Nursing school, CNA, about to divorce?

shoegalRN, RN · Nov 12, 2007

I am sorry to hear you are getting a divorce.

As far as working as a CNA and taking care of your son, anything is possible. You can get your CNA and then get some experience under your belt. You may want to pull some double shifts or work overtime to be able to have enough money to take care of yourself and your son as well as put some away. After a few months or so, you may want to go to an agency and apply. The rate per hour will be alot more, only drawback is there probably won't be any benefits.

Good luck to you!

Conrad283, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2007

First off, I'm sorry to hear about your impending divorce.

Second, you can do it. If you really want it, you can do it. Many many people get by while they go to school. All you have to do is have it worked out before hand. If you have a plan you can succeed.

Good luck to you.

sara5113 · Nov 12, 2007

I am so sorry about your divorce..

I am working as a cna now and will start my nursing program in spring 2008. Since I am working in the hospital, my hospital will support 50% of my tuition (as long as I work 20 hours a week)...

So, when you get cna certificate, it is better to work for a big hospital..they provide good insurance, too..

Lots of Nursing Assistants on my floor are single, divorced, widowed...

I guess that means CNA makes enough money to live.. alone..

However no one has baby to take care of. I think that is the big problem you have to solve.. since you are alone..

I hope everything is ok.. good luck..

HJS27 · Nov 12, 2007

Financial aid. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

MB37 · Nov 12, 2007

Make sure you hire a decent lawyer, and get as much child support as humanly possible if you believe you will have custody. Is the soon-to-be ex going to remain in the same city as you? Is he planning on being an active parent? Especially if your family is elsewhere, you will probably need someone to help out with childcare if you will need to work and attend school. How amicable/acrimonious is the divorce? Can you two still talk about things, and put your child's needs first?

Quine · Nov 12, 2007

Make sure you hire a decent lawyer, and get as much child support as humanly possible if you believe you will have custody. Is the soon-to-be ex going to remain in the same city as you? Is he planning on being an active parent? Especially if your family is elsewhere, you will probably need someone to help out with childcare if you will need to work and attend school. How amicable/acrimonious is the divorce? Can you two still talk about things, and put your child's needs first?

It's funny that you would advise someone to get as much child support as humanly possible and then almost in the same breath talk about being amicable. You know, child support is supposed to support children, not ex-wives who need an easy way to get through school.

To the OP: You're not going to work full time through nursing school. If you work as a CNA, you may get a scholarship benefit from your employer. If they have one, you may have to work for a year or so before you can use it, depending. One local hospital where I live has a good scholarship that you can use PRIOR to employment. These scholarships mostly (probably always) have a requirement to work for the organization for a period of time related to the amount of money given. Most of your support will come from loans, financial aid, and your child support (if you get custody). In my state (Oregon), there is a program that repays student loans for nurses who work in rural areas for a period of time. Other scholarships are available.

You didn't say anything about your citizenship status. I'm assuming that you're a US citizen.

djameslpn365 · Sep 30, 2008

I know this reply is to late,but yes you can. I do it and I have 3 girls. You just have to learn to budget. I am getting better at it every day it is a learning process. :yeah: