friendlyskies

I am single, in my late 20s, and I have about $65,000 in private loans and $255,000 in federal loans. I was a minor when taking out the majority of those loans over 10 years ago, and basically at the behest of my parents, who said they needed the money for living expenses. I am no longer on speaking terms with them. I have consulted with a lawyer since, who was sympathetic but advised that legal costs and the drawn-out nature of the legal system would mean that I could end up with even more debt and it could easily take 8+ years to reach a resolution. I have decided against a lawsuit, especially since I have recently heard that my parents are in poor health (one has a terminal diagnosis). I am a relatively new grad RN. The average starting salary here is about $58-60,000. I am completing an NP certification (paying out-of-pocket) and expect to complete it in 2 years, which will boost my earning potential. However, even if I live as a pauper, I will spend at least 10 years paying off the loans. I have spoken to several advisors and PSLF is an option if I continue working for a nonprofit hospital or other organization for 10 years, which is still a long time, but at least it frees up some money for retirement/investment/etc. If PSLF fails, I can use that money towards paying off the loans. It's obviously a risk. Does anyone have any other ideas on what I could do? I've looked into the NHSC repayment option but I'm not sure it would help much, since most of my loans are not from nursing school. I'm having a hard time dealing with the reality of this burden. I want to do normal things like save for retirement, maybe get married, buy a small house. It feels like I'll be losing 10 years of my life to loans that my parents used. It really sucks.

Now that I am out of work because I'm sick, I'm pretty sure I hate bedside nursing. Don't get me wrong - the work is meaningful, but the meaning gets lost when politics, crappy administration, and total lack of protection and regard for nurses set the scene for every 12 hour shift. It's a wonder I didn't get sick earlier. So as I sit on my couch feeling feverish and wondering why I got into nursing in the first place, and how much of a failure I am for being a new grad nurse and already wanting to quit, I've realized what I do like. There were certain settings I loved. I really want to work outpatient - schools, clinics, primary care, outpatient behavioral or mental health centers. Once I've recovered, I need to get back to work ASAP for financial reasons. None of us know for sure when the pandemic will be "over". But do you guys think that there will be more non-bedside nursing jobs once it is? Will there truly be outpatient positions I can get as a relatively new nurse? I cannot imagine working bedside for much longer. It is severely detrimental to my mental and physical health, even without COVID-19. Kudos to all of you who have worked bedside for years! I don't know how you do it.

Would love some advice. I'm a bit scared and alone with no family. I am a relatively new nurse and I started a new position a few months ago before all this craziness broke out. We have COVID patients in our facility. We have no PPE so I am bringing a mask from home, which we are asked to reuse every day for 30 days and stick in a paper bag. We are also wearing trash bags as gowns. HR is not taking the pandemic very seriously and calls us "heroes" and such but in the same breath say that we'll be fine if we just wash our hands. Many nurses have quit and I can see why. I have asthma and a mild immune disorder. This evening, I was sitting on my couch eating dinner as usual and suddenly all at once started having a dry cough, sore throat, SOB (bronchodilator helped but didn't eliminate), runny nose, headache, and nausea. No fever. Starting to feel strangely fatigued and woozy. It could be a cold or perhaps really bad allergies, but my asthma does not typically cause me any problems as it is well-controlled even in the springtime. I have not had any other sx previously. My workplace has tightened their sick policy and I'm pretty sure if I call out sick now, they will either fire me or subject me to disciplinary action without pay. I need the money, to be honest. In addition, if I recover and return to work, I'm pretty sure my coworkers and patients will avoid me like the plague... I don't know if I should just try to "tough it out" because I don't have a fever and am not sure I am sick. What would be the wisest action here for everybody?

I live in a state with full autonomy for NPs and I ultimately want to open my own clinic. I'm having trouble deciding between FNP or PMHNP as I am interested in both. Someone suggested I do one and get the other later. Any thoughts?

Hi all! I'm currently in an entry-level generalist MSN program and would like some opinions on further steps. I plan on getting a DNP or PhD eventually and definitely want to have an FNP certification. I'm trying to decide whether to get an online post-master's FNP from University of Southern Indiana and go into practice, pay off my loans, and pursue my doctoral degree down the road, or just go directly into a DNP/PhD program now (about 3 more years). Part of the reason I am hesitating to do a FNP first, even though that's my inclination at the moment, is because my advisor believes USI has poor name value and will worsen my chances of getting a good job or getting into a good DNP/PhD school in the future. I don't know how true this is. I have friends who are MDs and NPs that are starting medical spas in a nearby affluent area and I plan to work at a similar one after getting my FNP. I'm not sure if I will be "looked down upon" in that field for not having my FNP from a prestigious school. Any thoughts? She seemed really adamant and acted like I would be signing a death warrant because my other degrees are from prestigious schools. I'm very confused. Personally I don't feel like there should be such prejudice as long as the school is accredited, has good pass rates, and is not for-profit.