year. I need some goals, somewhere to go to each day, people to interact with and a purpose that seems to be taking me into some kind of future as a worker bee.

Well, it was almost a "no brainer" (I hate that phrase, but it fits!) for me. I switched over to the the MA A.S. program and got (barely squeaked in) the full list of courses for the fall quarter. It feels right for me at this time.

With my background in the health care field already, the Nursing Assistant certification, and my interest in IT/billing and coding in health care settings this should "get me in the door" to see what I want to focus on doing.

If I want to move more into the direct patient care end of it then my school offers an LPN certificate that I can take courses in while working as an MA!

If I prefer the administrative end of things then I can go for an IT or medical billing and coding certificate to enhance my skills there.

Meanwhile I think I am going to pursue part-time work as a CNA in home health care while in school. Just a few clients a few days a week.

I am really excited NOW about starting school in September! Wish me luck...thank you all for your thoughts. I love this website and will likely lurk here with my fellow life explorers! You are one great bunch....

Deb