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)?
I was lucky that my job on the fire dept. has set days. I worked Monday and Friday. I had enough comp time, and vacation time that if I had school on work days, I could take 8 hours off.
We had a lot of students that worked full time jobs now that I think back.
Beans and rice and rice and beans. Seriously, I work about 20 hours/week as LPN. During school breaks I work as much as they will let me. I've saved up some and cut out the non-essentials (cable TV, netflix, etc). Also ditto to what NurseLoveJoy said, "I depend on God". Good luck to you!
You know it! And I am debt free! Hoping to not have to borrow anything to finish my degree.
That's AWESOME! I'm a huge fan too, working on baby step 2. I should be debt free by March, God willing! Good luck in school and in Living like no one else!
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)?
Thank you in advance.
That's a challenge and a question that millions of Americans are asking right now due to the horrid economy.
On a purely subjective level, it will require very strict budgeting on your part. I rely on financial aide (mostly) and when I receive my refund checks I allocate that money to the various expenses (bills, rent, gas, food, etc . . . ) that I will have during the semester.
I simply make a list of all my expenses and all my income. For example, I know my rent will cost z dollars and I have to pay it four times during the semester, so z x 4 = z4. With my utilities bills, I average the cost over a year (I save all my utility bill stubs) and save the monthly average.
If you want to get some part-time income (and you think you can manage) you could take your CNA test and apply at a nursing home or hospital. I did that and even though it's really hard and time consuming coupled with school work, it provides that much needed buffer.
Cut any corners you can - get rid of your cable because you wont be watching TV during nursing school and if you can, move in with a relative or find roommates to split rent with. Cut your cell phone plan down to the bare minimum you need, no going out to eat or to the movies or whatever. Not gonna lie, the next couple years might suck. Just try to be as financially conservative as you can.
Very solid advice. We cancelled our cable as well and I don't even have a cell anymore.
You've done the right thing with limiting your debt so far, just stay out of it. I am in nursing school now so I'll give you my two cents.
1) If you're going to a university stay in a dorm. Simple as that. Buy a decent 4x4 that has good MPG but dont drive too much, take advantage of on campus services.
2) If you're going to a community college, stay at apartments within walking distance of the school so you can limit the amount of driving you are doing.
3) As far as work goes, there are a few choices to be made. I would not work as a CNA if it can be helped during your first year, especially working 12 hour shifts. I would wait till year two or maybe even the last semester to start gaining healthcare experience. I've met plenty of RNs that got jobs without even setting foot on the floor as a full time CNA.
4) If possible you should find work that is on campus, between classes. On campus employers are used to working around hectic and changing student schedules.
5) If you cant find a easy desk job, then aim for something in the school system like an after school program. If that fails then try working retail 8 hr shifts on weekend day shift.
6) If you insist on working as a CNA then get your EMT cert first and see if you can work as a driver or ER tech working 8 hr shifts.
7) If you STILL insist on working as a CNA then try to get work with home health with a client that wont require much care.
8) If you want to work on the floor, then apply for whatever. I've found that 3rd shift med surg to be easiest, but since you have lower staffing numbers at night, when it gets busy. IT GETS BUSY. I prefer day shift personally.
That's AWESOME! I'm a huge fan too, working on baby step 2. I should be debt free by March, God willing! Good luck in school and in Living like no one else!
I got a metro pcs phone on the pay as you go plan... not sure how much you talk on the phone but they cards come with free texting so that's handy... $20 buys you 500 minutes which lasts me a month so in the last year, I've brought my monthly cell phone down from around $100/month (iphone) to $20/month.
Edited to add: I know that one thing obviously won't be enough, but stuff like that definitely adds up. Go through your budget with a fine tooth comb for sure!
ppfd, BSN, EMT-P
86 Posts
I worked full time and went to school full time.
I was lucky that my job on the fire dept. has set days. I worked Monday and Friday. I had enough comp time, and vacation time that if I had school on work days, I could take 8 hours off.
We had a lot of students that worked full time jobs now that I think back.