FT Mom, FT employee, going back to school

lbdickson · Feb 19, 2012

I am 44 years old, married and work a full-time job. I do not have any children, but I was faced with what I was going to do when I began nursing classes. Fortunately for me, there is a university about 3 miles from my job that offers night and Saturday classes. It is much more expensive than the junior college, but it affords me the opportunity to keep my job and insurance, (which would cost $350 per month to be added to my husband's insurance) and still be able to attend school without having to quit my job and try to work part-time (which would not benefit me economically due to the costs of insurance) and go to school full-time. I thought about this for several months and decided that I would have to go with convenience over cost. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do. I know it is a tough decision.

lilliben1 · Feb 20, 2012

It can be done but it will be super hard! I too work full time, 40+ hrs a week, and have 2 small children. My fiance is a stay at home dad so that helps with child care but I still miss my kids. There are 2 nights a week I don't see my kids because I go straight from work to school (night classes) and than the other 1 night a week I only see them for an hour.

But I keep telling myself it will be worth it in the end and the sacrifices we are making now will reap huge benefits when all is said and done. Plus you're setting a great example for your kids.

Go for it!!! You'll never know unless you try.

thecareerchanger, BSN · Feb 20, 2012

I am in a similar dilemma. I am married with 3 young children and work full-time. I know I will not be able to work f/t and do nursing and the type of job I have I would not be able to do p/t which means I would probably have to leave. I will also leave potentially good benefits and a decent salary (although nursing would pay better). My husband is very supportive and is willing to support the household entirely until I complete school but I know it is going to be hard, especially since I will need childcare (which I am the one that pays for it). I also plan to take my pre-req online so I can work f/t as long as possible and save. It will probably be about 2 years before I enter an ABSN program so I hope that is enough time to figure things out. I just wish I did nursing when I was still in my 20s. The way I figure it is possible if its something you really want but just do some planning before doing anything.

melc0305 · Feb 20, 2012

I am 38 and just starting my pre-reqs to go to nursing school. I have 2 children and work full time. What helped me was just to be very detailed in figuring out all the paths I could take. For instance, I plan on taking 2 classes at a time at the local community college. They will be night, weekend, or online classes. This will allow me to continue working full time for a year while I take the pre-reqs.

I know it is a tough decision. You constantly question if you are doing the right thing for your family. I pondered this move for over a year before I finally started. It's helped me just to write down all the possibilities and scenarios available to me and go from there. Reading through this site shows you that it can be done!

hollyhark · Feb 20, 2012

Thank you ladies! I am also planning on taking all the classes I can online before I dive right in. I have friends who have struggled and didn’t have the responsibilities I have but it needs to be done. I look at my kids and think how much better life would be once I have a career path and am more stable for them. Not only I want to do this for myself I am doing this for my girls and our future.

CDEWannaBe · Feb 20, 2012

Not sure if you'd be interested in switching jobs, but I've had free tuition taking prereq classes at the community college where I work. They offer a part-time ASN program and I'm debating between it and trying to come up with the money for an accelerated program for people who already have non-nursing bachelor's degrees. I've done a few prereqs online and a few in the evenings. Between my family and work, I rarely have time to do anything that's just for me. So it's been fun and really rewarding to go to school. Most of the other students in my classes are working adults.

If you haven't used your federal financial aid up in the past you may be eligible for grants, tuition waivers, loans and scholarships that may help you attend school full-time when you get the prereqs done.

I've saved a lot of money renting textbooks from Chegg.com and always check out potential professors on RateMyProfessor.com

hollyhark · Feb 20, 2012

My employer does not pay for schooling but will pay for classes that have to do with my position in a seminar setting. However I am currently in the residential and commercial management so it is a bit different than nursing. I am applying like mad at hospitals and clinics to get my foot in the door as a secretary or billing clerk. With not much experience in the health care field it is hard to get there. I am going to shadow a good friend of mine in the ER soon and I was hoping I can talk or meet someone that is in charge of the area to give me a go at being a HUC or patient check-in. I honestly can do what they ask I just don’t have the medical terminology down. I was thinking of doing the CNA and applying from there but I don’t have a clue. As much as I want to switch to something else I feel leaving my current position for something similar is just dumb unless it was in the medical field. I don’t want to look like a job hopper when I am attending school.

Thanks for those websites I will check them out.

peachshan, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2012

I am going through this same situation. I work as a teacher and I have been praying that I am making the right decision. I am going to sit down and make a plan like a previous post mentioned. I would like to get my CNA this summer while I am taking prereqs. Hopefully, I can do that while I am going to school. I also need to figure out what school I want to go and that will help figure out what prereqs to take (I have another bachelors already). We will get through this:)

Lola34 · Feb 21, 2012

Ummnasim, I am a teacher too but I've always wanted to be a nurse. I applied to a BSN program and I'm waiting to hear if I'm accepted or not. I am thinking about getting my CNA certificate this summer too:) I was a" CNA years ago. What grade do you teach? I'm praying I'm doing the right thing too especially since I have a family. Good luck!

Kmmo320 · Feb 21, 2012

You are not alone!! You CAN do this!

I am 35, married with 3 kids and work full time. I went back to school in 2006 and graduated in 2010 with my BA in English. I went to school full time, worked full time and had the kids and a marriage. it was SO HARD!!!! but I did it, and I did it well. My kids aren't babies though, so it was easy enough to tell them what I had to do. and they are old enough to keep themselves occupied. I also stayed up until 1-2am most nights to get housework and homework done.

I was going to be a teacher but I had always wanted to go into nursing, so I am going that way now. I have a supportive husband. His only concerns is that I FINISH school and give it t try before I decide I dont like it.

This time around, I will decrease my work hours though. Because nursing school requires more attention to detail than my other degree required.

hopeful616 · Feb 21, 2012

I work 43 hours a week and take 4 classes at a time. You can do it!!! I don't have kids, but my husband and I both work full time and he has had to pick up a lot of the housework this last year. I think money is my biggest concern. I hope to be accepted to the Fall 2012 Nursing sequence and once I start, I'll have to quit my full time job. It's scary for me too because it's a career change from law enforcement to full time nursing student and eventually RN! Whew! I think my biggest concern right now is just seeing the student loans roll in. We'll need them to pick up my half of the income.

My point? We're all working hard and struggling at times, but we can do it! Good luck to you! :)