Help Need Advice!

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I posted this is another forum, but it didnt get much of a response. I have really always wanted to go into nursing I have been going on and off since 2005, but I HAVE to work full-time.

I am a single parent of a four year old, have a mortage, and a newly dependent elderly mother. The only thing that I can think of to do is go to Concorde, and I realize that the $$ is outrageous but I CAN'T go to school during the day, and this is the only one that has an actual program at night right?

Paying that much terrifies me, but I can't keep running myself into the ground like this. I can get 6.89, and 6.09 in Subsidized, and Unsubsidized loans for 20,000. Does that sound like the going rate?? Another idea is to wait until my son starts kindergarden, but that is another year and a half away, and I would like to get started now.

I have an accociates in Arts, but then again all the RN either associates or bachelors are during the day. Weatherford is(I think) starts at 11 or 2? Not realistic for us right now or when he starts school for that matter. Help!! What do you think??

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I think you need to spend some time researching more schools. Also, you need to find scholarships and grant money. Determine now that you do not need to go into debt for school, at least not a whole lot. Also, you need to seriously understand that absenteeism during nursing school is frowned upon very much, even to take care of your kids and dependent parents. There is so much to learn and you are preparing for a profession that deals with life and death and the well-being of other people. You've got to take it totally seriously. Not that you won't. I'm just saying that the school will bend only so much when it comes to being understanding about your personal commitments and problems. The school has to prepare students for real nursing, which means that students are held seriously accountable for learning the material and developing the skills needed to save lives.

Figure out how to have some people who will be able to help you with child care and care of your mom. Not just 1 person but 2 or 3. I know a lot of people do manage to go to school while working full time and being single parents but I sure don't know how, unless they have excellent child care and dependent care arranged. I guess they just don't sleep and their homes are not totally spic and span. First priorities first. A little dirt never hurt anyone and sleep is overrated, right? But you must plan for sick babysitters, what if your mode of transportation goes bye bye, who will care for your child when he's sick and you have to be at school, and so on.

Try to be patient while you take just a little longer to research schools and finances. This really isn't the greatest time to be entering nursing anyway. The economy is putting pressure on hospitals and nursing homes, probably on school districts and home health agencies and others who employ nurses. In other words, new graduates are finding it hard to get hired, at least in some places. You should check out the hiring situation for RN's where you want to work. Will you be able to get a job when you graduate?

Have you considered getting into some program that is like a group home for single parents? The women work together to care for all of the children, have meals together, help each other with all the demands of life so that they all can get through school.

Also, I don't know the name of it but there's a program (federal? state?) that gives money to single parents so they can go to school. I hope someone here knows who to contact.

Have you considered the LPN course? It's shorter, probably easier to go to school for 1 year than for 2 or 4. And you can always do the RN when your child is in school full time and maybe mom is less dependent on you. Again, explore the hiring situation before you commit.

I wish you the best. Please let us know how it's going for you.

P.S. There are other health care careers to explore, too. Radiology tech, respiratory tech, CNA, and others. How did you decide on Nursing?

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Specializes in Emergency.

iF NURSING IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO...THEN DO IT. dont look into radiology tech, or any of those other careers if thats not what you want to do. im not really sure about who offeres nite programs in the dallas area, because platt, and DNI are just as expensive, but if you dont want to spend that money or take excessive loans, id work one more year and save up. but if you want to start now, then id take out the loan, and find a loan repayment program. i know Parkland has one and so does the VA hospital.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Personally I think the responsible thing would be to wait until he goes to school full time during the day. People that run up tons of loans are really feeling the crunch now. I am a big fan of the super cheap community colleges. In the meantime you can do any pre-reqs that you didn't already complete. Good luck!

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Yes, start taking the pre-requisite courses you will need to get into the Nursing program at the community college. You will need English, Psychology, Sociology, Math, Chemistry, Physics, or some similar courses. Research this at the local comm college now.

And resolve not to get into thousands and thousands of dollars in loans. You just don't need to do that. Slow down a little, do the research, plan for back-up sitters and caregivers for your child and your mom, just be cautious.

There aren't as many jobs now as there used to be so there's no need to become indebted for a profession in which you might have trouble finding work.

I suggested you check other professions just to be sure you really want Nursing.

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The big money right now is being an oral hygienist. In N.C. it pays about $40/hr. You might want to wait until your child is in kindergarten so you can finish faster. I agree with the advise about-find a grant but also try to find one with a stipend.

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Thank you for all the responses. I have ALWAYS wanted to go into nursing...before I could even breathe! lol. I am not changing it anytime soon. I have an associates with all the pre-reqs API&II, Micro(which was my fav.), Chem, Med Term, PE, Psyc, Math, Both histories and governments, Growth and Dev..you get my drift lol. Some drops in between but overall 3.89 GPA.

I also have my cd cert., I am head preschool 'teacher' at a childcare. My son is either in my class, or the class next door, so he is very close. It is a great time for us/me to go, IF I can find a night school. I really would not like to wait until my son is in Kindergarden, because I would then have to work full time and still go to night school...same thing just being gone 15 hrs.. I have done my research, I don't really know what to do at this point. My mother has care arranged for her when I go to school, as does my son. If we wait and save, this is just nottt realistic, and this is from a financially savvy person here, you usually can't do that if your living from paycheck to paycheck. We have a home, we are not selling our house...again not realistic(not trying to be rude). What would that do? Our mortage is great..we would be paying the same amount for the size of apartment we would need.

So maybe LVN and DNI or Concorde and brigde over somewhere? You would think that with the nursing shortage that more RN programs would have more evening options for the working adult. But I don't really think theres an actual nrsg. shortage anymore is there? A RN bachelors night program(when you don't have an RN associates or prev bach. adreaddy)would be nice...but thats in a dream world! lol! I don't want to lose all my credits but I need a nursing education that I can work full-time with. Maybe I should apply for one of the bachelor programs? But like I said, I really don't see me being able to get a degree(besides what I alreaddy have) w/o taking out loans. I did it before w/o loans but that was before we where supporting my mother and house as well.

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