Schooling Help

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2004

Don't know anything about PAX, but you could call the Testing Center for your school and get advice. They might even have books/CDs to loan or sell. As for your age: I was 45 when I started nursing school. Adults are better learners, in my opinion, because they have life experience to augment the lectures. So sorry you have this extra stress with losing job. But you sound like you have your head on straight and that is a real plus!

colleen10 · Jan 2, 2004

Hi Old Newbie, welcome to the board!

Congratulations on taking the steps to change careers. I am only 28 but I know the fear and anxiety that changing careers and going back to school can cause. I have also been laid off in the past and I also know the worry and financial stress that comes along with it. You are to be commended for maintaining a positive attitude and pushing forward in your future plans.

Go to your Financial Aid office if you haven't allready. They can lead you in the right direction of what financial aid to apply for. If you do not allready have a College Degree you will find that you are eligible for more aid such as Pell Grants. They may also be helpful in finding scholarships that you may be eligible for, ie. nursing students, mature students going back to school, etc.

I am not familiar with the "PAX" exam but go to your school or do a search online. Often times there are study guides and suggested readings listed that you can work off of to study from.

I'm not sure what state you are in but here in PA you are allowed to extend your un-employment benefits by working part-time. Many of my co-workers that were laid off did this to extend the length of their benefits. For example, rather than not work at all and get benefits for 6 months, they would work part time and collect part of their un-employment but do this for 9 or 12 months.

If you are worried about the length of un-employment this may be an option for you, even if you can't work while in school full time perhaps this would work for you in the summer if you are not taking classes or taking a lighter load. I have known a number of people at my school that worked part time as nurse aids to extend the lenth of their un-empoyment but also get experience in health care.

Good Luck to you in your future plans and I hope you have a good first day of full time school on Monday.

Col

OldNewbie · Jan 2, 2004

Thank you so much for your advise and encouragement - no, I have no previous college experience, which is what is giving me the most anxiety...I've got it in my head that the only thing that will distinguish me from the 200 18 yr olds that I will be graduating with is my grades...that's what is stressing me the most - I put a lot of pressure on myself anyway, and the "pressure point of the month" for me now is getting good grades...

I also appreciate the funding options, I have completed the FAFSA, which I'm finding out is the Mother of all forms - the trouble is, they are using the previous years income - because my company really screwed us with serverance pay, vacation, etc. my 2003 income is going to look like I'm a millionaire - I'm hoping that someone somewhere will see that taxes took most of that, the figure isn't anywhere near my "normal" income, and most important - I'm making NOTHING now!!

I also went to the beginning stages of WIA (Workforce Investment Act) - it basically pays for school for 2 yrs without interupting any unemployment you may be getting - as long as it's an approved program, (which nursing and the school I'm going to is) they'll pay...I ended up with the counselor from hell who basically made me sit there giving me no information and degraded and demoralized me...I realize that this is part of the "game" because the State's (I'm in Ohio) don't want people to know about the program, and the ones that do, they do everything they can to discourage you...WIA is a Federal program, administered by the individual states - if the states don't offer it openly, they lose all Federal money...but like I said, the more people they can talk out of it, the more of that Federal money goes to the State ... she said she was denying my application before I could put my purse down because I wasn't IN Nursing School - so the plan is after I hopefully pass the PAX test (pre admission to nursing), I will get a letter from my school stating that I am now eligible and accepted into the Nursing Program - take it back to the WIA nazi's, shove it in their faces, and sit there until they approve me for an already approved funding program....as someone said on this board before, if you're single, (male or female) you get little to no help with anything...I can't get health insurance for under $400 a month and a $3000 deductable, and it doesn't pay for office visits, prescriptions, dental, or eye...that I just can't afford - so I'll be uninsured for the duration of school...the govt grants I'll probably be denied for also - I've kind of resigned myself to the fact that life isn't fair if you've worked all your life and suddenly lose your income - so I'm probably going to have to get more than a few loans and try to get through it the best I can....

If you haven't tried the WIA, do it - be warned that it's a long degrading process, but is going to be worth it in the end...I hope!!

I appreicate the comment that I'm not too old....it just doesn't feel that way at the moment when all I'm seeing is "kids" that are almost young enough to be my grandchildren!! I'm hanging on to the thought that age is experience, so hopefully they can teach an old dog A LOT of new tricks!!

I am still open to the best route to the ICU...and any/all opinions on working in the ICU....

Thanks Again!!!!:)

wrmbreeze · Jan 2, 2004

Yes WIA is a pain, but worth it. I'm in nursing school now on it. I think it best to talk to someone other than that nasty person you talked to the last time. I know a lady at the office here,she's not my worker, but she was very open and willing to help. They also split time at the community colleges here and they may at your school also. If you have any q's about WIA pm me and I'll try to answer them for you..

mittels · Jan 2, 2004

In wash state there was a program that assisted workers pay for college when they lost their job due to lay off. Talk with your councelor. There are a lot of different types of programs out there, it takes hard work to find them, but when you do it will be well worth it.

