I'm needing some advice from experienced students. I am a mother of 2 and business owner, but I have decided to finally pursue my career in nursing and I'm so excited & nervous! Ideally I would like to attend a private school and finish sooner. I have registered at Saddleback community college in Irvine, but I have a friend who told me about CNI in orange. Has anyone attended this private school or any you recommend? What advice can you guys give me to find the right school/program? Thanks in advance.
I currently have an appointment with a counselor at CNI. I've been in limbo on which way to go, Psychiatric technician, then go for RN. I'm leaning towards going straight for my RN. The reason why I'm looking into CNI although very expensive, I'm 44 years old. And not that I'm in a hurry but I am older and I've been a CNA since 2007. I couldn't go to school sooner because I had young children and then an illness. Anyway, I also work full time so I'm trying to see if doing the program online, I believe they're hybrid classes would help. These are some of the questions I have for them. Where I work, which is a hospital, UC system, the nurses start off getting paid very well.
I currently have an appointment with a counselor at CNI. I've been in limbo on which way to go, Psychiatric technician, then go for RN. I'm leaning towards going straight for my RN. The reason why I'm looking into CNI although very expensive, I'm 44 years old. And not that I'm in a hurry but I am older and I've been a CNA since 2007. I couldn't go to school sooner because I had young children and then an illness. Anyway, I also work full time so I'm trying to see if doing the program online, I believe they're hybrid classes would help. These are some of the questions I have for them. Where I work, which is a hospital, UC system, the nurses start off getting paid very well.
Thanks
My prediction: When you meet with the CNI counselor, he or she will give you a hard sell. Will show you how it's really affordable, and you'd be mad to waste time with a CC or any other program. It will basically be a well-honed sales pitch, akin to a time-share presentation.
Don't fall for it. A quick Google search shows me that CNI costs over $75k per year, and is a 2-year program. More than $150K for an ADN is pure madness!
I know you're 44 and feel like you need to get your RN sooner rather than later, but time is not on your side financially. $150K is a lot of money to pay back. Pardon my bluntness, but given that you only have 20-25 years until retirement, you need to be arduously saving for retirement, not paying exorbitant student loans. If you were 25, that $150K might be more palatable, not great, but maybe you could make a case for a decent return on investment over a 40 year career. But graduating at 46 or 47 (assuming you make it through the program on time) with over $100K in student debt is a huge millstone around your neck.
Better to take an extra year (or even two or three) to get that degree with little or no student loan debt. If you start working right at 46 with $150K to pay off, you'll still be well over $100K in debt at 50. Or you take an extra few years, go to community college, and have $0 debt when you start working as an RN at 50. Which seems like a better scenario?
I really appreciate your response. That helps me a lot. This made me feel better. I will slow down and be smart on how I spend my money for my education and career.
Neens76
4 Posts
Hello,
I currently have an appointment with a counselor at CNI. I've been in limbo on which way to go, Psychiatric technician, then go for RN. I'm leaning towards going straight for my RN. The reason why I'm looking into CNI although very expensive, I'm 44 years old. And not that I'm in a hurry but I am older and I've been a CNA since 2007. I couldn't go to school sooner because I had young children and then an illness. Anyway, I also work full time so I'm trying to see if doing the program online, I believe they're hybrid classes would help. These are some of the questions I have for them. Where I work, which is a hospital, UC system, the nurses start off getting paid very well.
Thanks