best option for nursing/healthcare

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Specializes in RN.

Okay, so;

I am enrolled currently in a private university as a bio major. However, this university is very expensive (almost 50k a year!) I just do not see myself going anywhere with a bio major, and all I want in life is to help people in a medical setting (my ultimate goal is to be a rn or eventually become a doctor of nursing who specializes with eating disorder patients)

However, there is a great nursing program back home that is around 30k for the whole program and I am pretty sure (not too brag or sound unfair...) but I am almost a shoe in to get in with all my references and influences. however, I do feel like people will judge me for leaving after the FIRST semester of my FIRST year of college, take a semester OFF and then go to one of three possible nursing schools back home when I have a perfectly reasonable education coming my way at my university. I know I should not exactly care, but, I have always aspired to be a nurse or another health profession because I want to help people

note; i am taking the TEAS 6 on saturday and i have been studying my ass off, quizzing myself with at least 150 questions a day from the mometrix manual as well as the practice tests

But I need hands on and not just them throwing facts about stoichiometry or the cell cycle my way (even though the cell cycle can contribute to cancer...)

what sounds like the most reasonable option in the opinion of y'all?

1. go to the very successful and cheaper nursing program I am almost guaranteed to get into

or

2. stay at my university and stick with the bio degree, either becoming a PA or anything else (possibly a geneticist)

since I am technically and adult and can make my own decisions (sadly, lol) but if any of you were in this position, what would you do?

Hi 'madisonlong17',

I think you should go with your gut on this one. I don't see anything wrong with leaving your FIRST semester of your FIRST year (unless you have to answer to someone who's privately funding your entire college education, then, it might require a little more thought.). Aside from that, go into nursing, help others, and enjoy what you do. You'll thank yourself in the long run.

I'm struggling with a somewhat similar tough choice. I just hit 28-years at my current job as a Project Manager in the Information Technology (IT) industry and I'm considering moving out of that field and into nursing. Of course, I will be starting from scratch with a local community college for the pre-requisite classes with the intent of joining a nursing program thereafter. I know everyone would probably say, "you can do what you set your mind to... blah blah blah", but I feel my personal struggle is whether a 46 year old male entering this field can be successful and will my presumably wide age gap in the nursing program become an issue. Silly I know, but still valid thoughts.

I wish you best in deciding for yourself.

Best,

'BlueScrub922'

I would choose your first option. People really underestimate smaller Nursing Programs and Community Colleges for so many reasons but if they knew how much money they would be saving to take identical courses there, everyone would attend them. So I'd definitely go with your gut feeling, you can always go back to the other college if it doesn't work out.

Specializes in Emergency / Disaster.
Hi 'madisonlong17',

"you can do what you set your mind to... blah blah blah", but I feel my personal struggle is whether a 46 year old male entering this field can be successful and will my presumably wide age gap in the nursing program become an issue. Silly I know, but still valid thoughts.

BlueScrub922 - 44 y.o. female in same boat. Hate programming... Almost done with pre-reqs. The only thing stopping you is ... YOU. Lets make this boat move - pick up that oar and lets ROW somewhere!!!

As for you madisonlong17 - you need pre-reqs in order to get into those nursing programs. I think you should investigate a little more because unless I am wrong with the level of education you have, you can't just go back and get in. You'll need to complete the pre-reqs and if it is a 4 year school, you'll need to have approximately 60 credits under your belt in order to apply to nursing school. At a minimum you need things you can take where you are while you apply to get in back there and get things figured out. Stopping for a semester isn't going to get you any closer to a different path (unless you are just looking for a way back home). I lost count of how many time my daughter came home just to be home her first year. But I don't think quitting for a semester for any reason in these circumstances is a good answer.

Currently I am a book-keeper for a small restaurant. It does between $500k and $1mil per year. I failed Accounting the first time I took it and I got a C the 2nd. I never took another accounting course. It took me 10 years to "figure out" accounting. It sucks. Now I get paid to do it. Don't let accounting determine your future. If I would have quit then - who knows where I would be now. Surely I wouldn't be going back to school to be a nurse! It also took me 7 semesters to get 4 semesters of credit for Spanish. I took the 1st semester 4 times and I finally got it. Not everything is always easy or fun. Hang in there a little while longer.

People really underestimate smaller Nursing Programs and Community Colleges for so many reasons but if they knew how much money they would be saving to take identical courses there, everyone would attend them.

SHHHHH don't tell people!

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