Help! I'm so confused...

[HollyMom]

First, I wanted to say hello. I just registered, but I've been reading posts on this site for over a year now. This site has an amazing amount of information and has been so supportive of each other.

But now I'm in a pickle and I'm not sure what to do. I'm 40+ years old, and my writing career has fizzled since the magazines have gone out of business. I spent so much time as a stay-at-home mom, and reassessed my life. I decided that I really wanted to be a nurse.

Growing up, I wanted to be a doctor. I spent a lot of the time at the hospital since my mom worked there (things were different back in the 1970s). If she didn't have a babysitter, we hung out in the nurses' lounge in the Emergency Room. I do feel such a strong pull toward nursing.

But we are financially strapped, and I was just offered a job as a writer (of all things). It's not my dream writing job, but it is a writing job. But again, dreams change. The thought of giving up nursing school devastates me. But I won't be able to get into nursing school for 6 months to another year, and then it will take time to graduate. I'll probably be 45 before I graduate nursing school. Plus, my trusted friend asks me if I really want to clean diapers for living? Is that too simple?

I'm so torn! I thought I wanted to be a writer. Then I thought I wanted to be a nurse. But I really can't imagine not being either one. I can't take the writing job without giving up nursing because I have to take microbiology to qualify, and it's only offered during the day. If I could do both, I would, but I have to choose.

I feel that this is a real turning point in my life. Have I just been making the nurse scenario into something better than I thought it was? I know I did that with writing. Or do I really want to be a nurse? How do you know?

Thank you for listening. Any advice is very much appreciated.

[leenak]

Do you have other community colleges in your area that offer evening/weekend classes? If you are a writer, it seems like you might have some flexibility in hours? Perhaps work out a plan with your employer to work your hours so you can go to school while also working?

[shay&lynn, ASN, RN]

Plus, my trusted friend asks me if I really want to clean diapers for living? Is that too simple?

nursing is NOT all about cleaning diapers! shaking my head...

first and foremost, it is OK TO BE A 45 year old graduate! there is nothing wrong with that! agreeing with leenak, where they make the statement about looking at colleges that offer evening and weekend classes. i had to do evenings and weekends to get my pre-reqs out of the way for almost two years b/c i also have a family to provide for, a house and all of that good stuff.

a lot of the nursing students in this area are nursing assistants, it has become a requirement actually...have you thought about trying a nurses aide class, getting certified and then working possibly part time in a facility to see if this is something you may want to do?

[melc0305]

I am 39 and just starting my pre-reqs. If all goes to plan, I will graduate from nursing school at 41. So just so you know to start off, there are many others choosing nursing as second or even third careers and are in your same age range.

I totally know how you feel though...I've changed my mind several times on career choices. It's harder when you have a family schedule and finances that are being affected by your choices. I would think that you could find Micro offered at a local community college at different times. Or perhaps at the place you've looked, it's offered at different times the next semester?

Can you do freelance writing? That would give you more flexability, although not a steady income.

I know firsthand there are a lot of hard choices to make regarding this path. Good luck to you and whatever your decision, go with it 100%.