Changing Careers at 29 - Am I Crazy?

navygirl · Jan 10, 2006

Hi Bridget,

I am 30 and just graduated from nursing school in Dec. I took my NCLEX-RN exam today. Before I went back to school, I was also a graphic designer! I had been working in that field since graduating from college. I thought about it long and hard before taking the plunge .. which entailed quitting my job to go back to school full time. Luckily, I had the support of my husband. However, we pay child support and have partial custody of his two sons, so it hasn't been easy financially ... but we made it work and now I'm FINALLY done.

You should go for it if you want it! Nursing school isn't easy, but the rewards are great and when you're done you'll be so glad you finally took the plunge rather than thinking about it for a couple more years. Financially, you will probably be eligible for some grants and definately eligible for large student loans since you are a single mom. I'm 25,000 in debt from my student loans, but for me, it's definately worth every penny because now I have a wonderful, fulfilling, and promising career ahead of me that will pay me back emotionally as well as financially.

Good luck to you!! You can do it!

PreNurseKirk · Jan 10, 2006

Thanks NavyGirl!

That's great to know that you did it too. Funny that you were also a designer. Haha. I'm actually not a single mom. Happily married and he supports me all the way (emotionally that is). Our incomes are about the same. Unfortunately we really need both of them. Good news is we have a 2-year plan to get our credit cards paid and both cars paid which hopefully will free me up to go to nursing school full-time. I seriously doubt I will be eligible for any grants or loans. But I suppose I can take out a loan through my bank to help support us.

Congrats on finishing! I'll have my day too hopefully.

Kwality · Jan 11, 2006

If you find a school that you are interested in attending, it couldn't hurt to just talk to someone about the classes, schedules and financial aid. You may even be able to find a school that has on-site daycare. :)

fotografe · Jan 11, 2006

You are not crazy. It can be a great choice to become a nurse. I am 43, a Broadcast Engineer who sees myself being replaced by more high tech equipment in the next few years. I started on the road to nursing by doing all of my pre-reqs online while working fulltime. I started nursing school this fall at a community college. I worked full time during this first semester, have a 3 y/o and a 6 y/o and pulled out an A for Nursing I. I am lucky that the school has an onsite preschool for my son to attend while I am in class.

Next semester I will be job sharing and working only 3 days a week. My schedule was rough, but I have heard even more amazing stories of people who made it through and are very happy with their choice.

If you want it, research your school options. You can do an ADN program that, if you do all the pre-reqs ahead of time, only takes 2 years to complete. There are accelerated programs for 2nd degree applicants that are really intense but only a year to eighteen months long. There are also Direct Entry Master's programs that will make you an NP in 2 to 3 years. If you take out student loans, there may be loan forgiveness programs that hospitals have as a hiring bonus. You may also consider working as a Nurse's Aide while you finish your pre-req's to get a feel for the profession.

Bottom line, if you want it, there is a way to do it. You are actually on the young side in comparison to the majority of my classmates. Almost all of us are career changers with lots of outside responsibilities.

Good luck and search these forums for advice. I have found the information I have gotten here invaluable.

I know it is extremely common for women to change careers later on and choose nursing as their new career choice. But I honestly feel totally overwhelmed at the thought of how I will achieve this. I don't even have a date in site for when I could even apply to a program. I am a full-time graphic designer in the Dallas area. I make a decent salary but despise my career choice. All I want is to be able to start over and choose Nursing as my career. I have a few prereqs out of the way, and plan to take as many classes as I can before applying. But how in the world will I be able to go to nursing school and take care of financial obligations (home & auto loans, bills, raising a 2-year old with daycare expenses, etc - you get it).
I would love to attend El Centro in Dallas. If anyone has been or is in my same situation please share your insights with me. I guess I just need someone to say "Yes, it's possible".
Thanks - Bridget

Hnebun · Jan 11, 2006

No, girl, you are not crazy. I see a lot of me in your story. I am a stay at home mom and I have wanted to be a nurse since I was in my teens but always had an excuse NOT to go...newly married, cost too much, new baby, cost too much, etc:chuckle ...... The fact is that the next 5 or 6 years are gonna go by really fast-whether or not you take the plunge. I finally decided that this semester is THE YEAR and I am starting my prerequisite courses next week-which are 95% completed at home as distance education. I am timing it out so that I start the Anatomy I & II class when my youngest goes to kindergarten (and thats the only class I take that semester, at the reccomendation of my advisor, since I have family obligations) and start the nursing clinicals/labs when little one is in 1st-2nd grade-that way I am in school when she is, and I can be home when she gets there. I am probably not gonna graduate until 2010 unless something drastic happens, but like I said, each year I put it off is one more year until I graduate. Good luck and keep us posted on your decision.!

