GuyInMarin

Yes, as long as you complete them before the start of the program itself. I have one course left which is over in May, I start the cohort in June.

You were already in healthcare as an EMT. My change is from IT as software engineer. It's a significant drop in salary and more physically demanding work. It is a very hard decision for me and I am hoping that I am making the right one. Especially considering that it will be harder to do as I age as it it very demanding physically and mentally. If I were younger I think it would be a much easier decision ..

It will be hybrid

You need to provide coverage 30 days or less of start date.

Yes I'm nervous to apply for a loan because it shows as an inquiry in your credit report. Any recommendations aside from Sallie Mae?

The one thing I will say is I don't knwo your background but for me an ABSN would make more sense to do as getting the experience from working would be everything. I am a career changer that does not have a background in healthcare so working in the field is pretty much everything. The extra year in school you are spending to get the masters before you have worked might be better spent working, then going back (which is what I plan to do) after working and getting real world experience for e a couple years? That is my take on it, as an extra year is a long time if you need the real world experience.

I am sure during tomorrow's Next Steps zoom call (which I am assuming you are attending) you can ask all of those questions. The person running it (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME - PLEASE DO NOT POST IDENTIFYING INFO ABOUT OTHERS) also is amazing (I emailed her) and answers questions really quickly. If she doesn't know she knows whom you should contact. I would think for the financial aid related questions, you can ask and if she does not know she will direct us to (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME - PLEASE DO NOT POST IDENTIFYING INFO ABOUT OTHERS). If you can attend tomorrow have a list of questions to ask I think it would be worth it to attend. She answered my questions about clinicals (yes they have them!) and what the senior sythesis is (which replaced preceptorships) and helped to put my mind at rest.

And the last point you made about helping people .. well, that is the real reason I want to go into nursing. I ALWAYS wanted to help people in some way, which is why I was pre-med and have a degree in Biology. When I told my mom (who was a nurse all her life herself) that I was thinking about being a nurse and making a career change, I thought she would say I'm crazy and try to convince me otherwise. She didn't .. she said I would make a GREAT nurse and was very excited I was thinking of becoming one. Honestly, that nearly made me cry. I think this is the right decision for me.

That is great advice. The change was obviously the right one for you! I was looking at Biotech as well but I am hesitant to go back to the corporate world which disenchanted me and led to a severe burnout. You are right about the money not being everything .. especially as we get older. However, it DOES matter what type of work you do because certain professions just don't pay well. Nursing is a field where you can definitely make good money, especially if you have a passion for your work and are open to bettering yourself (ex. NP or doctorate of some sort).

That was a big long email that I didn't quite decipher yet, LOL. Is that what it is saying in a nutshell?

That is amazing, glad it worked out so well fo you. I feel pretty good about how I will do as I am a very roll your sleeves up type of person, and not to be cocky, very adaptable and intelligent. Even as a software engineer, I never had any problems in terms of the technical side of things, and have been a team lead the majority of my nearly 20 years doing it. What I lack is actual healthcare experience, but I am quick to think on my feet, so I think given some time in the field I will be fine. My degree is actually in Biology .. I was pre-med many years ago but ended up getting a job in IT during the IT boom and just stayed in it and said forget med school. I regret that now, but I guess it's never too late. I figure I have a good 15-20 years left in me, and physically I am in great shape. I do have some major anxiety though because I am leaving a career where the money I make will probably ALWAYS be much higher than in nursing, even if I advance to a high position.

Do you think it actually *helps* you to be male? I would think it would, at least in the beginning since only 12% of nurses are male in the US. In terms of advancement, I htink it could definitely work against you .. of course we are in minority where our superiors are most likely female.

I am 52 and about to do an ABSN starting this Summer. I am a career changer, still not sure if this is the right choice but I love the thoughts of connecting with people in a meaningful way job-wise. I know the hours might be tough, but it's not like a CNA physically. Like a couple other people that posted I am also ex-military (a long time ago) and have always been used to pressure and thinking on my feet. I am concerned really about starting off in nursing, as I have heard the Bay Area is really competitive.

Yes, it's for Feb 27 (next Thursday). Hope to see some of you there.

Did you inquire about a waitlist?