Need advice on CNA job for middle aged woman while in the nursing school, good idea?

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I am 43 years old and decided to go to a nusing school for a BSN degree. This will be my second career. I have a BA (I was pre-med once so I had all prerequisties sciences courses and math for the med-school) and a MS. However life took me a wrong turn and I was making so little money to survive and even further abused by my manager. She screams, yells at me, etc. I quick my job and got really sick for a while. After 2 months of rest while enjoying and worring about my future, my father got really sick and I had to take him in and out of ER and hospitals.

Now I am certain that I want to become a nurse. First and far most there is a lot of job opportunities and get paid well. I was so schocked that how much nurses make. I will be very happy if I could make that kind of money. And I would love to move around, running around, and working phsically tiring, a good tiring work and can have a deep and good sleep. I was sitting in front of computer all day too long in the past for my office work job.

Here is my scary part coming. How am I going to pay for a living and schooling. I am thinking to become a CNA before Fall starts and working as a CNA while I am in the school. I have heard horrible things and saw what they do in the hospital as a CNA but that is the only job I think will help my nursing career. More importantly I can work weekends or evenings. What do you think?

I would love to hear how did you or will you pay for a living and schooling?

Thank you for all your input in advance!

peace07

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Specializes in Hospice, Nursing Education, Primary Care.

I am older than you are and I worked as a CNA while in LPN school. It was an invaluable experience for me. I loved the patient contact. I suggest you do it. Keep an eye on your goal of nursing and remember that when you have a day as a CNA that is frustrating for whatever reason. It is hard work and you learn a lot.

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TRY TO GET A JOB IN THE SAME PLACE YOU DO YOUR CLINICALS. tHIS WILL MAKE NURSING SO MUCH EASIER

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Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.
I am 43 years old and decided to go to a nusing school for a BSN degree. This will be my second career. I have a BA (I was pre-med once so I had all prerequisties sciences courses and math for the med-school) and a MS. However life took me a wrong turn and I was making so little money to survive and even further abused by my manager. She screams, yells at me, etc. I quick my job and got really sick for a while. After 2 months of rest while enjoying and worring about my future, my father got really sick and I had to take him in and out of ER and hospitals.

Now I am certain that I want to become a nurse. First and far most there is a lot of job opportunities and get paid well. I was so schocked that how much nurses make. I will be very happy if I could make that kind of money. And I would love to move around, running around, and working phsically tiring, a good tiring work and can have a deep and good sleep. I was sitting in front of computer all day too long in the past for my office work job.

Here is my scary part coming. How am I going to pay for a living and schooling. I am thinking to become a CNA before Fall starts and working as a CNA while I am in the school. I have heard horrible things and saw what they do in the hospital as a CNA but that is the only job I think will help my nursing career. More importantly I can work weekends or evenings. What do you think?

I would love to hear how did you or will you pay for a living and schooling?

Thank you for all your input in advance!

peace07

First and foremost, I was offended by your post because you make it sound as though the following are true:

1 - You want to be a nurse because of the money

2 - You want to be a nurse but you don't want to do CNA duties when you become one

3 - Nursing is just a quick fix for you after all you've done (you've thought about it 2 whole months?)

Here are the facts about nursing:

Yes, it is very hard work, and yes we make pretty good money. But, for the most part, we earn every penny!

Yes, we do wonderful rewarding things like pass meds, save lives, etc., but we also do some not-so-wonderful things like get puked on, pooped on, screamed at, bitten, and have to clean up all of the above (just like a CNA). It frustrates me no end to hear people say that they want to become a nurse so they don't have to change diapers anymore!:trout: We do that and much more (how many of you out there work without CNA's or short on a daily basis?).

Finally, nursing is a calling, not just a job, for many (probably most). If it isn't a calling, you're more likely to get frustrated, bored, or just not like it and leave for something else. For those of use who are called, we hang in there and do what we can with what we have and work to make it better for the next generation... because the next generation is more sporifice than this generation. I'm sure that the nursing shortage in 20-30 years will be greater, and nurses will be doing even more with less.

I don't mean to be harsh, but I do think you need to take a good long look at why you want to be a nurse and all that it takes to accomplish that. There are plenty of jobs in this world that are physically tiring so you can sleep and will pay well, too. If you're not serious about nursing, I'd look into something else.

:o

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I, also, am an older, second-career RN. (I'm 48.) I have a master's in another field but entered nursing at this late stage for a change. And I love it! As for working, have you considered finding a job at a hospital that will pay for tuition while you work? That might be worth looking into. I worked my last semester of nursing school for the experience. My job title was "student nurse associate", which brought with it more responsibilities because they knew I was a nursing student. Good luck and congrats on deciding to become a nurse. If you would like to PM me for more age-related, second-career conversation, I'd be happy to chat. :)

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

Peace07... I did! I was 45 when I started. I had sold my Insurance Agency. One of my friends is an adminstrator for a LTC. I was at loose ends not sleeping at night, she told me she had a CNA job avaiable that she was having trouble filling on the night shift with Benefits... Insurance. Privet insurance is SO expensive. well I started there and Loved it. Day Shift was way to hard I would be to tired to do any thing so I stayed on the night shift. I decided that it was some thing that suited me. I did my LPN in 3 semesters and then did my RN (Grad. in May 07). I work in the same facility as I started in as an RN today.

