(!!!) From Accounting to Nursing: I'm in Louisville, KY and Need Your Advice (!!!)

[SweetLadyJ]

Last year, I graduated from Bellarmine University with a BA in accounting and an MBA degree. To make a long story short, I absolutely HATE accounting and the cubicle-desk jobs, and I would like to become a nurse. I want to make a difference in others' lives and to interact with more people. Plus, I've always had an interest in the health/sciences field...I don't know why I went to school for accounting... I think because I saw that it was an easy way out of school.

Anyway, this is what I'm thinking about doing...please let me know if this plan sounds good:

I have applied to Bellarmine's accelerated 2nd degree BSN program for Spring 2009. All I need to take is 5 courses for prerequisites. I plan on taking 1 class each semester at Jefferson Community College up until May 2009. I currently work at UPS full-time as an industrial engineering specialist (the worst most miserable depressing job I've ever had). I'm making a goal to save up $25,000 by Spring 2009 so I can quit work and dedicate my full time to Bellarmine's nursing program.

Now here are my concerns and questions:

1. What has been your personal experience going through school and working as a nurse in Louisville, KY???

2. After graduating college with an accounting degree, I could not land a public accounting firm position at all. I have interview with other non-CPA companies for accounting positions and could not get those either. I am very scared that this might happen again after going through the nursing program. Does the nursing market in Louisville really have a shortage and is it in high demand of nurses??? I don't want to end up jobless after graduating and passing the NCLEX exam.

3. I have been contemplating whether or not I should become a CNA, but what's holding me back is the fact that a CNA makes around $11-12 an hour here in Louisville and I make more now at my current job...Will becoming a CNA really help jump-start my nursing career before starting the nursing program and before becoming an RN?

4. What is the starting pay for an RN-BSN nurse? Does the pay differ for different departments (ER, OB-GYN, Labor & Delivery, etc.)?

5. Bellarmine's nursing program costs over $35,000. Are there any hospitals that will pay this off or at least most of it off if I contract to work for them for a certain amount of time?

I may have more questions later. Thanks in advance.

[KYCNM]

I disagree.

Sweet LadyJ already has a degree and if she prefers an accelerated program (which is the program she mentioned attending at Bellarmine) she needs to go to the one in the area that is longstanding and has a reputation for excellence. She has already applied for the program. She has prerequisites to take, and might not be ready to apply for the Fall, 2008 at traditional programs.

You advise her to apply to a program that takes three years to complete? She wouldn't graduate until 2011 from a traditional program. If she carries out her plan, she would graduate in 2010.

[ORTech2RN]

I disagree.

Sweet LadyJ already has a degree and if she prefers an accelerated program (which is the program she mentioned attending at Bellarmine) she needs to go to the one in the area that is longstanding and has a reputation for excellence. She has already applied for the program. She has prerequisites to take, and might not be ready to apply for the Fall, 2008 at traditional programs.

You advise her to apply to a program that takes three years to complete? She wouldn't graduate until 2011 from a traditional program. If she carries out her plan, she would graduate in 2010.

Good point. I did not consider she had an undergraduate degree from Bellarmine, or that they had an accelerated program. I was just making suggestions, since I have 0 credit hours in nursing, let alone experience, I don't think I would be the subject matter expert in regards to education.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

http://www.nortonhealthcare.com/careers/working/norton_healthcare_scholars.aspx

Here is a link to the Norton Scholar program. Bellarmine is one of the partnering schools. It might be worth it to check it out.

[Nightbloom]

I too am in the same boat. I have a law degree. I can't find a job as a lawyer. The market is flooded. I went into law so I could help people and I have found that I help no one in practicing law and I don't even make minimum wage. Of course, no one really understands and they don't want to believe me when I tell them I can't find a job.

I plan on getting my RN because I believe I will be able to make a difference as a Nurse. I am taking the last few re-requisites required to get into Ivy Tech in Sellersburg. Ivy Tech is certainly more affordable than Bellermine and its not too far away from Louisville, Kentucky.

I start my CNA classes in May once I'm done with my pre-requisites for nursing school. CNAs make more than I make.

I'm temping right now as a secretary. I'm tired of being in desk jobs and tired of not getting to use any of my education. I would love to actually go to school and actually get a position in a field that I went to school for.

I too am worried that I won't be able to find a job in the medical field once I get my CNA and once I get my RN. I'm also worried about paying for school because I can't get any loans or grants.

I'm taking it 1 day at a time and I believe where there's a will, there's a way. If you set your mind and heart to it, you can do it!

[KYCNM]

Don't worry, you will be able to get a job as a CNA and probably will be able to work as an extern after three semesters at IVTech. Nurses in Louisville are starting at $20/hr which I think is more than you are making now. There are scholarships out there, you just need to do some research to find them. Some are hospital programs where you work as a CNA or extern while a student then owe the hospital some years service in exchange. The Auxilliary of the Jefferson County Medical Society also has a small scholarship program.

I do hope, however, that you feel you have an opportunity to help people as a nurse, too. We have enough unhappy nurses.

Good luck!

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Of course, no one really understands and they don't want to believe me when I tell them I can't find a job.

I've heard that there is a huge market saturation of attorneys in Louisville, so I believe you when you say you can't find a job. In fact, I work with someone who went from attorney to nurse for the same reasons you are considering it.

Good luck to you! Last I heard, Ivy Tech in Sellersburg had a 2 year waiting list. Besides that, you can get into an accelerated BSN program at U of L, Spaulding or Bellarmine, and complete that in the time it would take you to get your ASN at Ivy Tech. They are more expensive, but financial aid should cover the difference if you get student loans. Just a couple things to consider.

[Nightbloom]

I wish I could get student loans. I tried to get student loans at Ivy Tech and they told me I wasn't eligible. I may try to do the accelerated program at UofL if I am unable to get into Ivy Tech. I will attempt to get loans there as well. If I can't get loans, then maybe I can get on somewhere where they will have some sort of tuition assistance of some kind.

I have several family members who are in the medical field. They say that it isn't an easy job but that it is rewarding in the sense that I will be able to help people. I'm not looking for easy. I'm looking for a sense that at the end of the day, I contributed something positive to someone else's life. There are drawbacks just as in every career.

When I had my daughter, I had a very unhappy nurse in postpartum. I certainly don't want to be one of he unhappy nurses. I think it does the patients a disservice and they leave with a very negative feeling from the whole experience. I had my second child at a different hospital because of the impact 1 nurse made on my stay there.

Thank you!! I really appreciate the advice and I will certainly consider my options.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Nightbloom- do you know why you were ineligible for a student loan?

[Nightbloom]

Yes I do. I borrowed money for law school and because I did that, I still have loans that I haven't paid back that put me over the line for the maximum amount eligible for a community college and probably for U of L as well. I will check into it though. Most of my loans are in deferment and forbearance.