HNEBUN in Virginia:coollook:

L&D_2b · Jan 11, 2006

If it's not possible to change careers, someone must have forgotten to tell me;) I have a bachelors degree in education and have just enrolled in a part time LPN program because I think I missed my calling to be a nurse. And if that's not enough, my husband and I have 3 boys ages 10, 6 and 3 and I'm pregnant and due in April (this one's a girl, Yeah!). So yes, go for it!

Since you live in Texas, why don't you check out the distance nursing programs that are available to Texans? You can find information about those programs under the distance nursing forum on this site. If I remember right, you can take the lecture portion of the classes online, and do your clinicals where you live. That might really help your situation.

Good luck!

PS. I'm 29 too!

I know it is extremely common for women to change careers later on and choose nursing as their new career choice. But I honestly feel totally overwhelmed at the thought of how I will achieve this. I don't even have a date in site for when I could even apply to a program. I am a full-time graphic designer in the Dallas area. I make a decent salary but despise my career choice. All I want is to be able to start over and choose Nursing as my career. I have a few prereqs out of the way, and plan to take as many classes as I can before applying. But how in the world will I be able to go to nursing school and take care of financial obligations (home & auto loans, bills, raising a 2-year old with daycare expenses, etc - you get it).
I would love to attend El Centro in Dallas. If anyone has been or is in my same situation please share your insights with me. I guess I just need someone to say "Yes, it's possible".
Thanks - Bridget

L&D_2b · Jan 11, 2006

Think of it this way, atleast you WILL be a nurse in 2010. If you didn't start now, you still would be HOPING you were a nurse in 2010. It will come faster than you think:)

No, girl, you are not crazy. I see a lot of me in your story. I am a stay at home mom and I have wanted to be a nurse since I was in my teens but always had an excuse NOT to go...newly married, cost too much, new baby, cost too much, etc:chuckle ...... The fact is that the next 5 or 6 years are gonna go by really fast-whether or not you take the plunge. I finally decided that this semester is THE YEAR and I am starting my prerequisite courses next week-which are 95% completed at home as distance education. I am timing it out so that I start the Anatomy I & II class when my youngest goes to kindergarten (and thats the only class I take that semester, at the reccomendation of my advisor, since I have family obligations) and start the nursing clinicals/labs when little one is in 1st-2nd grade-that way I am in school when she is, and I can be home when she gets there. I am probably not gonna graduate until 2010 unless something drastic happens, but like I said, each year I put it off is one more year until I graduate. Good luck and keep us posted on your decision.!
HNEBUN in Virginia:coollook:

Staric · Jan 11, 2006

I am 34 and have been in my current field for almost ten years. I also have two children 5 and 2, a mortgage, two cars, and lots of bills including a student loan from my first degree.. Here's what I learned so far.. Check your schools for on-line classes. I was able to work and take these and all I gave up was TV (Tivo was a help) In the meantime, I have been saving money by not eating out, flexing my schedule to keep kids out of daycare, I stay away from shopping and we are down to one car payment and fingers crossed the second car lasts longer... I plan to either go part time, get a job as a CNA or apply for on-line Nursing programs (Arizona has one now) And worse care- I will quit. It is overwhelming but I truly believ in the long term it will pay off... I have also learned that some places are so desperate for nurses, they are paying off student loans and there are lots of hospitals (in AZ) that are paying people to go to school and offer stipends. Please take some time and EXPLORE everything you can... GOOD LUCK TO YOU... I always think to myself, what am I gonna be doing in ten years if I dont start now- Looking back and saying- WHY DIDN'T I do that TEN YEARS ago!!!!! :)

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jan 11, 2006

Welcome aboard and best wishes to you!

cherricka · Jan 11, 2006

I was 31 when I went back to school for my RN. Boy am I ever glad I did. I was just looking through my old pay stubs, and I have almost doubled my salary. I am a single Mom, and thought I could never do it, but with the help of my parents, the government and a wonderful neighbor and friend to help me with my son, I did it. I was surprised at how fast the time went! Good luck, and go for it!

NaomieRN · Jan 11, 2006

Welcome to the site and best wishes to you. You can do anything you set your mind to.