Soon to be dad of 2 looking at a career as an LPN/RN/??

[andsoitgoes]

Hi everyone - here's my second attempt, I'll try not to kick out the plug of my computer this time!!

I'm a soon to be dad of two (twins... idents!) and I'm currently working an okay career making okay money (under $40k) - but there's an issue there, that's just not enough of an income (with the mistakes I've made in the past included), even along with my wife (who makes drastically more than I do) to survive and actually provide our kids with a GOOD lifestyle. Just looking at a basic mortgage/rent ... well, it's NOT an easy solution.

As it stands, I was previously looking at the nursing field, and I know it's something I'd be really great at, I love helping people - and I know I can be very soothing - but I really need to figure out the practical/financial/logical side of things.

I've looked at a lot of careers, and with my level of education (High School) - I'm pretty limited with what I've got right now, and nothing out there that I've seen that is fulfilling actually pays anywhere near enough. Which brings me to my main issue - is a career in nursing right for me? Both fiscally, fulfillment-wise and possible, with the onset of being a dad of two coming in less than a month.

I really need something that's going to support my family - unfortunately my wife is already going to have to go back to a work, probably within less time than the 50 weeks, because we're going to be so tight financially... I don't want that to happen, but with what I earn right now, there's no option. I really have no employable skills other than basic Customer Service, but I know that I want to do something where I come home after work and really feel as though I did something GOOD, and that I have a bank account that doesn't on a regular basis cry (loudly!).

I'm just so confused by the logistics of even getting INTO school, let alone doing this while having a full-time job. It's just very scary, and I know all of this should have gotten planned out well before all of this happened, but I'm here now and I'm finally open to asking for help/suggestions and even a shoulder to cry on :)

Anyway, thanks for listing to my rant all, and I appreciate any thoughts !!

Nick

Panicked soon-to-be dad of 2

[tommycher]

Nursing may be the answer for you, but I would certainly wait until the dust settles with all the life changes you have going on right now. Nursing school is the most time demanding all-encompassing type of schooling, not a good thing to do when the world is not at a stable point. When you do fufill your pre-reqs, I suggest going for the RN, it will help much more with the income and as long as you are taking the time to go to school, may as well. Unless there is a long waiting period for that program, and short waiting period for the LPN, then go for the LPN and advance your education with an online program to move up that ladder. Good luck to you.

[hypnotic_nurse]

What you might want to do now is call the schools in your area. Ask to speak to the School of Nursing, and have them send you some literature about their school, entry requirements, prerequisites, length of time to completion, cost, scholarships.

Universities, community colleges, and vo-tech schools all possibly have some kind of nursing program. Don't avoid the private ones either, sometimes you get more scholarships if you go the private route.

This semester has already started, so you wouldn't be eligible to take anything until summer (and those courses are more intense because the summer semester is so short). But you might be ready to jump right into the fall semester (depending on when those babies are due) so you might as well look at your options now (you can always read brochures while rocking sleeping babies).

Also considering filling out a FAFSA online -- that will give you an idea of what money you might be able to get in loans or grants.

[andsoitgoes]

What you might want to do now is call the schools in your area. Ask to speak to the School of Nursing, and have them send you some literature about their school, entry requirements, prerequisites, length of time to completion, cost, scholarships.

Universities, community colleges, and vo-tech schools all possibly have some kind of nursing program. Don't avoid the private ones either, sometimes you get more scholarships if you go the private route.

This semester has already started, so you wouldn't be eligible to take anything until summer (and those courses are more intense because the summer semester is so short). But you might be ready to jump right into the fall semester (depending on when those babies are due) so you might as well look at your options now (you can always read brochures while rocking sleeping babies).

Also considering filling out a FAFSA online -- that will give you an idea of what money you might be able to get in loans or grants.

Thank you both SO much. I didn't know if this form catered specificially to the Canadian field, so I'm not sure if that will change things at all...

Now - with that said, I'm going to make some calls around and I've got some contacts in some career planning agencies that I used previously, and of course nursing was VERY high on my test reults, which basically told me what I already knew.

But one of the concerns I have is that I'm going to need to continue working full time during the process - is that usually an issue, I'm okay if it will extend it by a few years... just as long as I can actually complete it, still have time with the babies, and prepare myself for long-term happiness, both fiscally and emotionally with a job that really means something to me.

So to sum up, what I'm still unsure of is:

- Jobs for Canadian Nurses

- Length of term for very part-time programs (RN/LPN - is it best to do LPN first and get in the field, and then complete the RN training afterwards?)

- Cost if I didn't get financing, and how likely it would be that someone in my seemingly okay financial situation (with my wife being back to work) would get financing

- CDN REAL averages of salary, I've found clear discrepencies with the wage details for nurses in Canada, and I'd just like something that was a bit more clear.

And thank you ALL so much for your replies, I'm happy to see a real side of this, and I hope that it will increase as well over these discussions!

Nick

Not as panicked, possibly elated soon to be Dad of 2 (and whose wife may be coming home tomorrow, yay!)

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Congrats on your impending twins!

Definately go to the school and talk to an admissions advisor. You are probably going to need to take basic general ed courses for a while like English, Math, and Biology, etc. depending on what you had in high school. These can be taken while working full time, either at night, or online. Get as many of these out of the way so you can take nursing by itself. That's how I was able to work full time while going to nursing school.

Sorry, but I'm in Florida and can't answer anything about Canadian nursing.

Take it easy, one step at a time and commit yourself to the long haul and it will happen. Make the RN your goal, but you could also get your LPN first, which is less money but quicker, then you can keep on going for the RN which is a better income with good job opportunities.

Good luck to you.

[hypnotic_nurse]

I don't know about Canada either (in Oklahoma) but I can tell you that I worked full time throughout nursing school with 2 kids (older than yours) but without any family support.

If you are the type of student who struggles, I wouldn't suggest working full time. If you get things fairly quickly, though, you'd probably do OK.

[Fiona59]

I've sent you a pm. Check ur mailbox.