I'm currently a newborn nanny specialist, and have my own business. My love and passion is working with babies! I help parents after they've had a baby, and help with all aspects of baby care: fussiness, swaddling, feeding/sleep issues, etc. I also cook for the families I work for. I absolutely love what I do, but financially it's been tough. I currently make $20/hour, but pay double taxes, since I have my own business - I'm the employer AND employee. Being self-employed is rough!
I've been thinking about going back to school, and of course am looking at becoming a Postpartum Nurse. Being so passionate about babies and helping new moms, it seems like the next step. The problem is, I will be 48 next month!! Not only that, but math and science were never my "thing" in school. I have a marketing degree, so I don't qualify for FAFSA. I would be doing this all on loans.
I have met with a counselor at the local community college, and she suggested I do something else, like maybe Respiratory Therapy. She said I could possibly work with babies in the NICU. She also suggested becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant. I don't see how working in that field would lead me to working with babies, so I'm not so sure of that career, either.
I would love some advice here!! School will begin in September if I choose to go, so I need to make a decision soon. Thanks!! :-)
Specializes in Home Health, Geriatrics, Women's Health, Addiction.
I think if you want a better shot of getting your hands on some babies you should do nursing. I precepted in OB and they loved me and have been trying to get me in there ever since.They received surveys back and my name kept coming up in a good way. The only reason I am not there is because I realized OB was my second love to home health, way better hours, but I know where I could get a job if I need one. Also, maybe you need to research other schools. I attended a school 40 miles away because it was away from the congested one closest to me. I didn't have to "fight" anyone to get in. Best thing I could have did, wonderful school, but the drive was a sacrifice. Don't worry about your age, it's a non-issue. Also, I'm not a whiz at math or science, just had to put a little more effort in than some. Don't talk yourself out of your destiny. If it's meant to be things will fall into place but you have to take a step forward. I wish you the best.
You may want to consider LPN. LPN's are used extensively in PDN home care. You might not always have an infant but its usually all children that I care for. The base pay might not be much better than what your making now but the taxes would be.
Wow, newborn nanny. Some of my patients must have one ready for them when they go home because they seem to have no desire to learn how to take care of their infants while in the hospital.
I'm a L&D nurse. I also have a business background, degree in finance. I worked on Wall Street for many years. I went back to school for my nursing degree when I was 42. Many students in post baccalaureate/second degree programs are older, in their 40's, 50's and even a few in their 60's. I don't know where you live, but I'm in NJ. There are Accelerated BSN programs for people who have bachelors degrees in other fields. You can get through the program fairly quickly. It took me 7 months for pre-recs (5 classes, so a summer semester and a fall semester), and then a year in the accelerated nursing program. Most of the pre-recs are going to be math and science though, to kind of weed through the hundreds of applicants. Buckle down, sister. You got this. In some cases you can get around the pre-recs by taking clep exams to demonstrate competency. Being honest, going back to school after a 20+ year hiatus is no picnic. When I took my pre-recs, I would actually go on the "rate my professor" website, and make sure I had the easiest teacher! Once your head is in the game, it's not that hard. I actually graduated nursing school with a 4.0. Not bragging, just saying that if this old brain can do it, you can too. There are plenty of jobs out there if you go that route, at least here in NJ. I haven't had any difficulty finding work. Aside from nursing, and here you really do need a BSN to hold a hospital job, I would recommend looking into working as a doula, or getting certified as a breast feeding counselor. If you live near a city and you need to build clientele, a good place to start is in communities who traditionally have larger families, such as orthodox Jewish. Lots of those women use doulas for their births, and some of them hire nurses to help out at home for the first few months. Good luck.
I am a former marketing exec. Went back to nursing school at 45. I am an adult nurse practitioner today. I never had any trouble keeping up. I even worked as a travel nurse for a few years. Met an older traveler who was a mother/baby RN. Yes, it can be done. In all seriousness, we cannot be retired for 30 plus years. Unless you have a couple million in the bank you will most likely be working! I just started my PMHNP program this summer. Please contact me if you need support/have questions.
I was a marketing exec too! Worked in Chicago for Nielsen and Bacardi many years ago, before I had kids. Ended my career years ago but once I got divorced, thought about returning for the money (which was a bad idea - never do a job just for the money). Had a few interviews, but just couldn't get a job. Social media had drastically changed the marketing business (at least food marketing/marketing research, which was my field). It all worked out in the end though, because I honestly hated it. It was a job I loved years ago, but wasn't for me once I had kids. I would love to chat with you. I'm trying to figure out if I should go back to Chicago and make decent money as a nanny, or if I go the nursing route - a tough road I'm sure, but hopefully well worth it. Thanks for your comments, they're greatly appreciated!
Have you considered becoming a certified lactation councilor or even an IBCLC? Some hospitals hire CLCs PRN. I think most would want you to have your RN though. You seem so passionate about being hands on with moms/babies..which is wonderful..but I wonder if you know how much time nurses are actually able to spend with patients. You'll be doing assessments, passing meds, calling doctors, reviewing lab results, discharging patients and charting..a lot of charting. Not to say that you won't be doing all the things you enjoy about your current job but you'll also be doing a lot more!
adreamdeferred, MSN, RN, APRN, NP
85 Posts
I think if you want a better shot of getting your hands on some babies you should do nursing. I precepted in OB and they loved me and have been trying to get me in there ever since.They received surveys back and my name kept coming up in a good way. The only reason I am not there is because I realized OB was my second love to home health, way better hours, but I know where I could get a job if I need one. Also, maybe you need to research other schools. I attended a school 40 miles away because it was away from the congested one closest to me. I didn't have to "fight" anyone to get in. Best thing I could have did, wonderful school, but the drive was a sacrifice. Don't worry about your age, it's a non-issue. Also, I'm not a whiz at math or science, just had to put a little more effort in than some. Don't talk yourself out of your destiny. If it's meant to be things will fall into place but you have to take a step forward. I wish you the best.