Should I go back to school?

Accolay · Dec 17, 2017

Do you want to go to school? Are you bored enough yet that you want to a make move? Sounds pretty good if your employer will pay your tuition.

But you'd have to work full time until your husband is done AND go to school? Is that what I'm reading? If that's the case... it can be done, but it wont be that much fun.

AutumnApple · Dec 17, 2017

Can't answer that for you but I can tell you how I'd approach answering it for myself:

I diagram things when I can't decide. Yes, diagrams. A pros and cons diagram could do wonders for clearing up what outweighs what. It does for me anyway.

How to make a DECISION GRID

Sour Lemon · Dec 17, 2017

I am stuck. I am currently a lpn in ltc. I am a rcm/mds coordinator that makes a very decent wage of 28 per hour in rural Washington state. I have the opportunity to go back to school and have my employer foot the bill. I don't think my wage would jump all that much at my current job. However it would enable me to work in the hospital if I desire. I have 2 kids, a 10 year old and a 5 month old. My husband is currently in school so I would need to continue to work full time. Although my wage wouldnt jump much at my current job i have looked into moving into an area with a higher cost of living and as a lpn would take a serious pay cut. Any advice?

You'll have plenty of prerequisites to complete. Why not start (slowly) on those and see how it goes?

Butterfliesnroses · Dec 18, 2017

I don't know that I will have any prerequisites to complete as it is the same program I exited 7 years ago. The idea of going back to school and eventually working acute care appeals to me. I am scared because while I know the ins and outs of mds's I fear I lost a lot of the knowledge I learned in my 1st year of nursing school.

Sour Lemon · Dec 18, 2017

I don't know that I will have any prerequisites to complete as it is the same program I exited 7 years ago. The idea of going back to school and eventually working acute care appeals to me. I am scared because while I know the ins and outs of mds's I fear I lost a lot of the knowledge I learned in my 1st year of nursing school.

That's confusing ...did you start an RN program and not make it through?

Butterfliesnroses · Dec 18, 2017

I was in a rn program and exited 1st qtr of my rn year. I had the option of being jobless with no job prospects or quitting the program and working full time as a lpn and I chose the latter option which I now regret.

Sour Lemon · Dec 18, 2017

I was in a rn program and exited 1st qtr of my rn year. I had the option of being jobless with no job prospects or quitting the program and working full time as a lpn and I chose the latter option which I now regret.

In that case, I would check with the school to see how long your prerequisites are useable. If it's only for a few more years, jump on it so you don't have to retake them.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Dec 18, 2017

We are nurses, not financial advisors. You can ask this question pro bono with a professional.

Best wishes.

Butterfliesnroses · Dec 18, 2017

Not looking for financial advice. Just general advice.

amoLucia · Dec 18, 2017

You are in a catbird's seat. Quite an opportunity for you.

I guess that you're not ready for retirement any time soon, so having your RN (and BSN) can offer you future opportunities for you career, which I'm sure you know.

As PP Sour Lemon points out, check out your credits ASAP, esp science one (they tend to time-expire).

Give yourself and your life a hedge on your future by taking advantage of an opportunity not too many folk have avail.

Good luck.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Dec 18, 2017

If your employer is paying for it that's a hard opportunity to turn down. A question that nobody has asked yet though: you say you might want to move, if your employer is paying for school do you have to commit to working for them a certain amount of time or pay the tuition back to the employer?