a new career, a new house, a new baby...

[bob-cat]

i think this is my first post, and i wanted to tell my scenario and hope for some guidance. i've been a second-career icu nurse for almost 3 years, and am mentally ready to go back for anesthesia. (i just took my GREs today). i've wanted to do it since before i was an RN.

there is a great variety of schools in the area to choose from, and i'm pretty much going through them all to see the big picture.... cost, duration, start date...

of course, life has a hard time stopping for school...

the baby:

i'm married, and my wife is anxious but fully supportive of me going back. she's really just ready for me to stop going back to school. we were together through my accelerated (1-year) BSN program, so she really does know what she's in for. but the biological clock doesn't stop for academia - she's turning 30 in a few months and... well she's anxious.

the house, and money woes:

we've been in this rental house but need to find a new place to live, since we were informed by our landlady that this land would be better suited as a parking lot. we hope to buy a house, and have a very little bit to put towards that. of course where we buy would be more easily decided if i knew where i was going to school.

my wife makes less than i do, and the income is not very predictable, but she makes enough for me to feel comfortable stating that i will carry my load with student loans, and she'll cover her half as well as home tasks. i may end up covering her with a student health insurance plan too... we both have decent credit & no credit card debt.

i'm worried about what my loan options will be if i apply for private student loans soon after getting a mortgage. any financial advisers out there? should the house be in her name so the student loans are on me?

as if that wasn't enough... i'm in need of a new car since mine is totaled from rust (probably flooded from the previous owner.)

my resolve :

i'm continuing to think, at best, i'd be in school in '08 if i apply soon. we'll find a house right away. and maybe deliver a baby the day after i pass my boards.

any feedback, sympathy, reality checks, etc. are appreciated...

-b

[badgernurse]

Well, first of all, you are not alone. Everyone can come up with some reason as to why CRNA school would be too difficult given the circumstances. For years I put it off for many reasons which were valid but now I wish I would have just jumped in despite the hurdles. That is what you have to do. If you have the support, go for it and don't look back. I would suggest not buying a house, not because of the loan issue but because you want to open yourself up to the possibility of having to move. This will give you more options when applying given it is so competitive to just apply to the school near your home. Personally I wouldn't worry about loans until you get in. You will have a lot of options for the financial part.

I guess I would also be concerned about your wife and the whole supportive spouse issue. As hard as your BSN may have been, she will essentially be a single parent through CRNA school. Does she want to do that with 2 little ones? It will put a huge strain on her and possibly your relationship. It's really that demanding. You say she's ready for you to be done with school, does she want to wait 3 years? Have you thought about the fact that you may have to apply for a couple of years? It's a huge decision. Good luck!

[jackson74]

You shouldn't have any problem going to anesthesia school given the information you provided. But, you have to be willing to make sacrifices. I have a wife who is a stay at home mom, 2 children, and live in the south. We own a home but decided to rent it out while I'm in school to save on the mortgage. We paid cash for a nice little mobile home that we will live in until I finish school. My car is a paid off 2001 toyota economy car, so no car payment. As far as a baby, in my experience, they are not very expensive as long as you don't buy designer furniture, clothes, stroller, etc. Walmart will become your best friend. You will not have any problem obtaining private loans as long as you borrow before you quit work and maintain your current good credit rating. I start school in Aug. and have already obtained all of the loans I will need to make it through the entire 27 months.

The number 1 reason that many of the ICU nurses I work with cannot go to anesthesia school is because they are unwilling to make the lifestyle sacrifices required to make it happen. Good luck!