Second Career Students--HOW can I do this?

Nursing Students General Students

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Here's my dilemma:

Yesterday, I went to an info. session for the nursing program I will eventually attend (have to take a few pre-req's first). Everything was great until the instructor says, "Most of our nursing students work nights or weekends. There is NO WAY you can have a regular 9-5 job and go to nursing school. It's a full-time thing." I then came home and checked out the course times for every nursing term, and she was basically right. For the first term alone, I would be able to work Mondays after 10 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays after 1:30 pm, Thursdays after 11:00 am and Fridays all day.

Well, I'm currently a dental hygienist. As you may know, dental offices are not open at night. :uhoh3: And, most offices won't let a hygienist work half a day. So, I'm thinking, "Okay, so I'll just have to get a nights/weekends job....but that means (most likely) a minimum wage job." I'm married with two kids. We're barely scraping by with our bills as it is right now, and (as a hygienist) I make the same or more as most RN's here in NM. I don't know HOW we would survive if I had to work a min. wage job during school!! :o

I'm not putting down min. wage jobs at all. I'm just wondering how those of you who also are pursuing nursing as a second career are affording to not work as much, while you're in school? Am I making any sense? :imbar

I don't want to give up my dream of becoming an RN, just because I'll have to work a less-paying job during school. It's the BILLS I'm worried about! Know what I mean?

Angel

Specializes in Med-Surg.
I do have one question...If you make more as a hygienest than as a nurse, then why are you looking to be an RN? I know hygienists around here make $39/hour. That's pretty good pay.

$39 and hour?! :confused: Where do you live?! That's what pharmacists make where I live!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I do have one question...If you make more as a hygienest than as a nurse, then why are you looking to be an RN? I know hygienists around here make $39/hour. That's pretty good pay.

$39 and hour?! :confused: Where do you live?! That's what pharmacists make where I live!

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I live in the Seattle area. I know of experienced hygeniests that make close to $50/hour. There's a shortage here. My sister-in-law has been one for over 20 years and makes amazing money.

$39 and hour?! :confused: Where do you live?! That's what pharmacists make where I live!
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I live in the Seattle area. I know of experienced hygeniests that make close to $50/hour. There's a shortage here. My sister-in-law has been one for over 20 years and makes amazing money.

$39 and hour?! :confused: Where do you live?! That's what pharmacists make where I live!
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I went back to school for my LPN when my children were 8 and 6. I was in school during the day same as they were but I worked weekends and my nights were committed to study time. I tried to study as a family. They did their homework with my husband to answer questions and I worked on mine in the same room as them. It helped some. I would take little breaks here and there to talk to the kids about their day etc. When the guilt got to me to bad I would just try to remember that I was doing this for them also. To provide a better way of life. Hope this helps.

Angelia

Thank you, Angelia. It makes me feel better that you started school when you're kids were virtually the same age as mine are now (8 and 5). I have moments of doubt, when I think I should maybe wait until they're older. But then, I think it's probably best to actually start now. They'll most likely be much busier and more involved in activities when they're older.

I wish I could work only weekends while in school. Hubby doesn't make enough for me to do that though. :o

Angel

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Personally, what I would try is to see if you can work part time at your current job and find another part time job to supplement. CNA's are good, but their average pay is probably $7-10 an hour. Student loans have saved me, so that is always an option, and you can get an unsubsidized loan if you qualify for financial aid or not.

Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a "part-time" shift for a hygienist. Even if I worked just one day a week as one, it would have to be in the daytime (when nursing classes are). So, that won't work. :o

Angel

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Thank you, Angelia. It makes me feel better that you started school when you're kids were virtually the same age as mine are now (8 and 5). I have moments of doubt, when I think I should maybe wait until they're older. But then, I think it's probably best to actually start now. They'll most likely be much busier and more involved in activities when they're older.

I wish I could work only weekends while in school. Hubby doesn't make enough for me to do that though. :o

Angel

Just keep looking at the big picture. I'm a single parent who decided to purse my nursing degree. It's hard leaving my 2 year old buy I know I have to do it and besides it is temporary. What I do is on the weekends I use part of my day to study and do housework and the other half I devote to him. Even if we just watch a Barney tape together it's spending quality time. You'll be fine.

Good Luck

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That sounds like a terrific option, Kathy. But...don't you already have to be a certified nurse's aide in order to work as one in a nursing home? :o

I'm actually employed as a Personal Care Worker -- not sure if that is possible in the US, but here in Australia it is. My nursing training so far means that I can be employed as a PCW Level 2 :-)

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Specializes in Transplant.
Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a "part-time" shift for a hygienist. Even if I worked just one day a week as one, it would have to be in the daytime (when nursing classes are). So, that won't work. :o

Angel

That's too bad. One of my school mates is a hygienist part time while in school. She is able to attend school 8-12 and work 1-5. Sorry I couldn't be of any help.

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That's too bad. One of my school mates is a hygienist part time while in school. She is able to attend school 8-12 and work 1-5. Sorry I couldn't be of any help.
Just curious why you are leaving Dental Hygeine? Here in Indiana they make 25 to 50 bucks an hour! I looked into going to school for that and they have 1000 applicants for 15 slots. They accept no transfer credit and it is full time study too. DH's are in great demand here.
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I know all about the whole Mommy guilt thing. I began my quest for a second career after my husband left, and I was a Single Mom. My son was 3 when I started prereqs and 10 when I finally got out after several life occurences which caused me to have to RE start. It was a long, long road. My son was in after school day care, and that was when I did the majority of my studying at the library. I picked him up, he had me till bedtime, and I again studied till I crawled into bed. I did student loans. My girlfriends were awesome and babysat when I had an evening clinical. My son at graduation was sooo proud of his mom...to be able to tell everyone I was a nurse.

They will not go down the aisle mad at you...you will find the little moments that count... I also did a "date" dinner with him or something every couple of weeks to show him how proud I was of him while I was able to get through school.

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The mommy guilt is there always. I am not working right now because of it. My husband and I are just scraping by on his one pay check. It is barely enough to cover the bills or groceries but in the end god makes sure there's enough money. I try and study early in the morning before the kids wake up or right after class so I can go and pick up the baby about 330 after she wakes up from her nap. It is hard I feel so guilty but my kids are two different spans (14 and 2 years old) So I really feel guilty about the little one but one of the girls in my class also has a 2 year old the kids won't remember because they are so young. Thank goodness I am graduating in May now the next concern Do I want to work full time because we really need the money to catch up on stuff (such as home repairs I have let go, a new couch that needs to be recovered etc) or work part time? I am still mulling this over in my head. If you really want to be a nurse you will work it out It just seems to be that way Good Luck with your decision

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