At 35yo, I've decided to make the career change from a comfortable, secure, well-paying job in marketing to nursing. I have a BS, but will soon be resigning to pursue a BSN.
I've recently sold my home, so I no longer have a mortgage. Before I begin school, I intend to buy a reliable car outright in cash so I won't have a car payment. I have no debt, other than my previous student loan (which I believe I can defer while I'm a student). With that said, there will still be regular living expenses like rent, electricity, food, gas, car insurance, phone, etc.
While I'm a nursing student, I intend to volunteer at a local hospital to gain experience during my (hopefully) 2 years of nursing school.
I may or may not be able to get financial aid as a student (as in my experience, they base aid on your income from the previous year, which means they'll be basing it on my decent salary from *this* calendar year, not from my $0 income as a student *next* calendar year).
What do people do to make ends meet while being a nursing student & volunteer?
For those with no nursing school experience yet, are there entry-level jobs that pay (I haven't seen any, but also don't know what I should be looking for)?
Tech working 36-48 hours a week while in school. I have bills to pay, kids to feed and a mortgage. I work mostly nights so I can study while my patients are sleeping.
My advice is get a job as a C.N.A. during the weekends-evening and nights. You will get experience and a chance to meet the managers who will be hiring. If I were you and had a good job, I would not have quit to go to nursing school full time. The nursing job market is tight. Jobs are scarce and you may have to go back to your old job. My advice is to go to a part time nursing program and continue to work and get your check. The world is tough today. Jobs are not plentiful... do not buy the "nursing shortage" story. It is over. Nurses are having a very hard time finding work, any nursing work. As a new nurse, you are competing against many experienced nurses for the same position. Good Luck to you!
I have been a hairstylist for 15 years so I do hair on the side as well as drive a school bus route. The hairstyling gig is nice because I can schedule clients when it's good for me. I also work in an assisted living home one day a week and volunteer at a hospital one day a week, inbetween the morning and afternoon bus runs.
After next semester I plan on testing out of the LNA program and working as an LNA for the remainder of my time in nursing school.
I am in my third year of a BSN program and I've worked full time the entire time. I have a family and a mortgage also. If you plan your time it can be done pretty easily.
It was hard to find a part time job that would allow me to work a schedule around my classes, which is why the bus driving is working out. I can always do charter runs instead of a route which is nice.
It is my assumption that managers look at a New Grad's resume and are impressed that the student worked during the program and did volunteer work. It tells them that the student is able to multi-task and juggle everything all at once including family responsibilities.
Everybody can give an excellent resume stating that they graduated from a popular university with Honors or have great references from instructors, but that doesn't guarantee them that they will get the job. I know of somebody who wasn't able to get a job at any hospital, and asked to work as an RN at the clinic where she used to work as a Medical Assistant. In my case, I had an ADN and my grades weren't the best, yet I got a job before graduation at the hospital where I did my preceptorship. However, I lost my position because I failed my NCLEX (I realize now that things happen for a reason).
Basically, New Grads are giving a generic resume and they all look the same. They did assessment during clinicals, handled multiple patients, started IV's, etc...You want to do something that stands out from all the rest.
First, congrats on making such a difficult decision! Leaving a stable career with a nice salary to pursue your passion can be a bit scary! I did something similar after about 6 years of working and I've never regretted it! One thing I did to have tangable money while in school was dip into my 401K per the advice of my financial advisor. This provided some instant cash while I left my job and started school. It also provides an emergency stash incase my husband or I should need it. I'm also working as a tech, PRN - the hospital only requires 24hs/mo which is completely doable during school. Good luck! And let me know if you'd like further info on the 401K loan.
It's been said multiple times and it bears repeating, get a job (CNA/tech/UA) at a local hospital.
Due to the fantastic advice in this post, I've Googled CNA and am looking into CNA certification now. As for tech, are you referring to a Med Tech? And what is a UA? When I google UA, of course all I come up with is Under Armour (ironic since they're one of my clients lol). Sorry in advance for the silly questions, but while I'm familiar with BSNs, RNs, NPs, etc, the beginning titles / acronyms are still new to me.
And a huge thanks to EVERYONE for the outstanding advice! I'm so very glad I asked, before going too far down the wrong path.
Basically, New Grads are giving a generic resume and they all look the same. They did assessment during clinicals, handled multiple patients, started IV's, etc...You want to do something that stands out from all the rest.
