funky917

I was okay with financial aid AND student loans, but as far as diving in with no financial aid and loans, I'm not comfortable with. There's no guarantee I can get into a nursing school after pre-reqs (full-time). And if I pursue this part-time with my job, It could take another 3 years or so before I could even start applying. I'm already 25 and still living at home (working for a non-profit hurts financially). I may consider an LPN program just to get my feet in the door. That would still be more job openings that I'm finding currently.

Scholarships and loans would probably be my last options. I don't know entirely. I don't expect this path to be all sunshine and butterflies... I'm going to do what I can and hope for the best in situations out of my control.

Going back to school for nursing has been weighing heavily against me lately. I finally called my educational establishment of choice concerning options of financial aid, and I hit something I didn't think I would. Apparently, since I have a bachelors degree the only thing I can apply for is student loans... I was planning on quitting my job and diving in altogether, but apparently that's not an option for me.

The idea of going into nursing had always been in the back of my mind since I was a junior in highschool trying to figure out my life. It wasn't until about 7 months ago that I really starting thinking about it again. 7 months ago my mom died of lung cancer and I spent the majority of my time helping my mother (taking her to chemo, etc.) and even the past couple weeks we spent in the hospital I felt this comfort that everyone that worked with my mother was doing everything they could to help. Even when we got word that she had a few days left, everyone still took great care of her. I was incredibly thankful for the nurses who helped her. Regardless of how difficult a time it was, I just knew I felt a draw to the profession as a whole. I knew this is something I wanted to do someday.

I graduate with a BS in Sociology a year and half a go and still have yet to find a job I can even support myself. I'm currently working with a non-profit human support agency working with mentally ill and developmentally disabled people. I love my job, but it just doesn't pay enough. I want to take it to a new level and I figured nursing would be that medium. I'm very hesitant to make the jump though. I plan on going to Southwestern Illinois College to get my prereqs and raise my GPA (which isn't all that great to begin with). But the problem I have with dropped everything is that I would lose my health insurace through my company and right now have no real options to replace it. And another thing, I would hate to quit my job just to be rejected from nursing school. I have an RN friend who pretty much ripped me by warning me how difficult and stressful nursing school can be, and I'm fully ready to make the commitment to better my life and career. I just hope I don't risk it all for nothing. Any advice would be fantastic!