Hello everyone and Happy New Years. I am a single mom in my mid thirties, a decade ago before children I quit school. I had enough units to get a Pre nursing associates degree with a 4.0 in the required courses, only a 3.5 overall. When I became a mom I dropped out of school, now a few years and a few kids later I've found myself pondering if I should go back or not. I have mostly bounced on and off of welfare because keeping a job with little kids and no support is rough! However they are now old enough to all be in school grades 1-4. I have been out of work since the preschool I was working at closed last summer. I have also worked part time as a nursing assistant, non licences, a secretary and at a temp agency. I guess I am worried that my good grades from years ago will not be enough to make me competitive for a nursing school because I have a poor work history. I have been fired numerous times for not finding Childcare when my kids were sick. I also don't have any references since I was last in school so long ago. Right now I'm pondering going into a LPN progra if my tax refund is enough to pay the whole tuition. Are there any year long LPN degrees that cost less than 5 K? I don't think I can get federal loans again as I foolishly maxed out on them as a teenager!