Student Loans to finance my CC tuition, basic living expenses all the way through BSN

[ccstudentpsychnurse]

So, for various reasons, I do not wish to live at home with my mother anymore. Simply put, it's emotionally and mentally damaging to be living here. I'm 20, getting through my pre-reqs at my community college (COC in santa clarita) and planning on applying to the nursing program at COC (an associate's degree program), most likely doing the COC-CSUN ADN-BSN Concurrent Enrollment Nursing Program. I can't find a job, and I can't really work even part-time either because I have a lot of classes. Anyway, I can get a studio apartment around here at about $600/month and I'd only have basic living expenses like that rent and groceries and a very small cell phone bill, and miscellaneous other things. I am in a much better mental and emotional state when I'm not around my mother, and I truly believe that not living here anymore would help me out so much. I just can't finance it in any other way besides using federal/private student loans. I realize it adds up and student loans never go away, but nursing is a great, solid career that is always in demand, so I think it'd pay off to live off the loans right now when I can't afford anything else, and then pay them off later when I have a good nursing job (planning on going into psych nursing and eventually becoming a PMHNP). What do you guys think? Please let me know if I'm kidding myself. If it'd absolutely ruin my future, I could push through living the next few years with my mom, but I'll be miserable.

Please give me your honest opinions, thank you :)

[ccstudentpsychnurse]

InfirmiereJolie, while I appreciate your advice and your help, you have no right to judge me or my position. You have no idea what my living situation is like, and comparing my life experience to anyone else's is incorrect. I appreciate that other people wish they had family; however, that does not make the fact that I am not close to my family wrong.

[tara1245]

I'm not able to live at home either. It's not always possible. I have 2 roommates and am super careful with my finances. We split utilities and the internet and it's so much cheaper than if I had a studio or one bedroom. Working part time, attending a community college, and being frugal has let me get by w/only taking out a few thousand in loans. From reading the other threads here I've learned that a lot of new grads are having trouble getting work. The nursing shortage seems to be a myth, at least at the present time. It does make me nervous even though it should pick up when the economy does. It seems like every other person in my classes is planning on nursing and it's making me consider other career options. I really want a good job right out of school and I'd prefer to not have to relocate.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

I think you should start by rethinking that "nurses are always in demand". Take a look at the number of unemployed nurses in your state. There are several threads discussing this. Then do some reading on student loans and repayments, there are lots of threads on this subject too.

Exactly this. I live about 30 miles from you and just graduated with my BSN in August. I lucked out and was working by October, but I"m also not that young and this was a second career, which IMO I think really helps out getting a nursing job now...especially because I can prove that I was with my past employer for YEARS. Nursing is not in demand right now. I think your best bet is to continue school, live with your mom, get your CNA certification and work while doing all that. Some experience is better than none. Try getting hired in a major hospital as a CNA and see if they will hire you once you have your RN. Its still a slim shot, but at least after you graduate you will still have a job. I know UCLA pays $20 an hour for nursing aides.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

I think you should stay at home and be more appreciative that you have that opportunity. There are some people out there who don't have a good relationship with their family or have no relationship at all (foster children, ect). Remember, though you don't appreciate it there are people out there who wish they were in your position and were close to their family.

I work part time at my CA college's life science labratory as a full time student, while getting a good GPA. It's possible and rewarding too. I love my supervisors and coworkers.

I think this is unfair also. You dont know what she/he has to deal with. If someone told me that, I'd more than likely cuss them out. Living with my mother was a living nightmare, and in all reality, I'm sure not having her around would have been better for me. Even now as an adult with minimal communication my mother still finds ways to interfere in my life and try to make it miserable, though I dont let her, she has tried, believe me.

[mandyroseallen]

I was considering getting a CNA certification and working at a local hospital... would a hospital hire me as an aid as a pre-nursing student, without any certification? Also, do any of you know any CNA certification programs within 100 miles of my area (Santa Clarita/Newhall, CA)?

You would have to look into your states requirements and the hospital you want to work for.....but I think it's something you should definitely look into. Get some experience in healthcare.

There are plenty of places that don't 'require' certification, but they also usually do not pay very well. Like home health, group homes, resident assitants at nursing home extensions. In Michigan you can get Certified [CNA] after taking the first semester of your nursing program...or there are plenty of career academies that offer the program. Also, many employers will reimburse you for your state licensing fee after 90 days of employment [in Michigan anyway]... Look into it a little bit for your state, I am sure CA has plenty of options and courses.

