erynsmom

Here is my dilemma......I'm 26 and a single mom to my daughter who is 7. I work fulltime 9-5 and make $24K a year. I've got all but 2 of the classes I need for the LPN program and will start those two this fall. Money is incredibly tight and I will have to have some sort of job when I start the nursing program. With me being a single mom I do have to see my daughter sometime. If I'm in clincals all day and working at night, I'm not sure what finanically I can do. My mom who is an RN is a tremendous help for me, but I can't expect her to raise my daughter. School is paid for through Hope grants and pell grants, but I don't know how I'm going to be able to pay gas, lights, rent, food, car payment, etc. I make to much for food stamps and she gets health care from the state of GA. My health care is ridiculously expensive and I have a lot of bills from my divorce. How does everyone else do it?

In order to start LPN school in Fall of 2006 I need to finish up several pre-req's. Five of them would have to be in the Winter 05-06 quarter. They would be Math 101, English 101, A & P 101, Intro to Healthcare and Nutrition and diet Therapy. The reason I would have to take all of them at that time is because the last 2 classes(Drug Calculation & Nursing Fundamentals) are only offered in Spring and Fall and you have to complete those two last. I would have summer quarter off to work a lot and get caught up financially so I could get a part time job during nursing school. My question is feasibly would I be okay with this course load? I am a 25 year old single mom who has plenty of help with my daughter in order for me to go to school at night and the rest of the classes online. Luckily I am still on good terms with my former inlaws who are more than willing to watch her anytime I need. I do work fulltime 9-5, but I work administratively for my church and can do school work while here. I keep telling myself its only for 11 weeks. I've never been more determined to put myself through school after dealing with the past year of a cheating spouse and consequently the divorce. I just hate the thought of not going for it now, because if I wait and spread those classes out I wouldn't even start nursing school until Spring 2007 and that includes 2 quarters off becuause they don't offer courses then. I'm scared I'll drag my feet with only taking a class here and there that I will get discouraged and quit. I look at my mom who has been an RN for 20 years, put herself through LPN and RN school with 2 small children, no husband of child support and worked weekends at the pancake house for $2.15 an hour. Thats my determination. But that was also 20 years ago. I need someone to tell me if they think its really possible to take those 5 classes at one time. And of course I have to have a B in Math and A&P to get accepted into LPN school... Any and all advice please?!! Thanks Terra

I've heard several different people give me an example of what they make, and it varies greatly. Obviously its going to be higher/lower depending on where you live. Can anyone give me a ballpark of what they make an hour? Terra in GA