Please, I need your advice about my life!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hey everyone!! After years of lurking around I've decided to finally make an account on here.

...To ask for advice.

(I'm going to try and explain as best as possible; I apologize in advance if I make any typos or if any sentences are a tad funky.)

My father recently had gotten cancer and while he successfully underwent surgery and is now recovering well, I am having major anxiety issues about school. I'm currently a junior, with three semesters left to finish my English degree (after switching from Bio--that's a story for a different time) and my nursing pre-reqs. My dad was the reason that I got to go to school (he was paying for everything) and now that he's unable to I find myself feeling anxious whether or not my degree in English is worth it and whether or not I can pursue nursing school (and all of the possible outcomes after getting into nursing school) after I complete my degree. my school is about 10k per semester and the nursing school that I am looking at is about 50k after scholarships and grants. (It's Shenandoah Accelerated Nursing program in case you were wondering--I would be getting a BSN there.) I feel like its too late (and my GPA too low) to pursue a traditional nursing school route. I also discovered that I wanted to be a nurse a little late in my college career (which is why I'm scrambling now...) (If that helps with anything...)

Overall if I pursue my plan of finishing my first degree and go into nursing as an accelerated student, I would probably be accrueing 80k in debt. And that scares me. I have no job, since I am a full time student, I have small amount work experience over the summer and I am trying to figure out alternative choices that would allow me to pursue my dream, but also allow me to not be neck deep in student loans.

I have little sleep because I am so lost about my future. I am trying to finish this semester as strong as possible despite everything that's been happening with my dad and I have been trying my best to research as much about loans as possible (and other job choices as well) but the fear of failing and being unable to take care of my dad who has taken care of me for so long scares me so much that I'm barely functioning as a human being. The fact my dad is in a different country for the rest of the year also hurts me a lot.

oops. I didn't mean to put my entire life story in this, but I'm at a complete loss of what I can do.

Please, if anyone can give me some solid advice/options other, I'd really appreciate it.

Do I pursue my english degree and try to get into nursing school?

Should I look at other and probably more cheap options such as CNA, EMT or LPN/LVN at a community college? (I would still probably get debt, but it wouldnt be as much...)

Should I just finish my English degree and become a tutor or whatever, even though that's not my passion?

TL;DR: I am afraid of 80+k in student loans and not getting into the accelerated nursing program that I've set my eyes on.

Also, thanks so much for reading! i am grateful for any advice at all, really.

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I have a bachelor's degree in English. I graduated at age 23, after having received an associates degree also - and changing majors. Anyway, I worked for a bit as a proofreader while I got my MBA. I hated it. So, fast forward to now. I'm 28, just finished my nursing prerequisites over the summer (taking chem now), and applying to a bunch of accelerated BSN programs.

If you're so close to getting your English degree, just finish it. Try to do better in your last few classes to raise your gpa. And maybe retake a few classes. How are you doing in your nursing prerequisites? And once you finish your bachelor's degree, you'll be able to apply to ABSN programs which are designed for students with non-nursing bachelor's.

Keep your head up and work super hard. I never thought I'd be where I am now, and I never thought I'd be going back to school for a completely unrelated degree years after completing my first bachelor's. But, with all of that said, I'm so happy I made this decision. If you think nursing is where you should be, go for it. It's never too late!!!

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Thank you so much! Its nice to hear from someone else who hasn't done a science major.

I only took a few prereqs--none of the science ones yet. I did fairly well, I got mostly A's and B's except for a "C" in stats--which to the advisor at Shenandoah said was fine as long as I did well on the last remaining core requisites. I did try to do chem thrice, withdrew the first time and failed twice--but I feel determined to get an A in it. I haven't really tried hard at all when I was a bio major and I think the shock of my dad becoming so sick made me realize what hard work should be--not what I think it is.

I am really worried that I will not be able to withstand the science courses--I know they'd be a taste of what nursing school is like. I also wish I had shadowed a nurse, I feel kind of inadequate with what I've seen. I do volunteer and I get to weave in and out of areas where nurses are, but I've read so many horror stories about nursing that I'm a little scared that things be bad for me as well.

