Nursing @ 40

allnurses Guide · Feb 28, 2017

Hi - I waited until my youngest was in 1st grade so I wasn't away from home while the kids were still little. I had 3 children at that time. I also had my mother living here helping out and I was married too. Still am.

I didn't work as I was a stay-at-home mom.

It was hard work as the college was 70 miles from here and I rode the bus everyday. I got home by 5:00 p.m. so the kids were only without me for a couple of hours a day.

I don't think I could have done it if I'd had to work and be the breadwinner. Or not have my mom here to be with the kids.

I graduated at age 40.

But I'm sure other people have their own stories.

Sour Lemon · Feb 28, 2017

I have always wanted to be a RN. Here I am a single parent at 39 with two small children crazy enough to want to pursue an ADN and eventually BSN. For those of you have been or currently in this situation how did you juggle life and school? By the way, I work full time to keep my household afloat... Any support groups in the Inland Empire area of So CA?

What are you doing right now for work?

LeRose78 · Feb 28, 2017

I work for Costco currently. I have been there long enough to have a set schedule with weekends off. My kids are in school all day then daycare for 2 hours after that.

Libby1987 · Feb 28, 2017

Though I've been a single mom, I can't advise how the juggle both. I will tell you though that I just sat with one of our SLPs who explained the huge shortage of SLPs, our neighboring county can't find one for their school district and she and her partner are stretched thin as the only two in our county. Our local hospitals can't staff them either.

I've never met an over worked SLP. You can work out patient, in patient, in the schools..Very family friendly. I know our SLPs are happy and love their work.

My daughter is pursing SLP down in your area, it hasn't been rigorous so far. She also works in out patient pediatrics and the SLPs have been very encouraging while visibly enjoying their work.

A masters in SLP doesn't take that much longer than a BSN, but at the end you have a much less stressful taxing job that you can work late into life you won't have to work weekends, nights or holidays. With nursing, you're going to be away from yiur kids for both school and work.

I feel like a cheap advertisement but I think it's worth considering.

allnurses Guide · Feb 28, 2017

Libby . . . what is an "SLP"? :blink:

Libby1987 · Feb 28, 2017

Libby . . . what is an "SLP"?

Speech language pathologist/speech therapy

allnurses Guide · Mar 1, 2017

Speech language pathologist/speech therapy

I should know that - I was a school nurse for 5 years. :blink:

Thanks!