Need advice on Nursing as 2nd career for husband & wife

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I'm so glad to have found this forum...I've already read tons of info and am addicted! Now, I need your advice for my own unique situation...sorry the post is so long, but I really want everyone's unbiased opinion and you need the whole story to understand :)

My husband and I are in careers (dead-end jobs more like it) that we hate! He's in management (used to be a police officer) and I work in administration and am chained to a desk all day. You might also like to know we have a 4 year old son :) There has been restructuring at hubby's employer and his position is now a dead-end job w/no hope of advancement; also, since earning my BS in Business Mgmt. 10 years ago, I am less than thrilled with the idea of sitting at a desk all day for the next 30+ years (we are both 33).

So, hubby decided to pursue an ADN at the local community college (he's started pre-reqs and he'll finish those at the end of Fall, however, then there is a "wait list" of about 1 year before you can start the NURS clinicals due to lack of space, so he'll take the other required courses in the mean time like A&P's, Micro, etc...as those are not required to apply for the NURS program) He should finish his ADN by Fall 2013. He's scared of the pre-reqs more than anything (Math, Chem) because he has never taken those at a college level (only has about 20 credits behind him)! He's financing his eduaction by utilizing the GI Bill for veterans, so we are lucky his education will be covered by this completely.

Now, I have been laid-off twice in the past 10 years due to the nature of my job (HR) and honestly, since having my son I no longer want a corporate job- to me it's useless. I want to do something that is meaningful and rewarding (and of course offers more opportunities than my currrent career field). I had explored teaching, but I don't think it's for me...and a lot of teachers are always laid off in Northeast Ohio where we live. I have a few friends who are RN's, and some LPN's, and of course they are encouraging me to pursue nursing too. I've been doing my research into schools/programs and even though I have a bachelor's the Accelerated BSN is too expensive at the schools in my area so I am choosing to pursue the ADN like my hubby. Luckily, I only have 1 pre-req to take (Chem) and then I can apply, and once admitted to the ADN program, I'd have to "wait' as well and then I could take the A&P, Micro, etc. jsut like he has to.

Whew...thanks for hanging on this long! :) So, my tentative plan is to leave my job once I am accepted into the NURS program and can start clinicals and NURS courses (the other support courses mentioned above can be taken evening and weekends so I can keep working for now). Since NIETHER of us will be employed, we'll have to pay for our own health insurance (I've already gotten several quotes for family plans from insurers), we'll use the "extra" money from the GI Bill to cover other expenses like childcare (son already goes to a wonderful program)food, gas, etc...BUT we'll need to takle out student loans to cover our mortgage payment for the next 3 years. I have thought out and planned this out and have even completed the FAFSA to make sure we'd get enough student loan money to do this! AM I CRAZY?? :eek:

I know I could wait until hubby's done in 3 years, but now that the IDEA is in my head, I CANNOT get it out! I have no patience for this job anymore since getting this idea a few months ago...also, my son is going to be in school and I feel I'd rather us BOTH get our degrees out of the way before our son is in 3rd grade and beyond and has activities, sports, more homework, etc...

What do you all think? Have you heard of ANY other couple who has done this or attempted it? BOTH people in nursing school? And, the thought of borrowing about 30K in loans to cover expenses is terrifying...BUT, if we are both in careers we enjoy, and are making more money, and have more opportunities than we do now, won't it be worth it in the long run?

Please help...

Thanks!

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Hi and welcome! I am also in Northeast Ohio and just got accepted to start the ADN program in Fall of 2011. Which is perfect timing because I will have all my non-nursing courses done and can just focus on the nursing classes and clinicals. My sister-in-law works full-time and going to school part-time. She was taking intro to A&P and intro to Chem this past semester. Once she take her PAX test (entrance test) and complete atleast 12 credit hours at the college, she will be able to apply to the program. Since there is a 1-2 yr waitlist and she probably will not be able to start the ADN program until Fall 2012 or 2013, she plans on just taking 1 or 2 classes a semester. Is there a way for you to keep your full-time job and go to school until your husband becomes a nurse? Individual health insurance is very expensive. By the way, what school is your husband going to?

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Well, first off, congrats on making a decision to go for a new career and leaving the dead end jobs.

2nd, your husband does not need to fear those classes. I'm in those classes and they are filled with people his age and older. In fact, my mom and my aunt are at the same community college I go to and taking the same classes. My mom is 44 and my aunt is 36. So he can breathe, because he'll do just fine. I find that the community colleges seem to cater more to working people.

I think you need to outweigh the stress of the debt over the stress of the job. Which is causing you more stress? I have maxed out my student loans (stafford only, no private) so that I can go to school full time and not have to work. My husband is in culinary school part time and works full time. His loans are also maxed out so that all of our excess goes to bills and other expenses, although we live on the cheap so we are able to save quite a bit still. So we are in a similar situation. He could probably go to school full time, but he doesn't need to so there is no point in adding on the stress. We also do not have a child.

I have to admit that I enjoy the fact that I am able to completely focus on school, although I don't enjoy the debt. But I can't get a job anyway with conflicting schedules, so that's not an option for me anyway. I do have free time, which I spend volunteering (at hospitals and the American Cancer Society) and I feel that the patient experiences I have through volunteering will help me. Plus, it's emotionally rewarding.

If money is your concern, are you able to work while working on the pre-reqs and non clinical courses and then maybe quit once it's time for clinicals? Maybe you could become a CNA and get some patient care work while in school. That way you are making a little money (and I mean little) but getting some relevant experience.

What you don't want to happen is to be stressed out over the bills while you are both in school. Although I know the stress of hating a job.

Ultimately, you have to do what is best for yourself and your family financially and emotionally. It would be great to be done with your degrees by the time your child starts 3rd grade, but keep in mind, an ADN is not a guaranteed job.

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Thanks for the replies! I appreciate you reading the extra looong post :) We have a lot to consider...

I've been hearing from other nurses on this forum and from some I know personally that new grads are having a hard time finding employment (ADN grads & BSN grads). Also, the LPN job market has been limited to LTC facilities, I've heard. Hmmmm, new factors to consider...

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I know how you feel about working in a job you hate. Believe me, I do. However, I'm not sure it is a smart idea for neither one of you to be working, especially since you have a child to consider. 3 years is a long time to be without a job and the stress from nursing school alone (so I've heard) will be enormous. Forget about adding in all that financial stress on top of it. I know you don't want to wait but it might be smart to let your husband take the course while you support the family and then take your turn when he is done. Or maybe space the time out a bit rather than starting right on top of each other (ie: let him get a year or so into the program and then you start)

I really hate to be a downer. I really do understand where you are coming from. I have been working at this job that I hate for almost 7 years and for the past two years (since deciding I wanted to go back to school for nursing) I have dreaded coming in here even more every day. I get this constant nagging feeling that I just want time to speed up and get on with my career change already. I have a family to think about though so I need to truck through as best as I can so I can make sure I don't screw us.

Also keep in mind that getting a studen loan that will be enough to cover your mortgage and extra expenses might be tough these days. Most of them will only pay for your COA (cost of attendance - which at a community college, will not be much.) less whatever other aid you are getting.

If you really can't wait. Try living on one income while saving the other for a while to see how you can manage. That way you can get a feel for how tough it might be, and all the lifestyle changes you need to make with the added bonus of saving up some cash.

Good luck in whatever choice you make!

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Good for you for deciding to make a change!

Now having said that there is no way that I would take out the much debt. You should be able to take the pre-reqs and work at least some at the same time. People do it all the time. There is no way that I would take that risk. What if you have a hard time finding a job? What if you both do? To risky for me. If you both want to go at the same time then you should go part time and work. That's what I would do.

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Thanks for the replies! I appreciate you reading the extra looong post :) We have a lot to consider...

I've been hearing from other nurses on this forum and from some I know personally that new grads are having a hard time finding employment (ADN grads & BSN grads). Also, the LPN job market has been limited to LTC facilities, I've heard. Hmmmm, new factors to consider...

Don't base your decision on the current economic climate. You have three years before you'll be an RN, and I suspect by that time we will be able to reap the job opportunities of a recovering (or recovered) economy.

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