Switching Career at 35 married w/children...scared to death!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello, I've been lurking the board for some time now and I've finally decided to post. I'm looking into switching my career from the legal field to the nursing field. I've been researching on the best way for me to go from a Paralegal to a Nurse. I already have a bachelors degree and I think that's a good thing for me but when I look into the school that are offered here in Memphis, TN, I don't have many options. If I do the accerlerated program then I won't be able to work and I need to work. Even if I do the MSN at UT next year, I wouldn't be able to work either because its a 24 month program that again is offered during the day.

Does anyone know of any nursing programs that are offered at night? Should I start with trying to get my LPN or go straight for the nursing???

Any advice is GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you,

Cheryl

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hi cheryl,

i understand how you feel, i am married (37) with kids, changing careers. I have been accepted into Nursing school (BSN) program beginning August 09!! yah!!:bugeyes:

now i dont live in tenessee, BUT, i saw quite a few posts from people discussing schools in the memphis area right here on all nurses...you could try region search, or just type memphis schools in the search box...good luck!

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hi cheryl,

i understand how you feel, i am married (37) with kids, changing careers. I have been accepted into Nursing school (BSN) program beginning August 09!! yah!!:bugeyes:

now i dont live in tenessee, BUT, i saw quite a few posts from people discussing schools in the memphis area right here on all nurses...you could try region search, or just type memphis schools in the search box...good luck!

That's awesome...Good Luck to you!!!!!:yeah::nmbrn::clphnds:

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Go for BSN. I know it will be harder but you would have endless possibilities with BSN or even an Assosciate degree. LPNs are very limited in where they can or cannot work. Especially I think if you want work in hospitals your best option would be to become a RN. Do not be nervous about your age, in my 11+ years exp. I have worked with many great nurses who started later. In fact much better than some younger ones. Good luck!

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I'm doing it, too! I'm your age, 2 kids, husband, mortgage, already have a bachelors degree...Sucking it up and going back for my BSN. I quit my job (you know, the one I thought I couldn't quit because we couldn't afford it) and never looked back. I'm taking a summer class right now and I start my BSN on August 31. I'll be done 23 months from now! Not that I'm counting or anything...

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I say go for it too. I'm 33 and can't really start any program until next Fall at the earliest but I'm not letting it stop me. With your legal background it sounds like legal nurse consulting is something you may even find interesting, aside from the many other options you'll open your career to that simply were not available before. Good luck!

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Go for it!

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If the bottom line is that you need to work while going to school then look at the programs whose school hours seem doable with your working hours. If it comes down to LPN vs RN and neither of them seem doable with working too then I would say an LPN school would be the shorter course and after you complete LPN school you could work while doing a night time or online RN bridge course.

I can only speak from my experience. No previous college - took a couple prereqs at a time - then began a "full time" RN program at a community college. An adult student, married with children. Planned to work 20 hours a week. Homelife and RN school was stressful and I actually worked 6-8 hours every other week.

I don't know what paralegal school pass rates are like but the nursing schools I attended the pass rates were very low. My RN school began with 60 students and of those 60; several students failed the math exam in the first few weeks of school; then had to drop out and re-enroll for the next semester. Each semester some students dropped out as they were not passing and some went to the end of semester and did not pass. Out of the original 60 only 23 completed RN school on schedule and graduated. Add to that the fact that only 85% of those 23 will typically pass their NCLEX test and obtain their nursing license.

As I said homelife and RN school was stressful and I did not finish. I recently completed my LPN and plan to work while I complete my RN. Like you I need to work and help pay the bills.

I feel if I had known then what I know now I would have completed my LPN first and then a bridge program at night or an online program for LPN to RN.

Tennesse state board of nursing has a list of their nursing schools. Allnurses has a search bar- you can search and see if anyone posts here from the schools you are interested in.

http://health.state.tn.us/Boards/Nursing/education.htm

Best of Luck,

From tlc2u

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Thank you everyone for your responses...I'm currently looking to see if I can go for RN while working...I guess my fear is being able to handle work, home and school at the same time.

But, I know that i'm determined and I'll find a way to make it work.

Again, thank you everyone for your encouraging words.

Cheryl

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