Quitting full-time job for nursing school

[snow_bear]

It looks like I may have to leave my current job if I want to attend nursing school as even the "evening/weekend" programs require that you be available some time during the week for clinicals. One program does have weekend clinicals, but those are assigned by lottery and there is no guarantee that I could get those assignments semester to semester.

I have been unable to find a nurse's aide/CNA training program that works around my job and school schedule so I can't work as a hospital tech until after I complete the first semester of nursing school.

My current job is not very well-paying, but it does provide my health insurance at almost no cost to me. My hours are set in stone and administration will not work around a school schedule. I also waitress part-time on weekends and could easily pick up more hours, but I would have to work a minimum of 32 hours a week for a year before becoming eligible for their insurance. I don't know that I could afford COBRA in the meantime.

I don't know what to do. I'm getting frustrated and discouraged.

[missnurse01, MSN, RN]

unfortunately this is a common problem when it comes to school. when i went thru school I didn't have insurance and when I go back to grad school I won't have insurance and my kids will probably end up on state insurance or their low cost alternative. I have no idea of your medical background, or if you need insurance for lots of docs, procedures, meds etc-or as a catastrophic plan only. You might need to get one of those if you want to be covered in that eventuality. You will have to weigh your options. You might need to increase your hours, esp as you can work some evenings as a waitress to pick up hours.

Have you looked at other jobs in the hospital? non clinical I mean, like pt transport, or ED registration, that won't require classes to get the job and have many varied shifts.

you will find a way if this is what you want!

[jocy_anne]

I know how you're feeling. I will be leaving my full-time job of 6 years in late July or early August in order to start a full-time accelerated BSN-MSN program, and I'm terrified about how I'm going to make it without working at the age of 28. I'm not sure what type of program you're applying to, but make sure they don't have insurance as an enrollment requirement. My school will not allow any student to start classes until they prove they are insured by September 1st. Luckily, they offer an insurance policy through the school, so I will have to take their policy (tack on a few thousand more to th tuition, ugh). Maybe your school of choice offers an insurance plan, too?

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I understand how you feel. I'm leaving a VERY good salary and a 17 year career behind me to go to school full-time. It's a leap of faith, but I know in my heart that this is what I absolutely want to do. I won't have insurance until my fiance and I get married in August.

I had a difficult time trying to decide between staying in my current career and being unhappy or going for something I've always wanted, but the outcome is an "unknown". It's a scary thing to let go of what you know. You know the old saying "the devil you know..." :rotfl:

Hang in there!!!!