Hey I did it for a two fold reason. I care about people and I needed a job that I could support my family after the money I got from selling my business. I should have said 3 fold... there are so many oppertunities available to nurses today that for what ever reason a person pursues this Carreer there is room for them...

Please email me or PM me I to would love to visit with you!!!

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.
First and foremost, I was offended by your post because you make it sound as though the following are true:

1 - You want to be a nurse because of the money

2 - You want to be a nurse but you don't want to do CNA duties when you become one

3 - Nursing is just a quick fix for you after all you've done (you've thought about it 2 whole months?)

Here are the facts about nursing:

Yes, it is very hard work, and yes we make pretty good money. But, for the most part, we earn every penny!

Yes, we do wonderful rewarding things like pass meds, save lives, etc., but we also do some not-so-wonderful things like get puked on, pooped on, screamed at, bitten, and have to clean up all of the above (just like a CNA). It frustrates me no end to hear people say that they want to become a nurse so they don't have to change diapers anymore!:trout: We do that and much more (how many of you out there work without CNA's or short on a daily basis?).

Finally, nursing is a calling, not just a job, for many (probably most). If it isn't a calling, you're more likely to get frustrated, bored, or just not like it and leave for something else. For those of use who are called, we hang in there and do what we can with what we have and work to make it better for the next generation... because the next generation is more sporifice than this generation. I'm sure that the nursing shortage in 20-30 years will be greater, and nurses will be doing even more with less.

I don't mean to be harsh, but I do think you need to take a good long look at why you want to be a nurse and all that it takes to accomplish that. There are plenty of jobs in this world that are physically tiring so you can sleep and will pay well, too. If you're not serious about nursing, I'd look into something else.

:o

I have to respectfully disagree with you here. I too picked Nursing because of the pay and good job out look, NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

I wasn't offended, but I do agree that you're less likely to burn out if you see nursing as a calling rather than just a job.

I will be subsisting on student loans. I will have both tuition and living expenses covered by subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans and PLUS loans. As an undergraduate student I don't think you'll qualify for PLUS loans, but Stafford loans should be no problem (up to $20,500 per academic years) and there are probably other loans you would qualify for. Talking to a financial aid official would be very helpful, as they could tell you what you qualify for as well as how to pay it back.

I didn't even mention grants and scholarships, or how many employers will pay for RN, BSN, and sometimes MSN education. And the government has programs to reduce loans for service.

Our financial aid officer said that no student should be held back from their education because of economics.

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I chose not to be a CNA because I entered nursing school at age 50, and I was concerned about physically injuring myself (lifting, etc) before even getting to finish nursing school.

However, I was at a disadvantage because I didn't have the patient experience that my classmates who were CNAs did.

It did not make any difference at all in my ability to get a job.

Some students in my program were so busy with their CNA jobs they kind of forgot to study, and flunked out.

So, it's 6 of one, half dozen of another...

Oldiebutgoodie

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First and foremost, I was offended by your post because you make it sound as though the following are true:

1 - You want to be a nurse because of the money

2 - You want to be a nurse but you don't want to do CNA duties when you become one

3 - Nursing is just a quick fix for you after all you've done (you've thought about it 2 whole months?)

Here are the facts about nursing:

Finally, nursing is a calling, not just a job, for many (probably most). If it isn't a calling, you're more likely to get frustrated, bored, or just not like it and leave for something else. For those of use who are called, we hang in there and do what we can with what we have and work to make it better for the next generation... because the next generation is more sporifice than this generation. I'm sure that the nursing shortage in 20-30 years will be greater, and nurses will be doing even more with less.

I don't mean to be harsh, but I do think you need to take a good long look at why you want to be a nurse and all that it takes to accomplish that. There are plenty of jobs in this world that are physically tiring so you can sleep and will pay well, too. If you're not serious about nursing, I'd look into something else.

:o

Yikes! Since when does there have to be rules for considering nursing as a career? Do I have to think about it X number of months? Do I have to feel like Mother Theresa?

I entered nursing after a 25 year in computer science because it seemed interesting, but also because of the steady jobs and availability of employment. I did not feel a calling per se, but after 2 years, I enjoy it more all the time, and I am not frustrated or bitter.

Another point: If we as nurses see it as a calling, and dont' look at the economics, we will continue to be overworked, understaffed, and underpaid. We also have to see nursing as a viable career with decent pay and hours.

Just my $.02 worth.

Oldiebutgoodie

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WOW! I just stumbled onto this site, wondering if anyone else was as crazy as I am...I'm quitting after 20 years as a Software Engineer to take a $20 hr cut in pay as a CNA. My house goes up for sale tomorrow, and as soon as my daughter heads off to college next month as a freshman(she thinks I've lost my mind), I'm off to a new city! I'll be taking my pre-reqs, waiting for a spot to open up in the community college nursing program I've applied to. Thanks for all the info, I feel SO MUCH BETTER knowing I'm not the only one my age looking for a more meaningful life. I'm 52!!! Thanks for the tip about clinicals, that makes a lot of sense!

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Hi there,

Thank you for your reply and asking me to PM you. I would love to have a friend to chat too. What was your master's was in?

Thank you for your advice about to find out hospitals who would pay for my education. I suppose when I get into the nursing school then I should look for it? Don't know and have not thought about it... I will start to think about it from now though...

peace07

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