Stay a medical assistant or go in more debt by pursuing nursing

Published

I owe 32,000 from my ba and 9500 more if I sign up for a medical assistant program.

I wanted to pursue nursing and make twice as much

But I owe enough don't you think?

1)Does anyone think, after I get a ma position in a hospital that pays tuition, that I should pursue nursing?

2 ) should I just stick with ma forever?

I'm looking for a way to be able to support myself and it's hard in the 5 boroughs. I'm living from pay check to pay check and I hate my current job ( preschhool )

Go straight to nursing. Going into debt to be an MA is not very sound to me. My sister is a MA and she make $15 hourly at a doctor's office in the north side of Chicago. She told me the pay is not great for the high COL and terrible commute. However, it's great that her schooling was free.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Whats your major and gpa from your previous bachelors?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you have a few options depending on the type of loan(s) and the GPA/major you had from your BA.

1) Depending on the loan type you have, you may also be exempt from paying them while you are enrolled in school (not sure if you need a certain number of units or not). It seems like you may have that covered with your income for right now.

2) Consider doing an accelerated program, other programs geared towards those with a degree, an associate's degree program, or a LVN program. Yes, you may need to take some prerequisite courses, but you will realistically have to take them anyways even if you became a MA (I have found prerequisites for careers in the medical field are not the same).

3) Are you sure Nursing is what you actually want to do? Make sure you have had the opportunity to

volunteer or shadow a nurse. Do not get into more debt if this is something you might walk away from. If this is truly something you want to do, then just go for it. There are programs out there for teachers to work in low-income areas for a certain number of

years to get their school loans taken care of. Check to see what you qualify for. I don't want to encourage you to get into more debt, but if you are going to spend $9,500 to become an MA then I would just go for nursing instead.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

Most community college have pretty cheap rates. I wouldn't waste my time and money becoming an MA just so i can work as one while going for nursing. Do you know what MAs make in your area compared to what you make now? What about getting your CNA and do that while working on nursing school, it would be a lot cheaper, faster and they work in the hospital. Most MAs work in doctor offices and most nursing programs have classes during the day time so that wouldn't work either.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
I owe 32,000 from my ba and 9500 more if I sign up for a medical assistant program.

I wanted to pursue nursing and make twice as much

But I owe enough don't you think?

1)Does anyone think, after I get a ma position in a hospital that pays tuition, that I should pursue nursing?

2 ) should I just stick with ma forever?

I'm looking for a way to be able to support myself and it's hard in the 5 boroughs. I'm living from pay check to pay check and I hate my current job ( preschhool )

What did a 32K BA get you?

Your student loans are still accumulating interest (i.e. getting bigger) while you sit on the sidelines with your useless BA.

To address your questions: "I owe enough don't you think?". The actual amount of debt as relative to the value of your purchase determines what is enough. You spent thousands of dollars on an education you cannot use to pay that money back. With any other loan, the lender determines the value of the purchase before lending the money. You can't borrow $100,000 for some beat up used car. With educational loans you determine if the burden of payback will be met by the potential income from that education.

"Does anyone think, after I get a ma position in a hospital that pays tuition, that I should pursue nursing?" I can't imagine an MA position in a hospital. Most Medical Assistants work for physicians in a clinic. Physicians are notoriously cheap having already opted for an MA instead of a nurse. Good question though. Does anyone know if any employer would pay for an MA to go back to school?

"should I just stick with ma forever?" It's a dead end job so you will be stuck in a low wage job paying off even more student loan debt. Don't plan on kids or a house.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just trying to get my points up!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

yeah i decided im gonna go to a community college in the fall and get transferable credits for a particular nursing im interested. Since I already have a BA im gonna apply to the asbn program. NOW I have a new problem, what kind of job do I get at night while doing a full time nursing program?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was thinking spending $450 for a accredited ekg tech course I found in my search. Those guys have night shift right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

major was math gpa was 2.96. I originally majored in math ed. but it bombed out in my fourth year of college when I took the internship part of it

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I was thinking spending $450 for a accredited ekg tech course I found in my search. Those guys have night shift right?

Most hospitals have techs or nurses do ECGs. I've not seen a dedicated EGV tech in decades

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You may want to go another route absn program are ridiculously competitive and it wouldn't be wise to work while in the program. Try the lpn route, you can work flexible hours while taking your time bridging and they make decent money (40-50,000).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Gotta work I'm a major contributor to rent and my mom is too sick to work

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion