This blog is truly a God-send, as I need to ask for help in regards to what is my best route to a nursing career, among many other obsticles. First a little background; I've recently been laid off from my job, through no fault of my own (I've worked in Pharma Advertising for 5 years now, and this is the THIRD time I've been laid off due to lack of work). I know I am not alone in this world, with lay-offs being so terribly common for all realms of work. Through working in my former field, I got to work on projects that relied on nurses for an advisory board, which was so interesting to me, as well as having a mom who is an RN BSN. I had been wanting to go back to school for about 4 years now for nursing, and figure this is the perfect opportunity. I'm 30 years old, focused with no distractions (no children, not married and thank God no mortgage to worry about) and know that I would be able to handle the course work. The brick walls I've hit so far are as follows: I've heard that you can collect unemployment while attending an approved institution, as long as it's an approved 'in demand' field, which of course, nursing is at the top of the list. I've done the research, and found all the proper terminology to use for my visit to unemployment(ie. ATB, tuition waiver, NJ's hot job list) and went to the One-Stop career center. I printed out all the info, filled out my paperwork and waited to speak to a counselor. When I finally got called in, the counselor was down-right rude and told me that ' You must be crazy thinking that the state would pay for you to go back to school. You have a bachelors degree; you can find another job'. I was crying. I continued by telling him that I have the research for the in-demand careers in NJ, RN is on the list and he looked at the paperwork and acted as if he'd never seen or heard what I was talking about. He proceeded to tell me that the only way I would be able to collect my unemployment benefits and go to a school for nursing would be to enroll in a vo-tech program, and become an LPN. To me, this is 10 steps backwards. If I have a bachelors, my best move (and this is also advised by my mother who is an RN BSN and her professors at Monmouth U) would be to take my pre-reqs at a county college and then apply to a fast-track program. I'm so scared that I'm going to lose my benefits while trying to complete my pre-reqs. Has anyone collected while attending school full-time? Does anyone have a contact person that I could speak to at NJ unemployment? I'm terrified! It doesn't make sense to me to be penialized for trying to better myself in a rewarding career where I will never be out of work ever again. Please let me know any info you have; it would ease my mind tremendously. :heartbeat:cry:
PS - also have a few other questions, but figured this was a long enough question for now!
