Jumping off into nursing school without a net

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Well, today is the day I quit my biomedical research job in order to attend nursing school full time in January. I must be crazy to give up a good paying and secure job at my age for a pipe dream. I have two children who depend on me and a $800/month deficit in my monthly budget with me not working. Am I doing the right thing? What if I fail? I decided to quit my job because I felt the only way to ensure my success in nursing school was to treat it as a 8-4 job. I need to be a parent everyday and a student everyday. Will I regret my thousands of dollars of student loans to achieve my goal? Is this a positive mid-life crisis? Help! What do you all think? Is nursing school going to require so much time that quitting was the correct move?

BioRn (to be I hope)

Hi Bio,

Only you can answer the questions that you have posed, as life's journeys are different for everyone.

I will tell you though, that through reading your message I have gleaned a couple of thoughts about you.

First, despite your wondering if you have made the right decision, you still sound very sure of yourself. Sounds to me that even though you are a little scared right now, you feel you have made the right decision for you.

Second, a good pay check doth not a good job make as you have seen. Just because you make a good paycheck doesn't necessarily mean it brings you happiness and you and your family deserve that.

You should never be affraid to follow your dreams and try something new. That's the only way we grow as humans. Would you rather take the risk now or years from now look back and wish that you would have tried? I know that for me, personally, looking back in thinking of the times I should have tried or tried harder hurts 10 times as bad as actually making a change and failing.

I think you will be all right. And as far as your $800.00/month deficit, I know it seems scary to not have that money but you will be surprised that when you have to cut back you can usually find a way to make it work.

Good Luck in your upcoming semester,

Col

Hey Bio! I agree with Colleen10. You definitely seem to be already decided that nursing is what you want to do!!! And your attitude about it and school seems to be right on track. Maybe after getting into the program you may possibly be able to work PT if money is really getting tight. But it is definitely a good idea to not attemot to do both at the same time!!!

I wish you tons of luck!!! I am sure it will all work out and while it is scary and you may need to make sacrifices before you know it you will be done and will be sooo glad you went forward with it. :)

Congratulations! Good luck with your schooling. If your family is supporting you and this is what you want I say go for it. Why have regrets in life?

Teresa

Ditto to those above. Good luck!

Specializes in PCU, Critical Care, Observation.

You will do well.......I think we all have doubts when we are first starting out. I know I do because it's a whole new avenue to explore.

I recommend applying for scholarships. I'm sure when you start your classes, you will get more information of what's out there. I know here in Florida.....there is a lot of different scholarships for the nursing program. It's not based on GPA........just on the fact that you have already been accepted into the nursing program. I guess they figure if you have gotten that far, then they'll help you the rest of the way. It doesn't hurt to apply-----beats having to pay the money back, right?

If you don't get any information when you start your classes, then go talk to a school counselor. The money is out there, you just need to tap into it. Have you even applied for federal aid? You might be surprised at what they may offer you...and it's a grant, not a loan. You don't have to pay it back.

Good luck to you! I start in January also. Maybe we can compare notes. :roll

Jen

I'm in the same boat as you. I plan to quite this summer a good job and rely on loans and panhandling( just kidding). Like the others have said, you can get loans and grants.

Try for a Stafford loan or a Pell grant. Your school of choice should also have a list of places to look at as well.

It sounds like inside you have already prepared yourself for the upcoming sacrifices that are part of returning to school. Good luck to you.

Thanks for all of your support. Unfortunately, because I have a degree already I am not able to receive any stafford loans. I will do it. I can do it! Positive thinking will get me through combined careful spending of my dollars.

Good Luck...I'm starting in January as well. Left my job as an executive assistant this past summer to pursue nursing. It's definitely very scary and I'm always second-guessing myself, but I am excited for a challenge and will be so proud to get thru it, loans and all. :)

Specializes in Perinatal/neonatal.

Welcome to Nursing!

~Angie

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