I'm planning on returning to school this fall to complete my prereqs and once I'm done and actually accepted into a nursing program, I'm planning on taking a leave of absence from work for 2 years. I make good money in the job that I am in and I work for a government agency. However, I really desire to be a nurse and in order to do so, I must leave my job. I am married and have a baby and a teenager.
My question is...for anyone that has either quit or left there high paying job for nursing school, how did you do it? Was it difficult to survive? How did you prepare and once you finished nursing school, were you able to find a new job?
I would appreciated everyone's advice or comments.
I am leaving my job in August to begin school full time. I have been the sole breadwinner in our household for 7 years. This is a tough decision, but I will never be asking "what if". We will be scaling back, I sold my nice truck, my race car, trailer, etc. I am driving my parents 17 year old beater. My wife is going back to teaching full time....but in a private school, so not a lot of $. We saved and kept ourselves out of debt. We'll be fine, and you will be too! It will stink, and it'll be tough. Life is full of hard decisions. If you've done your homework, and are willing to work hard, anything is possible. Keep your head up and keeping pushing onward!
I am right there...about to take the plunge. I have had a good job with the phone company for the last 16 years. I am 35 with 2 children. I just got accepted into a 1+1 LPN to RN program. I will have to quit soon to go FT nursing student. I sometimes wonder "what the hell are you thinking", but all the years I have worked for the company, I knew it was never the place that I intended to be for the rest of my life. It would be so easy to stay here until a ripe old age of retirement. But the truth is, there is no gurantee in anything. My husband works for the same company so it makes me a little nervous having all employment wrapped up with one employer. I have always wanted to be in healthcare, now I have that opportunity. I did take all of my pre-req's at night while working full time. Some saving prep work I did included, stopping contributions to my companies 401k, which was 11% of my check every 2 weeks. I then redirected that money to their credit union savings instead. Also, once my car was paid for which was financed through them, that money was directed into the same savings account. Now, I should have enough money to get me through the nursing program with a little extra on the side. I plan on watching every dime and it will be a struggle, but I know it can be done and I do have faith that the nursing jobs will pick back up again. I know I am scared about taking the plunge, but when there is a will and it is HIS will..there is also HIS way of getting you through it! Good luck to you!
Given the current market for nurses, if you have a high paying job, I might seriously think about going into nursing.
Like SERIOUSLY think about it.
How much exposure have you had to nursing?
I second this post! All the economic prognosticators really have no idea WHEN or even IF, the economy will turn around. It is possible, though a depressing thought, that we will be in this economic malaise for years to come!
I got laid off a high paying tech job which pushed me into a career change. Leaving a good job to go to nursing school with no guarantee of a job is a pretty risky proposition!! Now, if you're independently wealthy with a trust fund, that's another matter!!
I'm planning on returning to school this fall to complete my prereqs and once I'm done and actually accepted into a nursing program, I'm planning on taking a leave of absence from work for 2 years. I make good money in the job that I am in and I work for a government agency. However, I really desire to be a nurse and in order to do so, I must leave my job. I am married and have a baby and a teenager.
My question is...for anyone that has either quit or left there high paying job for nursing school, how did you do it? Was it difficult to survive? How did you prepare and once you finished nursing school, were you able to find a new job?
I would appreciated everyone's advice or comments.
Thanks!
You have two kids to take care of and a high paying job to support them. Why would you mess that up to go to nursing school? If I had a newborn and a teenager to take care of, I would wait until the market gets better. Until then, your obligation is to take care of your kids, and going to nursing school may not be the best option, imo.
RNCEN
234 Posts
I am leaving my job in August to begin school full time. I have been the sole breadwinner in our household for 7 years. This is a tough decision, but I will never be asking "what if". We will be scaling back, I sold my nice truck, my race car, trailer, etc. I am driving my parents 17 year old beater. My wife is going back to teaching full time....but in a private school, so not a lot of $. We saved and kept ourselves out of debt. We'll be fine, and you will be too! It will stink, and it'll be tough. Life is full of hard decisions. If you've done your homework, and are willing to work hard, anything is possible. Keep your head up and keeping pushing onward!