It would be a good idea for you to get a glimpse of what working in healthcare is actually like [good for any prospective nursing student]. Working as a CNA is a great way to make connections with future employers and get a foot in the door somewhere for after you graduate.

As many people have said, there is no nursing shortage-nurses are 'seemingly' in demand-because it always looks like there are plenty of jobs out there, but they mostly want experienced nurses...there are lots of nursing job postings on various job websites...but that is not because of any shortage...that is simply because healthcare has a huge turnover rate...for every job you see there are 100-200 nurses applying. Sure there looks to be plenty of jobs available at any given time, but there are also tons of nurses looking for work.

Example:: One of my coworkers graduated in May with her ADN...it took her until December [2 weeks ago] to land an interview. She had applied to over 45 jobs in that time...did not hear from any until this one. She has accepted a per diem position because there are no FT and few PT positions available for new grads. She can't get into the hospital because they don't hire anything but BSN now that they have Magnet status...and the other hospitals have told her they have met their 'new grad' quota at this time. Her CC class graduated 45 RNs. That same month 2 Universities graduated their nursing classes of 200+ from one college, 100+ from the other...and in just a few weeks one of those universities will graduate another class. ...and this is the output of new nurses..every..single..year. When you take those numbers into account you can easily see that there are not enough jobs for even the new grads...let alone the experienced RNs looking for jobs.

So where am I going with this?... Get a PT job in healthcare..CNA, unit secretary, scheduler, patient transport, rehab tech, receptionist, medical office.. Anything medically related that you can get into..because when it comes time to apply for your first RN job-you are going to need connections and experience in healthcare....and if it takes you a while to land your first RN job, at least you will have a little income coming in! GL!!! :)

[Fearless_leader]

[COLOR=#003366]ccstudentpsychnurse I disagree with other posters. I'm in a similar situation except I live in Florida and have children and seeking a divorce. I just started working at a local hospital part time until I can switch to a full time position. If it's that bad with your mom I would go with your plan. I'm saying this because only you know your situation better than anyone else, and even though you asked for our advice. The decision is up to you. As far as student loans go. Bills will always be apart of your life. I have student loans as well but sometimes we have to use them to help us out. Check out local state agencies as well maybe you can recieve welfare or work study programs, scholarships etc. something. I'm just saying whatever works for you may not work for others. As for me my loans and part time will be my tools to finish school. Good Luck and your in the right field if your heart is in it.

[InfirmiereJolie]

InfirmiereJolie, while I appreciate your advice and your help, you have no right to judge me or my position. You have no idea what my living situation is like, and comparing my life experience to anyone else's is incorrect. I appreciate that other people wish they had family; however, that does not make the fact that I am not close to my family wrong.

I'm sorry, but you just sounded extremely spoiled. Here your mom is practically letting you live with her for free for two years, paying your rent, your living expenses, buying you food, maybe even cleaning up your house, possibly cooking for you, probably helping pay your tuition and then you go off on some website about how awful it is to live with her.

How would you like if it this was turned upside down, with YOU paying for everything, paying the rent, paying the bills, cooking for your parent, buying them food, and paying all your tuition yourself? There are people who take care of their elderly parents, and you simply sounded like a young person who doesn't care about what has been handed to you for FREE for the last two years. If I got $10,000, free rent, free food, free bills paid, I'd be VERY happy.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry, but you just sounded extremely spoiled. Here your mom is practically letting you live with her for free for two years, paying your rent, your living expenses, buying you food, maybe even cleaning up your house, possibly cooking for you, probably helping pay your tuition and then you go off on some website about how awful it is to live with her.

How would you like if it this was turned upside down, with YOU paying for everything, paying the rent, paying the bills, cooking for your parent, buying them food, and paying all your tuition yourself? There are people who take care of their elderly parents, and you simply sounded like a young person who doesn't care about what has been handed to you for FREE for the last two years. If I got $10,000, free rent, free food, free bills paid, I'd be VERY happy.

What if the "position" included abuse? Either verbal or emotional? Would you still want to be there? I dealt with verbal, emotional and psychological abuse from my mother, and had no way out. Think before you speak. That's usually the best thing to do.