My dilemma - prereqs and time

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I am in my late 40s, and, after 20+ years in IT, want to change careers.

My problem is that I am working full-time, and realistically can only take 1 pre-req at a time. I have a Master's degree (Publica Dmin) so I feel fairly confident I can get into am ecellerated second degree program, but unless i can quit work and go to school full-time, I'll be 50 by the time I get out of school.

I need to figure out how to fund the completion of my pre-reqs so I don't have to work full-time.

Any ideas? Should I just rack up the debt for a year? Are there any loan programs for people not yet in a degree program? Scholarships? My problem is not so much tuition, but living expenses.

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I work at a LTC and they have a scholarship and I work on the weekends that gives the largest pay rate.

Good luck

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"I work at a LTC and they have a scholarship and I work on the weekends that gives the largest pay rate."

I just don't know if I have the stamina to work, go to school full-time, AND have a life!

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See if they have on-line classes you can take. Also, you would be surprised how many of your classes from your other degree will apply to nursing school. I am going the community college route. They are very inexpensive.

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Specializes in Maternity, quality.

Well, seems you have a couple options. Have you taken any pre-reqs yet? How many do you have to take? I found that it wasn't nearly as difficult to balance school and full-time work as I expected. I would study on my lunch breaks (of course this could be complicated if you don't want your coworkers to know that you're planning to switch careers) and on my 2+ hour commute. For things like A&P that require memorization I would make flashcards and pop them in my purse, could pull them out when I had a few spare minutes (waiting in line at the grocery store or whatever).

Alternatively, are you paid salary or hourly? If hourly is it possible to pick up overtime and sock away the extra cash in a savings or money market account to help w/ living expenses later on? Or could you do some freelance work on the side for a while?

Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
I just don't know if I have the stamina to work, go to school full-time, AND have a life!

Hmmmmmmmmm.....I just turned 50 in December after spending the past 2 years taking prereqs and working full-time....the last semester I have basically been on hold waiting for my name to come up on the list (finally) for the Fall!!

Wow, if you're thinking you're going to be too old, then I must be going to be ancient when I get out!! I understand the feeling of time passing and being in a hurry, but realistically, if you need to do the prereqs part-time, it beats going further in to debt (before the added cost of an actual RN program gets factored in) and will help prepare you for NS. What I did was take the classes I absolutly needed to apply, then added the other filler -- micro, A & P II while I waited. By the way, I already have a BS in MIS, so that saves a TON of grief while I'm in school in not having to take English, math, psych, etc.

I'm a big believer that's there a plan for us all, and sometimes you just have to go the way the path seems to be pointing...and not fight the undertow....

That being said, I understand you may not have much of a "life" even when you're "just" in nursing school....lolol.....

Good luck with whatever route you choose to take! :cheers:

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