I failed nursing school twice. I always thought I had a love for nursing! I was kicked out of my nursing school in 2019 and have been waiting to get back into a program ever since. I have the opportunity to apply for a program that starts in December; however, now I’m having doubts about entering the nursing field. During my weird break from school, I worked in a hospital as a CNA right at the start of COVID. I became soooo burnt out after a year and a half that would call out constantly and finally decided to resign. I got my EKG certification and am currently working as a telemetry technician on a PCU unit. I hate it just as much. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I love helping people and I love the art of caring. I would consider myself to be highly empathetic, understanding, and patient. I’m an introvert who tends to tire easily from a lot of constant stimulation. I hate stressful situations and environments and I’m worn down from the patients that complain their food is too cold and management reprimanding us for not making their stay as lovely as possible. I hate the abuse and being short staffed. I love caring for people; but, I don’t think I could work for a big corporate hospital. Not only that, I’m $80,000 in school debt, have a three month old baby, and just want to get a degree. I just don’t think nursing is for me... but, I have no idea what else I would do. I’m stuck and confused! Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
1 hour ago, londonflo said:
If the OP is not interested in health care, then it is not in her interests to look for an allied health education. Community colleges offer courses in the arts, humanities and sciences at community college tuition prices. Exploring a new avenue such as art is not a 'total waste of money' because there is something to learn in every subject area!
I agree. Which is why I intend to pursue a masters' degree in fine arts one day. Because that is where my interest lies. And I have been a frustrated artist all my life. There is enrichment in continuing education into old age as long as one is inclined and fit to do so. Not a waste of money in my book. But hey look at me saying that with zero school debt. I have the luxury of that......
If the OP is not interested in health care, then it is not in her interests to look for an allied health education. Community colleges offer courses in the arts, humanities and sciences at community college tuition prices. Exploring a new avenue such as art is not a 'total waste of money' because there is something to learn in every subject area!
She is a single mom with over $80,000 in student loans and the interest will keep increasing the debt exponentially over time. My opinion she can't afford to get a liberal arts degree. She needs quick job training for the cheapest price she can get so she can take care of her family and start paying that debt down!
You are right there is nothing wrong with liberal arts, but in America it doesn't usually translate to a decent paying job unless you are lucky or have connections or get a graduate degree in law, medicine, etc. She can't afford to go that route.
Back in the day I explored a degree in international relations with coursework including languages, history and politics, but it was affordable back then and I could pay as I go. But I was at UW-Madison and saw many people who had liberal arts degrees working as taxi drivers, security, and secretaries. Nothing wrong with that, but these jobs don't pay the bills very well and you don't really need a degree to do them. I was already working as a secretary and I wanted a better paying job. I switched to nursing and my income doubled the first year! Ironically my international relations classes have come in handy since I've met so many patients from different cultures,countries, and languages.
I don't regret that time. It was a peaceful and fun time of my life, but I don't think I'd have been able to buy a house and save for retirement with just a liberal arts degree. The last few years, I met many nurses who already had a liberal arts degree and went back to school for nursing to get a decent paying job and ended up with six figure student loans in the process. I'm sure they wish they had done things differently.
Student loans are the worst debt out there, regardless of the so called flexibility of deferment/forbearance, but they don't tell you that can double the debt thru interest capitalization! Also the income based repayment loan forgiveness plans have a 99% rejection rate, where people are told to start the clock over, all the while the debt increases exponentially due to negative amortization! Lastly, there are no bankruptcy protections and they will even garnish your social security if you are in default!
When you realize a student loan is the size of a mortgage and will take decades to pay off, it is really scary because what if you lose your job or get sick or injured and can't pay it back and get behind on it. It only takes 9 months of non-payment to put you in default and they will then tack on a 25% surcharge to rehab the loan. Florida even adds a 3% surcharge to get in on the action! I'm with Dave Ramsey on this pay off your student loans as soon as you can and not count on the student loan forgiveness program. It will give you more peace of mind and help you sleep at night!
Total waste of money, OP can't afford to take on more student loan debt as it is. My advice is to cut her losses, look to her local non profit community college for a technical degree that can help her start making an income.
We may be in the minority here but I have to agree with you that an art history or art degree is at this point in OP's life a total waste of money.
It makes about zero sense for somebody who already has $80,000 in student debt from an unknown college and an unmentioned major to add to that for a degree path that would result in her being essentially unemployable in the field unless she has some major connections.
There's nothing wrong with a fine arts degree but in OP's situation the reality is she can't afford to take on more student debt unless there is a solid living wage career at the end of the degree. Sadly jobs in the fine arts that result in sustained employment and a living wage are few and when they are available highly competitive.
While I don't think anybody should be making life decision based on advice from strangers on an internet forum it would be a lot easier to give some potentially helpful advice if we knew where that $80.000 in student loan debt originated from. To have that kind of student debt there must have been something that attracted her to that field of study. There may be a good foundation there to build from.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
I agree. Which is why I intend to pursue a masters' degree in fine arts one day. Because that is where my interest lies. And I have been a frustrated artist all my life. There is enrichment in continuing education into old age as long as one is inclined and fit to do so. Not a waste of money in my book. But hey look at me saying that with zero school debt. I have the luxury of that......