I think that is so true for any industry - that you have to stand out. I graduated with a BS with honors, and intend to do the same with my BSN. I've been a volunteer for over 20 years, and will continue during nursing school. I plan to work during nursing school (likely as a CNA, unless I learn that another position would give me even better experience), since I can't afford not to. I also read that knowing multiple languages is beneficial for nurses. Has that been anyone's experience (if so, I'll be brushing up on my Spanish and Greek, and possibly learning Italian while I'm at it)?
Does anyone have any other suggestions to make a new nurse stand out?
First, congrats on making such a difficult decision! Leaving a stable career with a nice salary to pursue your passion can be a bit scary! I did something similar after about 6 years of working and I've never regretted it! One thing I did to have tangable money while in school was dip into my 401K per the advice of my financial advisor. This provided some instant cash while I left my job and started school. It also provides an emergency stash incase my husband or I should need it. I'm also working as a tech, PRN - the hospital only requires 24hs/mo which is completely doable during school. Good luck! And let me know if you'd like further info on the 401K loan.
Congratulations on your career change, as well. Thanks. It has been a difficult decision, and I realize how risky it is, but I simply have to do it. Despite the economy, I know I want it bad enough that I will make it. So, while it's a tad scary taking such a huge leap of faith, for some reason I'm eerily calm about it.
This is my first allnurses thread, so I couldn't figure out how to inbox you on here, but I would actually love to hear more about how you did that with your 401(k). I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to tap my savings, but I am open to learning more about it.
Due to the fantastic advice in this post, I've Googled CNA and am looking into CNA certification now. As for tech, are you referring to a Med Tech? And what is a UA? When I google UA, of course all I come up with is Under Armour (ironic since they're one of my clients lol). Sorry in advance for the silly questions, but while I'm familiar with BSNs, RNs, NPs, etc, the beginning titles / acronyms are still new to me.
And a huge thanks to EVERYONE for the outstanding advice! I'm so very glad I asked, before going too far down the wrong path.
Some facilities use CNA's, some have techs (similar to a CNA, but I believe they are trained to do blood draws--someone correct me if I'm wrong). A UA is an unlicensed assistant.
I also read that knowing multiple languages is beneficial for nurses. Has that been anyone's experience (if so, I'll be brushing up on my Spanish and Greek, and possibly learning Italian while I'm at it)?
It really depends on your area. Where I live, Spanish would be helpful, but not Greek or Italian. What ethnic groups are in your area?
I don't know if you've considered an accelerated program for those who already have a degree in another area, but it might considerably shorten your program. I'm sure there are several in NY state. I live in FL and FSU and others offer this program.
Marry (financially) up. Seriously, don't even think about starting any such sort of relationship while in school. Those in my class who married while in RN school ended up divorced shortly thereafter. Conversely, if in a bad relationship, end that relationship and forge ahead with what will better prepare you for your life (and that of your family, if applicable).
More seriously, when I did the "career change" (late 1992) @ ~40 years old, I had some money from a "package" from the previous job, as well as several months of unemployment comp as the career change was prompted by cutbacks where I had been working. When that ran out, I also worked part-time doing some electronic tech work for a few select clients with whom I did business at the previous job (the previous employer had dropped that part of their business); the timing worked out just right on that :).
I had to buy a car, so I bought a used, reliable 1990 Dodge Spirit (4-cyl). That car carried me through most of school, but I was putting a lot of miles on it (I knew that going in) for the part-time work, which also included teaching at a local community college.
At the start of the final semester, I needed to replace the car, so I weighed the options and bought a new 1995 Intrepid to use for school, work, and personal use; it was cheaper at the time to do that, and worked well for several more years after I became a RN. By then, some of the part time work had slowed down (as planned), and I resumed a somewhat normal life.
I never smoked nor used alcohol, except for a glass of wine with dinner maybe once or twice a year, so those things were not a problem. Cutting out any and all junk food helped a lot as well. All this does not mean that I stopped living. SWMBO (who was employed full time) and I still did the occasional "lobster run" to NH a couple of times a year. Getting away from school and work was worth the effort.
Rather than volunteering at the hospital, how about working as an aide (nursing assistant)? That may be a better "foot in the door" for you upon graduation, as well as learning some of the basics of the place.
Was money tight during school? You betcha!
Was it worth the effort? Of course it was, and I do not regret one moment of it.
Seriously, don't even think about starting any such sort of relationship while in school. Those in my class who married while in RN school ended up divorced shortly thereafter. Conversely, if in a bad relationship, end that relationship and forge ahead with what will better prepare you for your life (and that of your family, if applicable).
LuckyinKY
229 Posts
Tech working 36-48 hours a week while in school. I have bills to pay, kids to feed and a mortgage. I work mostly nights so I can study while my patients are sleeping.