Leaving federal job for nursing school

[guest62419]

I am currently a health technician at The National Institute of Health. I currently make $26 an hour and am taking pre-req 's for to apply for Nursing School, I plan to apply a year from today. I am a single mom (dad is deceased) to twin girls and my plan is to work overnight once I'm an RN so that I can take the girls to and from school and just to be more involved since they are under 6 years old. I also plan to stop at MSN but will be starting at Community college. I can make anywhere from $26-33 hourly at my current job but would have to stick to the M-F 9-5 schedule, which I hate sometimes. My question is do you think it's worth it to leave my federal job with good pay (no degree, just experience and certifications) for Nursing school? I'm open to all POV. Please help a gal out and sorry for the ramble lol

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

I have a young child too. (I can’t imagine raising very young twins as a widow; I am so sorry.) One thing I’ve noticed is that when kids are little, we tend to have an artificial sense of urgency and even desperation about things. “I need to start school before they’re XYZ age.” But when you look at it from the future, in a few years, your girls will be so, so much more independent. Just my own $0.02, I think you should keep your very dependable, pretty well-paid, predictable boring job and focus on that and your family for a few years. When your girls are older and can take more responsibility for themselves, you can always consider changing careers. (I was older when I went to nursing school and it was absolutely fine). You are just going to be so exhausted, overwhelmed, and BUSY if you take on a career change right now. Save that step for when you can spare the energy.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

Working nights can pay you another 8 to 10 dollars an hour at some places so you could make 40 instead of 32. The issue is working the shifts/nights and not having someone to help out with the girls. You could eventually get to the point of working 8 hour shifts. I know of some places that make exceptions, although staff may not be happy you get to do this, it does happen. I don't know if it would be worth it, need more info.

[Imustbedreaming]

I vote no, especially if you do not have childcare support. Nursing school is tough enough but nursing right now is too tough and frustrating. Im a single parent with little support and the energy it takes for 12 hr shifts to be paid the same pay will break your heart (BSN and MSN). Daycares on the most part are not set up to open or close during 12 hr shifts and holidays. The exhaustion after a 12hr shift is REAL. Sick days for kids and yourself are not an easy option. Private care is expensive. The mental and physical toll of these stressors and nursing is not worth it. So many students don't know what they are signing up for. The golden handcuffs of student loans is awful and will take your monthly income that you have hoped to gain. I wish I would have asked this question before nursing school like you have.

[birdy95]

I was a single mom for a long time and I am so grateful I had a M-F 8 to 5 job that allowed me to drop my daughter off at school and then rush to the after school care after work to get her. I always wanted to return to nursing school and so am doing prerequisites and hoping to apply next year so that I will start nursing school when she starts high school and will be more independent. I think it is worth waiting.

[Oldmahubbard]

No way. You are already doing fairly well for yourself. From what I can tell, you have no great call to nursing.

Nursing won't get you much of a paycheck bump. In fact, after a student loan and the cost of family healthcare in non government jobs, you probably will be making quite a bit less. Forced to work weekends and holidays until you can get enough experience to be eligible for a M-F job, of all ironies.

I don't know what your experience is with working nights, but most people never truly adapt to it.

[TriciaJ, RN]

1 hour ago, Oldmahubbard said:

I don't know what your experience is with working nights, but most people never truly adapt to it.

And you can't overestimate the luxury of being in your bed when it's dark out.

[Oldmahubbard]

3 minutes ago, TriciaJ said:

And you can't overestimate the luxury of being in your bed when it's dark out.

My husband, not a nurse, was a completely different person when he stopped working nights.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

32 minutes ago, Oldmahubbard said:

My husband, not a nurse, was a completely different person when he stopped working nights.

For me it's the opposite. I am happier on nights and don't plan to come off of it. I can do days now but don't want to. I like sleeping in, in the morning. I am a night owl naturally. I know it's not good to do nights but so much goes on during the day. It's not for me right now. I can actually sit down on nights plus do other stuff.

[Oldmahubbard]

My husband would get some sleep during the day for 2 or 3 days, and then very little sleep, and soon he would start to get paranoid.

This went on for many years, before I even knew him.

I do not believe that 98% of people will thrive on the 11-7 shift.

[Monkey Nurse, ASN, RN]

I for one hate the 5 days a week and feel I'm more away from my family than when I worked 3 -12's. I am a federally employed nurse and have worked hospital and clinic. (VA and Indian Health Service are options for those that don't know).
Your pay is quite outstanding for not having a college degree. 6 years ago the starting pay for nurses in Missouri state was 20-21$/hr. I think I entered federal service at 47k a year which is less than you are making now. I do much better than that now after 5 years in a federal facility. I can make slightly more moving to private sector.

If you really want to be a nurse- go for it, but realize the sacrifices are many including some good debt. Fed nurse jobs have some good tuition reimbursement plans if you want to re-enter federal service.

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

Also think of insurance benefits; I went from paying $1400 a month for a crappy insurance policy in the nursing arena, to $280 a month for a top tier insurance plan with the government.

[Rnhopeful23]

I am always an advocate for people advancing their education and careers. the fact that you plan on applying in a year’s time gives you a lot of time to weigh your options. right now, it sounds like you have a good thing going with work and your living situation. my advice would be to really think about what you want career wise, if you can see yourself being a health technician for the remainder of your life and the wear and tear that comes along with it then stay as you are but if you want the opportunity to make more money as well as work in a variety of settings then I’d say consider continuing on to become an RN that way you will have the option to move away from bedside while still making good money. yes it will be scary to leave the security of a federal job and it will be hard to juggle school, work, and kids but in the long run it will be worth it see it as an opportunity to show your daughters how strong their mother is. hope this helps good luck in whatever you decide.