should I quit my well paying job of 43,000 a year to go to nursing school

RNinthemaking1986 · Jul 30, 2011

Hmm, I would not quit this job yet, but first go out and find a well paying evening job that hires you full time, part time, or even on call job. Then when you are financially stable in the new job(have a full time evening shift) quit your current day job.

It will be tough in the beginning working double jobs since you may not land a full time even job quickly. But once you get the full time potion quit your day job.

RNinthemaking1986 · Jul 30, 2011

Hmm, I would not quit this job yet, but first go out and find a well paying evening job that hires you full time, part time, or even on call job. Then when you are financially stable in the new job(have a full time evening shift) quit your current day job.

It will be tough in the beginning working double jobs since you may not land a full time evening shift quickly. But once you get the full time position quit your day job.

That would be an option so you can go to school/work

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Jul 30, 2011

I'd say what the PP said. Try to stick it out at your current job until you find a night job in which you can work full-time, or maybe even afford to be able to work part-time for a bit to get adjusted to the change and time schooling is going to take. I know how you feel, when it comes to quitting a job, or feeling you need to keep working your heart out, in order to focus on your child, your needs, and bills. Everyone has different scenarios - I can't imagine how you feel, about the thought of leaving such an amazing paying job, when I'm having hard time just trying to leave a part-time, dead-end minimum wage job! Haha! - In the end, it seems you'll ultimately have to switch to an evening shift job, in order to get done what you want to do for your future! Everything has a way of working out in some way or another. :) I wish you the best of luck!

futurepractitioner1 · Jul 30, 2011

I was in this exact position last year--it's awful!--so sorry to hear your predicament. Are there no evening nursing programs in your area?-- That would be an amazing option to start with. I can just tell you from personal experience that even if your job is absolute torture during the day, and you are taking nursing courses that you love at night-- you will most likely be at peace until you transition towards a new job--which is what I did... As soon as I had begun school in the evenings after working all day in a job that I was miserable doing. I was not planning on an exit, but rather trying to find a way to create a balance between Nursing and what I was doing, as I was too making a decent living. Unfortunately, the company that I was working for had closed. Now two years later, I am now enrolled full-time in one of the country's top Nursing Colleges completing my BSN and moving on to obtain my FNP degree. While I'm happy that I'm finally on my way towards doing something that I have passion for, I haven't been working since I lost my job, and things have been very stressful financially.

I know how hard it is to juggle school with work and most importantly- family. If it's the time constraint of dealing with everything at once, and you really feel the need to make a better work-environment for yourself, then it's important to do it. I just urge you to be as conservative about how you do it as possible, so as not to create even more stress for yourself. In other words-- Don't quit until you know exactly how you will somewhat comfortably take care of your finances. It would be awful if you made a huge transition, and then had to put the brakes on your endeavors because you couldn't support yourself in that lifestyle. I would urge you to cover your bases financially by either pushing towards an evening job, even if it's another CNA job temporarily until you get established in school, unless you have another means to bring in some income to cover essentials.

If it's at all possible, you should really seek some council so that you have a professional to communicate with. This helped me so much that I can't even tell you! It's amazing what focus you gain just hearing yourself speak outloud about your anxieties and concerns about major decisions like this.

Best of luck my friend-- (oh, and PS....28 is soooooooooooooooo young--please don't feel like your "running out of time" lol :)-- you've got the rest of your life to find happiness...and you seem to have begun on the journey towards making it happen.

sherri12 · Jul 30, 2011

You can always start college by taking some online courses. I took almost half of my nursing pre-req courses online. That will take you at least a year or two depending on what classes you have to take. You can start there and that will give you some time and at least you can get started.

You have plenty of time. I went back to college on my 41st birthday! I am more than halfway done with my BSN now and the time went by very fast.

leenak · Jul 30, 2011

Everyone is different and being a single mom, I can imagine it is tough. I'd definitely look for a night time job. Are you taking nursing classes or pre-reqs? I'm working a full time day job that pays very very well and taking pre-reqs at night/weekends. Once I go to nursing school, I'm going to quit my job though and go full time. I'm not a single mother and we have no debt so its a bit easier.

JaeLaw23 · Jul 30, 2011

I was in your same situation in April of this year... Single mom of 3 and making good money but I was never happy with my job (it was just a way to pay the bills). Fortunately, my company was bought out and they laid off a lot of people. At first I thought it was the end of the world!!! However, now I am SURE it was meant to be. I LOVE the extra time I get with my children and the peace I feel because I am working towards something I have wanted since being a child. We're also setting an excellent example for our children at the same time :redbeathe

If I had the choice, I would not quit my job and start school full time. However, if you don't have your prereqs out of the way--evening classes are the way to go. It is difficult to balance being a single mom, working full time & being a student. Transitioning to perhaps a pt day job and applying for financial aid at your college may suffice.

Good luck to you!!!

:lol2: :clown: :redpinkhe

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2011

:confused:Im really nervous about doing this but my facility doesnt have many openings for night positions that will allow me to go to school in the daytime. I am accustomed to making this amount of money and many of my unemployed friends tell me that they wish they were making this money I make. I mean I understand but i am no longer happy as a CNA but it pays so well. I caannot completely quit but I have a load of bills right now and I am a single mom. Please advise on what to do, I am 28 and dont hae much time to waste.

I quit a job paying more than that to go to nursing school. Sometimes people ask me how much it cost me to go to nursing school and I reply, "About a quarter of a million dollars."

onedayitllbeme · Sep 14, 2011

I am also getting paid "very very" well in the computer science field and strongly considered going the evening route, but even the evening route is so hard with my job as I have to work around 60 hours per week. I can do online courses and weekend sometimes ( but i miss my children ) Also the only evening route was a Associates which can make finding a job pretty difficult in the NYC area... so assuming I don't chicken out AGAIN, I am ready to apply to Accelerated BSN programs and quit if I get in as I am finishing up prereqs now. It is so scary, especially in this economy when so many people are out of work, but i do feel that i have to follow my heart.

willowita, ADN, RN · Sep 14, 2011

I know it's tough to work a full time job and be in a nursing program. Based on your question, I can't tell if you are already in an RN program or if you are just thinking about it. Have you done your pre-requisite courses yet? Those courses, like A&P and Microbio are usually offered at all times of the day. I know it's a lot of hours to be away from home but could you work your regular job and do the prerequisite courses at night?

I've been going to school at night for 2 years and I'm finally almost done. I've hung onto my full time job all this time. Don't quit your job for prerequisite courses but once in an RN program, you may have to. Save as much as you can during prereqs so you're a little better off for the RN.

Nursing24/7, LVN · Sep 14, 2011

Definitely don't quit the job you have now. If you have prereqs to do first, I would take night classes, online or weekend classes for the prereqs and then revisit where you are when it actually comes time to dive into nursing school courses and it gets really serious. Just take it all one day at a time right now and it will eventually all work itself out. Good luck!