TifRN2B

I live in Ohio, and here you can take out additional student loans (just walk into the financial aid office to apply). The loans are generally more than tuition, and you may use the extra cash as you please. Me? I pay bills since I only work part time. This has gotten me through college without struggling. It has averaged out to be an extra 1500 to 2000 dollars extra a semester. Now I have about 20,000 in student loans to pay off when I graduate, but it is how I was able to go to college and have a comfortable lifestyle. I'm not talking extravagant, but I didn't have to worry about how I was going to eat that day. I also work PT. I got married last year, and my dh works full time. That did not disqualify me from getting the max amount of student loans. I guess maybe this differs from state to state, because I never had to worry about how I was going to afford paying for tuition or books. Before I was 24, I was also eligible for financial aid d/t the fact that my father was a disabled veteran. So I found myself very lucky in that aspect. And I was STILL eligible to take out student loans on top of that. Maybe everyone should move to ohio? For those of you out there struggling through school, I admire you. I don't have any children, but I know it's got to be tough. And I know that's an understatement. I wish all of you the best in getting through nursing school. Tif Graduate 12/16/05 :balloons:

Thanks you guys for all your advice! Tif

Hi everyone. I'm an RN student with 7 1/2 months to go till graduation. I've been interested in becoming an OB nurse for awhile now. I absolutely LOVED my OB clinical and got an A in the lecture. Did any of you used to work a different specialty or med surg...and like OB better? I'm sure it's very rewarding. Any advice for me when I come out of nursing school? Some people say it's best to get a few med surg years in before going to specialty...what do you think about that? I was also thinking maybe working OB and picking up one day a week in med-surg to "keep my feet wet". I guess it's all just ideas I'm having now...who knows what I'll actually do. Any advice would be appreciated :)

I got married on the three week break inbetween my first and second semester! It really wasn't that hard to do. I do admit my mind was preoccupied alot lol...and my instructor once asked me how I did it... managed to get decent grades in school, work, and plan a wedding. Like someone else here said.... nursing teaches you to multi task! :) Good luck to you!

Hi... guess I'll add my 2 cents.... I'm married and my husband and I are so excited about when we start a family. But we decided it would be best all around to wait until I graduate before planning a pregnancy. #1 is finances. With a nursing income, and my husbands income... even if I'm part time... we won't have to stress about making ends meet, and our baby will be well taken care of. #2 I couldn't even fathom going to nursing school and having a baby at the same time. My time is accounted for by the minute! There are so many hours (as someone else mentioned..hidden hours) you put into nursing school... prep time for clinical, research, studying, paperwork, ect. It would deprive your child of time they need to spend with you. I now have 11 months left of school and I daydream about the day I can say "bye bye birth control pills!" But if your husband makes ends meet alone enough for a family and you really can't wait... I'd put off nursing school until your kids are all in all day school. The first 5 years of child development are the most important and they'll need their mother around as much as possible. Anyway... good luck to you in whatever you decide :) Tif

well... this will be my 4th semester of clinicals, and I've always done day, but this time I"m doing evening. One reason is that beds and baths will have already been done...and there will be more time to spend doing long assessments and working with the patient on teaching. Also... you don't see many discharges in the am...or post op patients. So... my suggestion would be to do some day clinicals and then some evening clinicals just to get the full experience.

http://www.nurstoon.com/ These comics every nurse and student can relate to....