Hi everyone...I have been teaching now for six years and have gotten bruned out. I now want to became a nurse but I am so scared to change careers. I have high student loans debt because I went to a private school to get certified and my Masters in education. I also started working on a leadership in education degree and racked up even more debt because I stop when I found out me and my husband was expecting our first child which turned out to be twins! My husband is very supportive in my career change decision but we both have concerns about when I will have to stop working to complete nursing school. He makes ok money but we have never had to live off one income before.
I just wanted to know if anyone out their changed their career at or after 30 or later, in a "bad" economy, with high student loans to payback and small kids (the twins or now 17 months).
Is changing career with all this going on a good idea??? And do y'all (I'm from the south) think the nursing field will have picked up by 2013 or 2014 (the year I plan on finishing hopfully)?
I don't know if you will be qualified, but fafsa can cover your payment for nursing school/pre-reqs. My sister has been done w/ nursing school for over a year, and is currently a RN supervisor w/ no student loans! She had two kids, during the time she was in a community college. She completed nursing school while being pregnant w/ her youngest. SHe was qualified for full financial aid, b/c she did not work, had two kids to raise, and only her husband had a full time job.
Maybe you can quit your job as a teacher, and dedicated your self to school, apply for financial aid, like fafsa, and safe yourself from other student loans. Make sure you go to a community college.
@mmoton Did you ever take the leap from teaching into nursing? If so, can you please share your experience thus far with nursing school and handling your student loan debt and other family obligations. I am currently where you were in 2010. I've been teaching elementary education for 8 years now and am too feeling burned out and am considering entering nursing the field. Did you enter a BSN program after completing your prerequisites? Any advice would be of great help.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
@mmoton Did you ever take the leap from teaching into nursing? If so, can you please share your experience thus far with nursing school and handling your student loan debt and other family obligations. I am currently where you were in 2010. I've been teaching elementary education for 8 years now and am too feeling burned out and am considering entering nursing the field. Did you enter a BSN program after completing your prerequisites? Any advice would be of great help.
This thread is 3 years old. You can enter an Accelerated BSN program if you hold a previous degree and have finished the prerequisites. These programs can be pricey. You may also enter a ADN program after prerequisites as well...cheaper however many facilities are only hiring BSN prepared grads in most areas of the country right now do to the plethora of graduate nurses in a saturated market.
I taught for 10 years before I decided to go into the medical field. I have students loans that I have asked for a deferment on while I'm in school full-time. I have also had to save and put back money for school because I don't qualify for financial aid. I went through a 2 year respiratory degree and just paid out of pocket for everything.
I have to pay for half my tuition upfront and then I make payments throughout the semester on a payment plan. I also ordered my books through Amazon because they were about half of what the school was asking. The biggest expense was for the uniform, lab jacket, shoes, and equipment needed. Maybe start shopping as soon as you can for what you will need. Also make sure your shots are up to date. The Hep B series was expensive and I'm having to redo the series because of no immunity. You may have to do titers in your area too if the program requires proof of immunity. I have been able to get my insurance to cover the titers. For this program my main book was Fundamentals and I had to buy a Mechanical Ventilation book. Next semester I think I need a Peds book. So books were not a big expense.
Try to talk with the Nursing school department head and find out what your unexpected expenses will be and try to budget now. It is doable, but we have had to really watch our budget.
I have high student loans debt because I went to a private school to get certified and my Masters in education. I also started working on a leadership in education degree and racked up even more debt because I stop when I found out me and my husband was expecting our first child which turned out to be twins!
My husband is very supportive in my career change decision but we both have concerns about when I will have to stop working to complete nursing school. He makes ok money but we have never had to live off one income before. 
And do y'all (I'm from the south) think the nursing field will have picked up by 2013 or 2014 (the year I plan on finishing hopfully)?
Ayeshachaudhary
9 Posts
I don't know if you will be qualified, but fafsa can cover your payment for nursing school/pre-reqs. My sister has been done w/ nursing school for over a year, and is currently a RN supervisor w/ no student loans! She had two kids, during the time she was in a community college. She completed nursing school while being pregnant w/ her youngest. SHe was qualified for full financial aid, b/c she did not work, had two kids to raise, and only her husband had a full time job.
Maybe you can quit your job as a teacher, and dedicated your self to school, apply for financial aid, like fafsa, and safe yourself from other student loans. Make sure you go to a community college.
Good luck