I need some advice please!!!

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Hi my name is Meg and I would really like to become a nurse, I am a military wife and we are about to move to our next duty station and will be there for a solid 4 years. We are not 100% sure where we have 2 options. I have taken some pre req's such as Intro to Psyc, Developmental Psyc, College Algebra, English 101 and 102, US History. We are more then likely moving to Yuma, AZ or Cherry Point, NC. My question is what can I do to best prepare myself for becoming a nurse. I looked at NAU's courses and it looks like their program would take my 6 years by the time I've finished my pre req's and done their nursing program. I thought becoming a BSN would only take a total of 4 years. I just really want to become a nurse and I'm not sure what route would suite me best seeing as to how I have 2 small children. ADN - BSN ?? I would just like some advice! Thanks y'all!

For the GI Bill, I used my own, so it's a little different than using your spouse's, since I got BAH, but if your spouse transfers his to you, then at least your tuition would be covered (and you might get the book stipend, I can't remember if spouses get that), so taking out loans to cover childcare wouldn't be as costly. This website has a lot of good info: http://www.gibill.va.gov. Your husband would need to have been in already for a certain number of years, and I believe that there's a service obligation as well. Another option is MyCAA, which I am not very familiar with, as I was unable to take advantage of the help they offer. I don't know the website for that program, but I'm sure it would be easy to find on Google or I know you can definitely get info through your base education center. It recently changed and has more restrictions, but if you're eligible, I believe it's $4000 (it has changed 3 times since it started several years ago, so I'm having trouble keeping up with the rules as it morphs each time). There are also scholarships out there for spouses. I'm drawing a blank right now as to the website for those, but again, I think the base education center should be able to point you in the right direction. For me, what ended up being the only reasonable solution was going to a private school (the public school options, whether ADN or BSN programs just weren't going to work with what I knew would be our next PCS). We were lucky and were in San Diego for 4 yrs this past time, so I had exactly enough time to do prereq's (I already have a bachelors in something else, so I didn't have to do too many- mostly just the sciences), apply to school (since for my school you do it pretty much a year in advance), get through school (2 yr program) and graduate.

I don't know why my name doesn't show up- it shows up for me. =) (It's 0402)

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Yeah your name of 0402 is showing up now, last time it wasn't showing up at all it was saying unknown if I remember correctly....but thanks for all the info, there's so much to look in to!

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Another scholarship that I don't know if the education center will have is the one from the Women Marines Association. As a spouse, you are eligible to apply, as long as you are sponsored by a WMA member. If you find this is something you want to do, just PM me, and I can sponsor you, if you don't already know another member. =)

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I can't say I have ever even heard of the program, so I don't know anyone who is involved in it, let me look at it and I'll get back to you!!

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WOW! Both y'all gave such amazing advice, THANK YOU SOO SOO MUCH! I have lots to look into and I really like the idea of doing ADN at one duty station and then the bridge program at the next. Having to move mid BSN would not be good at all. Really if I could just find a way to help pay for daycare (because oh lordy it's expensive) I would do as much school as I could handle! Right now I'm doing only night courses at a community college until we move at the very beginning of next year. So my husband is able to watch the kids. I know this won't be an option once we move because his schedule won't be as consistent. Samantha, with you being a military wife in school as well do you have any advice for helping bridge the costs of expensive childcare? (I'm just assuming you have children, if not then sorry about that!)

So sorry that it took so long to respond. Nursing school is keeping me BUSY! :)

I do have kids. I have a 5 year old son who is in Kindergarten and a 3 year old daughter. I'm in school at the same times my son is in school so I don't have to worry about childcare for him. We are lucky, my husband is currently recruiting so we live just a few miles from both of our families. So they help out and watch my daughter at different times. I also have another Navy wife that helps me out one day a week. I knew that if I was going to do nursing school it would have to be while we are close to family so they could help with childcare. There is no way we would be able to afford it other wise.

Maybe you could trade days with another Marine mom so she could watch your kids a few days a week and you could watch hers? That's going to be your best bet. Find someone you trust and see if you can workout your schedules. That way you both end up with free part time childcare.

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Hi 0402 and Meg! I'm also a Marine wife (and former active duty Marine).

Here's the website for MyCAA. They recently changed the eligibility requirements. It is now based on your spouse's rank and "Funding is limited to only Associate’s degrees, certifications and licensure programs".

In addition to that, Military One Source has a web page listing scholarships and scholarship databases. Some are specific to your spouse's branch of service, others for Military Spouses in general and still others are for anyone. Your chosen school may also have scholarships that are specific to nursing. It may be discouraging to not qualify for all the scholarships you apply for but remember that the response will always be no if you don't even apply; sometimes, though, you might get lucky and hear a positive response to your application!