LisaRN2B · Jan 2, 2004

I cannot offer much advice with regard to financial aid/student loans, but the PAX was required for my school as well (along with the Chem pre-req).

Here is a link to a previous thread on the subject:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50603&highlight=PAX

Best of luck to you!

fulwood · Jan 2, 2004

Oldnewbie, I am 42 and pursuing now a degree in Gerontologf and business with intent of going for accelerated BSN after that. I was in same situation last year. I was laid off from job that paid over 40K in 2002. I had good severance package but that eventually ran out. Last August I applied for finanical aid and within less than 3 weeks had check in my account. I qualified for $10,500 and like you they used 2002's income so I was happy with the amount I recieved. It pays for my tutition expenses and household bills. It also allows me for now to stay in my own home and build up equity. I do not lik debt in general but to get a degree I need the fnancial aid and with approx. rate of 3% interest one could not refuse it. Good luck. To clarify I recieve $5250 per semester...

TLC RN · Jan 2, 2004

I love how the base the amount of need on your past income :) Once you get what you are supposedly "expected" to contribute, you go to your schools financial aid department and explain your circumstances and they will adjust accordingly. I too will look like a "millionaire" but that would be because I had a full time job that paid well. I plan on going to a full time program which means I give up the full time job & pay. Good luck!

AmyLiz · Jan 2, 2004

I hear ya. I used to work in aviation too & then the airline shut down in 2001. Just as I had gone back to working for them. Gee, thanks guys. So, it sounds like we're in the same boat!

I took the PAX exam in September. Our school (Sinclair Community College) requires that & Chemistry as well. There is a book that I checked out from the library...I forget the name exactly, but it was a study guide for healthcare entrance exams. (it had a yellow cover). Our bookstore had it for sale, but I am too cheap to buy it if I can check it out of the public library or the school library. Our school also had old PAX exam copies that you could xerox & practice with.

You'll be fine. I'm 33 & have found that there are quite a few more mature, non-traditional students in my classes.

PM me if you need anymore info. :)

OldNewbie · Jan 3, 2004

Wow! This is why I love this site - not only does it answer a lot of the questions I have, you guys are GREAT!! Thank you so much for the much needed advise, study options, encouragement, and guidance...

I'm not giving up on the WIA - I'm one of those people that won't go away, so they're going to have to deal with me eventually...I guess I let the nasty @#%& get to me that day because I had just come from a financial advisor that gave me the facts of just how much I'm going to get screwed on taxes...unbelieveable the govt allows big companys to do they slimy things they do, and then the same govt tell YOU, the peeon, that you don't deserve any help!! I know by your replies that I'm preaching to the choir - it's just maddening....believe me, if I can get by that PAX test, I will be back down there the same day being just as loud and rude as they were to me demanding another "worker" that doesn't feel their job is to berate and demoralize....I'm just going to have to bite the bullet on winter and spring qrts...oh well - I guess that's what credit cards are for huh??? LOL...

Hey, AmyLiz - seems you and I are going to the same college (Sinclair)....I will definitely check out the study guide for the PAX test - my 44th birthday (WOW) is Wednesday, sounds like a good gift to ask for if the bookstore sells it!! Is it comprehensive and worthwhile to study?? Did it help you?? I've really GOT to ace that thing - I think your placement on the waiting list is based on when you took it and how high you scored isn't it?

Also, Fulwood - how did you get an aid check so quickly? $10K would pretty much last me a year....the college I'm going to is VERY cheap (and ranked very high too) - and I, like you spend A LOT of years working 7 days a week to get my house - something I don't want to give up - even the financial advisor says it would be stupid for me to sell the house (one of the first things I wanted to do after losing my job) - doesn't make sense to go into an apt that is about $100 less a month than my mortgage, and geez - let's not talk about MORE tax hits on me!! LOL...

Do you remember what program got you that amount of money so quickly? I would be very interested in checking that out....

And yes, I am going to the financial aid office Monday morning to make SURE they change my status to NO income rather than what is showing on my 2002 W2....

Maybe I'm being overly optimistic (a real change for me!) - but after talking to you people that have been there, done that, I feel A LOT better about my chances of making it...

Anyone thinking about the ICU? What courses/experiences could I take or do that would help prepare me??

Thanks again everyone!! You've made me feel A LOT better about my old self!! LOL

suzanne4, RN · Jan 3, 2004

For your medical insurance, you can check into where you had your insurance and see if you qualify under a COBRA plan. You have to pay but it is much cheaper than usual rates. Also check into some of the PPOM plans that are offered in your area. They are out there and should be about 50% less than what you were expecting.

Also, check with employee health service at your college. They are usually aware of insurance packages available for students at your school.

Everything should work out for you. Good luck with your exams.