Should I go back to school?

[Gabriella06]

I have been a nurse in an oncology/progressive care unit for 2 and a half years. This is my first nursing job. I feel confident at what I do and at taking care of my patients.

I feel burnt out from my floor and although I have been able to transition to dayshift from doing nights recently.. I am tired.

I want to learn something new and do more with my life before I have kids and it becomes harder. I'm in my mid 20's and live at home.. with a dying urge to move out.

I also would like to make more money and become more financially stable, but my income as a staff nurse is not enough for me to move out or even really plan for a family in the future.

I've tried to transfer to other units but it's hard to find positions and I've been rejected many times at my interviews. I've tried ICU, OR, and NICU.

I'm very stuck because I also have a 4 year contract with the hospital I work at so I can only apply within the same chain of hospitals in my city. If I leave I may have to pay the hospital back.

Now I'm considering going back to NP school for the acute care track since I do work on a higher acuity oncology floor. But I wonder if it's a good idea. I do love to study and learn and would like to grow as an RN so I thought it would be a good idea. I have a few NP friends who work and tell me good things.

I've been told to go back to school now, while I'm technically still young but I'm not sure if that's true.

I need advice on what to do. Should I jump back into NP school? Or continue trying to switch specialties? How can I make more money? I am also dying to move out and it's hard to afford.