Huge sacrifice for future kids and hubby

[shabookitty]

I have a tough decision to make and I need some opinions.

I must make a decision between teaching school or nursing. Nursing school starts in January so I have to decide to jump on the wagon or coast through the opportunity.

My husband and I want to have children within the next year. We have less than 1,000 in savings so going back into teaching would allow LOTS more money than what I would be making part time while going to school.

Also, I think the time off this job has to offer would benefit raising my children. I would get to be there (for days) during the holidays and every afternoon when they arrive home. I could take them to school in the morning. Having afternoons free means that I could attend games and after school functions. Summers would allow family vacation time. Pay is not all that bad...in my state it would be comparable to nursing...

My passion is to become a nurse. But, I feel like I must make this sacrifice. My husband would be 40 (without kids or a house) if I go Nursing school. And he has prostate trouble. This all worries me. We want more than one child so this would be pushing his age and condition even more with the second child.

I LOVE Nursing. It is my passion. Though I wonder if putting it on the back burner for another 10yrs would be wise. I have considered teaching a younger grade level in school and this may appeal to me more...(Ihope so).

I told my husband I am reconsidering Nursing and he sooooo happy and relieved :kiss

What do you guys think of this sacrifice? Wise? What would you do?

[BioRN]

I too struggled with the idea of teaching science instead of nursing. Unfortunately, in my area getting a teaching certificate will cost me a lot more $$ then getting an RN. I have a substitute certificate and a BS in biology, but substitute teaching only pays $90.00/day. If you all ready have a regular certificate, I would definitely, teach instead of going to nursing school. Economic security while your children are young is very important, and the school year is great. You can always go back to nursing later when life is a little more settled. Of course, this is just my opinion. If you choose to teach keep your hand in the pre-requisite nursing program and/or classes that would relate by taking a class a year. This way when you are ready, you can go straight into the nursing program.

If you decide that it is vital for you to attend nursing school now, and $$ is the only thing stopping you, check with Weel Fargo Bank for MedCap nursing loans or Education Connection loans. This is how I am going to get by for my first year of nursing school. After my first year, I will probably work as an LPN or student nursing assistant. Assuming I pass my classes and the NCLEX-P exam.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

In retrospect I believe I know what I would do. My oldest is 34. I worked in nursing from the time she was 8 months old through her brother's birth (he's 32) on up until 3 years ago.

That's a lot of missed summers, Christmases, Easters, Thanksgivings etc.

You need to decide what is best for YOU however. Remember that.

P

[LilgirlRN, ADN, RN]

So become a school nurse :)

[Pretzlgl]

Teach.

[emily_mom]

Wow, what a huge decision you have to make! I don't envy you at all. If children in the next year are very important to you, then maybe you should go back to teaching. Going through nursing school with little ones is tough. But, it is do-able. You do miss a lot of holidays and weekend activities in nursing, but you can make up for most of them and by making the ones you do have that more memorable. Talk with your husband. Are you looking at ADN or BSN? Going the ADN route could get you out faster.... I don't know how I can help. Let us know what you decide.

Kristy

[l.rae]

I am curious about something, how do you know that nursing is your passion???....just curious about why you would change...l hate being a nurse at holidays....and you will hate it more if you have small children. there are options in nursing that do not require holidays/weekends...even bedside nursing if you don't require benefits and a solid schedule.....personally, l would teach....but only you know what is best for you...good luck...LR

[2banurse]

If you have only $1000 in the bank, how can you afford to have children? I don't have kids, but I know that it is very expensive!

[researchrabbit]

You don't say how old YOU are. I got a teaching degree in my 20s. Then the nursing degree in my 40s (it was probably easier to do at that point due to the life experience, although clincals were more tiring). I wanted to go to nursing school for a good ten years before I actually did.

You might consider talking this over with hubby -- teaching now and nursing school in X number of years. Maybe even some advance financial planning so that cash flow doesn't continue to be a problem. (personal experience speaking here -- I wish I'd been able to convince the guy I was married to to do better with $$).

The oldest student who graduated with me was 55. So, really, it's doable at any age, depending on how committed you are.

[Babe]

Loads of good advise here, boils down to what is most important to you! My husband didn't want to help with children so I put off nursing until they were grown, I'm going to be another 50s plus graduate but I'm okay with it and so are the younger students, for the most part they are great and both offer help as well as ask for it. I'm not the only older student by any means, our school is seeing more and more adults going back for lots of reasons. One of our better instructors was in your shoes, she was a teacher first while her children were small, then she went into nursing and is now a very good nursing instructor. The ideal of becoming a school nurse works for some with children in school also, on of my clinicals was with a school nurse mom and at the school where her children attend, she was able to be there to see her son receive an award the day I was there, she had the best of both worlds. Just remember no doors are shut unless you close them. Good luck in whatever you do!!!!!

[oramar]

The decision is ultimately yours. I have to tell you that being a nurse or nursing student and being pregnant is rough. However, many, many have done it. I do think that the educational system is much more supportive of pregnant teachers than the medical system is of pregnant nurses. I have to add one more thing, sounds to me like you need a paying job right now.

[colleen10]

Woa, Shaboo, I don't envy your decision one bit.

And I do know what it is like to have to plan "starting a family" around you education and career goals. I have had to put off having kids by at least two or three years so that I can go back to school.

I come from a large family of both Nurses and Teachers.

I guess a big thing to consider is why you don't want to teach? Is it that you despise teaching or is it just that Nursing interests you much more?

Also, you said your husband wants to have children now but do you?

I would have to say that if you will ENJOY teaching go into that and start your family. You could take some of your pre-req's. for nursing in the summer and that way when you are ready you can roll into nursing school.

Teaching will offer you a lot of opportunities to spend time with and raise your children. And the benefits and pay are usually pretty good.

You are lucky that where you live is in need of Teachers and perhaps even School Nurses. Where I live, in Pittsburgh, there is no need for teachers and most school nurse jobs require that you have your Master's.

It's really a toss up I suppose. Children + Teaching Job or Nursing School.

You have to promise though, that if you go back to teaching you will still come hang out with us.

Col