As far as affordable daycare goes, the base daycare fees should be on a sliding scale based on your family's income. You may also want to look into an in-home provider on base, where the hours may be more flexible (might be necessary while you're in nursing school), but the care tends to be more expensive. If you go this route, ask the office that handles daycare applications about subsidy; based on your family income, partial payments can be made to the provider on your behalf so that care costs are less for you. Another thing to look into is a Project Head Start program (I don't know if these are California specific; sometimes they are linked with colleges), where families meeting certain income criteria are provided child care for very low fees or at no cost.

Sounds like CuriousMe has some great info on the schools local to Yuma, but if you end up at Camp Pendleton, Miramar or 29 Palms, be sure to message me. I've been pursuing this on and off (between PCS and other moves) for the last few years and can probably come up with more ideas specific to these areas.

Good luck!

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Specializes in BSN Class of May 2013.

My sons are 8, 6, & 3.5. Mine are in school 8-3pm. One benefit of being a poor student is I qualify for Head Start. :) I had my kids in Wonder Kidz (Arizona Ave & 24th St.) and they were EXCELLENT! They just opened in January, but their family is all involved in child care (the owner's sister has her own center.) They are Christian based and the manager is wonderful. She worked with me last semester when I did the CNA program & had 6 am clinicals on Fridays. She watched my 3 yr old that one day a week. It's hard to get daycare that is part time. I had taken my kids to Kelland's Kiddie College (24th St & 1st Ave) before, and I liked them, but not as much as Wonder Kidz. There is a marine wife in my Micro class, and I believe she has her son in the on-base daycare. I will ask on Thurs am. I seem to remember her saying something about a waiting list, but I'll ask for ya'. :)

Prices are usually $20-$25 for 1 day. About $125 per week. There is a place called the Treehouse that does drop-in hourly. http://www.treehouseyuma.com/ It's set up for occasional drop in, but I think they just started a pre-school program. I've heard great things, but I've never been there. It is in the center of town, and it's glass windows all around so you can see right in to the center just driving by. They have Wii & all kinds of stuff. :) The City of Yuma also has a pre-school program. A friend worked there M-F 8-12pm. I think she said it was like $125 for 6 weeks or something? Most of the kids she had were there for the school year even though it was 6 weeks at a time. I looked at the website (http://www.ci.yuma.az.us/1357.htm ) but I don't see anything about it. You would have to call them I guess.

Anyways, there are many different options that may work. I have found that taking things 1 semester at a time is what works for me!! I never thought I would put my "baby" in daycare, but I had to figure it out, and I lucked out with that daycare! :) You will probably meet other moms that you can alternate schedules with and help each other out. 1 semester at a time!! That's my mantra! haha

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Specializes in BSN Class of May 2013.

(*City of Yuma preschool is M-Th*)

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Thanks so much! Yes it is hard to put my babies in daycare, but in order for me to be able to complete school and get us better off overall I have to! I will look into the Wonder Kidz and all of those prices mentioned are a lot better then what I've been finding other places, when I just had one child he was in daycare for $200 a week and when my other was born they wanted $550 a week for both... thats crazy and wayyy more then I could afford! I just wish they had more options as far as grants go and all that for helping military spouses get through school and or even people that are single moms trying to get through school. I have a friend with 2 very small children and she is having to take out all sorts of huge loans to finish up the 2 1/2 semesters of school she has left.

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Specializes in BSN Class of May 2013.

I feel for your friend! And WOW $550 a WEEK!!!

I got my CNA hoping to work & get more hands on experience while in school, but basically any shift I work I will basically make just enough to pay for daycare because all 3 will have to be either taken to school or picked up from school by the daycare. Even for just a few hours!!! Seems INSANE to work to pay for childcare. Yeah, I would probably pocket $20-$30 a day (for an 8-12 hr shift on my feeet - away from my boys) but it's just NOT worth it to me. The little extra isn't worth it. Not right now.

I have 2 school days to myself (where they're in class & I am not.) Those are my days to study & write papers...

I am going to ask the marine wife in my class tomorrow about her childcare situation. :) I'll let ya' know what I find out. :)

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Specializes in BSN Class of May 2013.

She told me she takes her son to the one base daycare as a drop in & that if you want to go there, you have to get on their wang list a

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Specializes in BSN Class of May 2013.

Sorry I was entering that last one on my phone & something malfunctioned.

Anyhow theres a waiting list and you have to get on it asap. :0)

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