Major career move...need advice...

[bennett_480]

At 18 I graduated, moved out, and got married all within 3 months. Now 3 years later I'm a fulltime wife and mother of a 2 year old wanting to go back to school. I am working in an opthalmologist office right now but I'm scheduled to take my NET next Friday the 14th. If I'm accepted, I'll start full time Practical Nursing classes at a local Technology Center. Any advice. I can't go to a college, don't have the time or money right now. But I'm also afraid if I don't push myself and go now, I won't ever go back school. Is this a good way to start or should I start somewhere else? I also thought about maybe going to Med Vance Institutue in Cookeville, TN. Not far from Nashville. All thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated!

[KrisRNwannabe]

believe me you are not the first one on this board to let life redirect your dreams. i graduated high school went to the University of Michigan as a nursing major. But then i noticed that all of my friends were having fun as a group in their classes and i was left out. so out of the nursing program i went. eventually, i graduated with a degree in Hydrogeology (don't ask, basically envrionmental work) I went to work and sat at a desk all day and typed reports and basically got companies out of cleaning up their messes. anyhoo, round about the age of 25 i decided that i couldn't do this anymore. I wanted kids but i worked m-f 7-6 or so (most nights work came home with me) and i thought how am i going to afford to have a kid in day care that long? my husband and i both had long commutes. so it kept coming to my head "if i would have stayed in nursing i wouldn't have this problem and i would actually be doing something rather than pushing paper" then it was like everytime i looked at the paper there were tons of ads for nurses. so i started looking for programs but they just didn't seem like i could still work. which was a big deal cuz we had a house and cars and we were attached to my income. well then i looked at an LPN program i figured i could take private loans to replace my income for 1 year so i didn't have to work so that is what i did. Now i am half way through the LPN program. i have no desire to be an LPN but it is something i have to do. when i am done i can go into the RN program for the 2nd half take 2 semesters and then have my RN but i can work as a LPN while i a doing it. LPNs are being totally phased out in area but for a couple of semesters i can handle it.

What i am trying to say is that you do a program that compliments your life. If you can't afford to do the RN program than don't. Do they LPN program, get a job and let your employer pay to get your RN. Please take time to research financial aid. I got a private loan cuz you can get up to 30,000 grand a year. some of the private loans base it on your tution and some don't. sometimes hopitals also have scholarships . where there is a will there is definetly a way. We are a great support system here. search around i bet there are lots of threads with similar stories. good luck

kris

[Limik]

Hi bennett . I had similiar circumstances 12 years ago. I went to LPN school with two kids under 5. It was tough,money was so tight, but I knew if I didn't do it then, I never would. Do what you feel will make your life better in the long run. If you really want it, you can make it happen. Good luck whichever way you choose to go and keep us posted.