Is this even realistic?

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I have been on this board for years. I started on the nursing route right after getting married in 2006. I started pre-reqs, and just after registering for A & P 1, I got preggers with my older daughter. I took a couple years off, and wouldn't you know it? Got preggers with my second daughter shortly after registering for A & P 1 the second time.

This past summer I finally returned to school and took Lifespan development over the summer. Registered for A & P 1 a third time and dropped it out of self doubt.

You see, I work full time and have all the family's benefits on me. As of right now my hubby is self employed and we really can't afford for him to take out health insurance through his business. We can barely pay our bills. He is taking steps to possibly change careers and take over the health insurance, freeing me up to pursue my dreams, but who knows if this will actually happen. If it does, great.

But what happens if I pass all my pre-reqs and get into the nursing program, which is full time during the day and he hasn't gotten that new job? Will I just be crushed and have wasted another two years?

Meanwhile, I applied to the same school's very prestigious and selective paralegal program and got in. The classes are at night and I have always loved the law.

So what do I do? My heart is with nursing but my gut is telling me to give up....

Thoughts? Advice?

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Maybe wait a bit to see what happens with hubby's business and benes. Too much stress will take away the glow of nursing school, and then the whole family will feel the stress. Mom is such a hub of the wheel and with your serenity the whole household will be in peace. If you are stressed and tossing and turning at night sleepless and up studying all hours, no one will have peace! You are employed well. That is quite huge in this economy! Not everything has to be done "today"! Just my 2 cents.

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Bump....

I really need advise guys! Help...

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I am a 38yo with 2 kids also thinking of going into nursing. Here are some things I think you need to think about: With either schooling, nursing or paraleagal, will you have to take out loans? Is one more expensive than the other? What will your debt be coming out of either one?

Try picturing yourself in both careers. What is the job market for each? (I know that is like looking in to a crystal ball...sorry). Would you be fulfilled and have a work/life balance in either career field?

Will you need childcare during your schooling for one or both? How will that be paid for?

Is hubby supportive?

Sorry - that is a lot of questions and not much advice. But I think you need to be realistic too. Once we have families to support, we need to weigh so many more things. I would really do your research, map out your budget with both scenarios, map out your schedules with both scenarios and go from there. Best of luck!

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I will tell you that I am a 33 yr old mother of 3 boys. My husband and I decided after we had our last son that I would finally start pursuing my dream of being a nurse. 2 months later he lost his job. I am totally invested in school and am taking 5 classes in with running the family. He still has not been able to find a job, and I can't afford to quit school. It is extremely stressful and hard and really does take all the fun out of finally pursuing my dreams. I feel like I do nothing. But if I quit I lose all grants,, scholarships, and child care grants. I have no job to go back to. It is not anything anybody can answer for you. You have to weigh every option and do what is best for your family. Best of luck to you in whatever happens.

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Thank you all for taking the time to read and respond...

The upside is I have 2-3 years of pre-reqs to work through first. So I have time to figure it out.

Hubby is actively looking for a new job that will provide more income and benefits.

In the event that he doesn't get that new job, I could always take a CNA class or try to get employment in a hospital while I go to school.

The kids? They are in day care/preschool now. By the time I would be able to start the program, at least one of them will be in public school so we won't have that expense.

And I won't need to take out student loans until starting actual nursing classes - I simply don't have the funds to shell out of pocket for a single 8 credit course...

However, this road is long... although that could be a good thing and I don't need to rush it, it seems so tempting to go with the paralegal program that I am already admitted to. Since I already have an associates degree I am eligible for the paralegal certificate program which is only 30 credits. I could be done with it and (hopefully) in a new job well before I would even apply to the nursing program.

This is such a tough decision and if you read any of my old posts on here you will see it is something I have struggled with for many years.

So, I'm seeing a counselor at my school on Tuesday. Hopefully she can shed some light on why I keep getting in my own way. I'm just full of such self doubt.

PS - Hubby is supportive of whatever I choose, although he has made it clear that he knows my real dream is nursing... always has been...

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Specializes in IMCU.

My bff worked nights, full time, as a nursing assistant during our program. She has a hubby and 2 children. She was the sole provider of insurances etc. Her CNA employer also helped her with tuition. She didn't get A's but she passed. She got her NCLEX 1st time too. I have crazy respect for her.

If you want to do it. Do it. Ask family for help with children. Maybe your hubby has to do more than 50% of the work around the house for 4-5 semesters.

My 2 cents.

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I'm a low-risk person. I'd wait for hubby to have a better job and things to be stable. It's no fun having kids and no medical insurance. I'd be worried every second... Maybe you could wait until kids go to school. Daycare is expensive.

Remember that CCs are cheaper and usually offer online classes. Taking it easy doesn't mean to stop pursuing your dreams. One step at a time ;)

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Specializes in Infusion.

I'm a medium risk person and I too would wait it out. What I wouldn't do is get into debt with a degree in paralegal unless this is a really good paying career with lots of job openings in your area. You really don't want to have to drop out right in them middle due to the financial strain. You do want to be able to completely focus on your classes, especially the ones that will get you into a nursing program. Time will be your friend here, and the kids being school age will be a huge savings for you.

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Are there any other schools that might have a better schedule for you?

I am fortunate that I have two good community colleges within a reasonable distance. The one I am attending for nursing school is 25 miles from home. They only have a full-time day nursing program. The second school has a campus 25 miles from home (opposite direction from school 1) where I took about 1/2 my pre-reqs. School 1 had a campus 3 miles from my home where I could take the rest of my pre-reqs. School 2 has a part-time option for nursing school that meets nights/weekends and online. But for nursing at school 2 I had to drive 40 miles and could be assigned to a clinical location over 60 miles from home. School 1 was the best option for me even though they cover a 4 county area and I may have to drive even further than 60 miles for clinicals, most likely all my clinicals will be local to me within about 10 miles from home. Only one rotation (Psych) will be out of town, for my region there are 2 Psych facilities and both are about 20 miles away.

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Specializes in Nursing student.

I applied for student loans and goverment grants. Luckily I benefit from both. Chances are you qualify for them. Ask your financial advisor.

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Thank you all for replying. I have a lot to think about.

Meanwhile, I'm meeting with someone at my school tomorrow morning to help we work through my anxiety and indecision when it comes to this. I am so afraid of making a decision that I have a hard time sticking with it. I need to somehow decide and not look so far down the road. But I am afrain of making the wrong decision or setting myself up for disappointment or regret.

Wish me luck tomorrow!

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