I should have mentioned this before, but I'm not very active in any english degree related things. All of my focus has been with the Emerging Healthcare Leaders society at my school and volunteering.

Divalicious, do you feel like the amount of debt I am going to accrue if I stick with this would be worth it? I'm also scared of that, as well.

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I got a C+ in stats but still got accepted into a nursing program (and that was without having taken chem yet), so don't lose faith because of that. Also, if you get in the mindset that you're going to do poorly, you probably will. "Mind over matter." You have to tell yourself you're going to do well. You may not do AS well as you'd hope for, but you probably won't fail. I'm not a science person at all, but I got A's in A&P and micro because I stuck with it and I pushed through. I told myself every day that I needed those grades to continue with what I want.

As for the debt... I have 3 degrees, so I have A LOT of debt. Plus now I'm going on to a BSN, then an MSN, and quite possibly a PhD. I will be accruing even more debt over the next 5-6 years. My husband and I keep saying it'll be worth it in the end. We're struggling right now since I'm not working, but we know once I'm out and have a job we can start paying my loans and having a real savings. It'll be worth it in the end.

Most important thing I learned in business school: the bigger the risk, the greater the reward. Think about it that way, and hopefully it'll give more motivation.

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Thank you!

There are moments where I really think about it and how I shouldn't give up before I've tried.

I might be in a bad place now, but you're probably right in that it'll be worth it in the end!

Let me know how everything ends up going for you; I feel encouraged knowing that others who haven't majored in science are able to do just as well in science courses that have a reputation for being brutal.

Thanks again!

And for everyone who has stopped by to read this thread, I encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions as well--share your stories! I honestly would like to hear more from other nursing students and nurses, as well.

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Good luck! Keep me posted on your progress as well. I'd love to hear how everything goes for you in the future.

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I'm going to recommend the opposite and say to put a halt on the English degree. If you have 3 semesters left, at $10K apiece, that's $30K in debt for a degree that you don't even want to use. I think you would be better off transferring into a traditional BSN program, or even into an ADN program and then doing a RN-to-BSN program after. One frame of reference I have seen is that you should not take on more student debt than what you can expect to make in one year after graduating. So unless you think you can walk into an $80K/year job with a BSN degree from the accelerated program you have in mind, I would hesitate to take on that amount of debt.

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First, I am so completely sorry about your father. I cannot imagine the fears, burdens and tears you must be carrying around. The anxiety makes total sense. My heart goes out to you!

Second, have you thought about seeing a professional to talk through what you must be going through emotionally? It really helps to take the stress off.

I wish only the best for you and I hope it is okay to say I will keep you and your father in my prayers. Huge hugs!

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Thank you, Sizzline! The only problem I have is that when I finish my prereq's I'd also finish my English degree if I stay at my college. I considered ADN to BSN program, but it would take me about five years to do that--from the colleges that around my area. My GPA is too low for any of the traditional programs, which is why I couldn't get into a traditional program sooner.

That is very good advice though! Its probable I won't be making as nearly as much money as my debt is.

I might talk to a career counselor at my school for this (I might as well use up the rest of my semester wisely right?) but what do you think? I want to get into nursing sooner rather than later, but not have student debt looming over me for the rest of my life. :(

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Thank you valliloves! I got to talk to my dad a little bit today and he seemed like he was in good spirits. I have considered going to a counselor at my school, but the wait is rather long...I will try it though. Its so tough to know what to do when I'm at these crazy crossroads.

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Are we allowed to bump posts? I really want to hear from other nurses and nursing students on what I should do!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Are we allowed to bump posts? I really want to hear from other nurses and nursing students on what I should do!
My advice will probably go against the grain of other respondents, but if you are struggling with the sciences, I suggest you complete a 1-year practical nursing program and become an LPN. The LPN pathway will minimize the amount of debt you'll accrue.

My friend had a previous non-nursing BS degree with a not-so-stellar GPA of 2.5 in the sciences. She completed a 1-year practical nursing program, worked as an LPN for a few years, completed an LPN-to-ASN transition program that resulted in an RN license, and now earns $95k yearly as a nurse manager.

Many people look down upon the LPN route, but if you do not have the grades, it can be an affordable entry way into the nursing profession.

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