Switching schools, Oh how I screwed up

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First post, here goes.

Backstory/wall o' text:

I'm a full time bsn major at NSC here in Nevada. I'm also a mom of 4 kids, and returning back to school after a pretty awful divorce and chaotic life. I know we all have our sob stories so I'll make mine brief.

Applied to pre-nursing in 2014, got all A's at first as I was part time, but then life started to go bat **** insane. My divorce happened:moved myself and my then 3 children (one a new baby) out into the middle of the ghetto while working a really crappy job, but kept pushing myself through school.

Long story short, over the course of 3 years, Best friend and her son were murdered, I was almost killed in a car accident, met someone and had a baby that I almost died on the table giving birth to (and then bled out 12 weeks pp in the middle of midterms during cadaver labs and yay, almost died again). and through it all while I have stuck it out, we have struggled emotionally, physically, and financially. My student loans are almost maxed out from having to take extra to pay off bills, rent, medical costs, time off work etc. and NOW I may not have enough to pay for the rest of school to finish my BSN.

So here's my problem and where I need advice.

To finish my pre-reqs and get into my scrubs and start clinicals with the BSN program at my current school, I'll need another few semesters of classes and retakes to get my GPA up to a competitive 3.7 or higher. I won't have the funds to do this after spring semester. and the remainder of the BSN program is 20k. I only have like 14 left in Fin Aid.

I COULD switch to a cheaper school, finish the classes I have now, and apply 3/2018 for the fall ADN program. Complete my ADN in 4 semesters and precept in the final semester as well as work as a NAP and once I start making money when I graduate (or even before as a NAP) I can just do the bridge to BSN/RN since I'll only have a couple classes left to take and finish it up that way?

I guess I'm just looking for a little reassurance here. It's been a really messy and chaotic couple of years. I haven't had a second to catch my breath since 2014. It's been a whirlwind of sadness and scary things and the only good things to come out of it have been my boyfriend and our kids. Being a nurse is all I have ever wanted since I was 4 years old and I promise my dad on his hospital bed I would NOT give up, but every time I get two steps forward, I fall 20 steps back. life keeps kicking my ass and it's been really hard not to give up these days. I'm studying for my TEAS right now and it's not going well at ALL, and Im starting to wonder if God is trying to tell me something.

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I'm very sorry you have gone through this. It's perfectly understandable that your school work suffered during this difficult period. You did get excellent grades before your troubles began, so that shows you can do the work. Many students end up taking longer to graduate and end up as successful RNs, so you are not alone. You outlined a very good plan to address this situation. In addition, please talk to someone at your school - you should have been assigned an advisor. At the very least, they should have a counseling program. Also, if you have a professor you feel close to, then try talking to them. Good luck!

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I've been working with advising because when my best friend and her son were killed, I dropped a class because between her death and a positive pap I was a wreck. I couldn't keep up with exams. So I ended up on SAP probation and I had to work with advising and the dean of Uris g to get back in good standing.

I have an appointment with advising this week via webchat because I don't have a car now. My van was repossessed right after I had the baby in December (I did my final from my hospital bed lol, then went back to class in the spring, which is probably why angry uterus tried to kill me 12 weeks pp). i couldn't work and they took the van. My husband has a car but he works 12 hour days to try to keep a roof over our heads. I have to retake a&p 1 since I got a c- this semester. The whole thing is a nightmare :(

Hopefully my advisor will be objective about switching to the less expensive school and taking the longer route to my BSN and not just loyal to our school and trying to get me to stick it out there

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If it is important to your advisor that you finish the program at your school, s/he will come up with a way for you to do it.

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THIS: my AP professor is a doctor and she has been a huge help. She was teaching my cadaver lab when I had the bleed and had to leave to have the emergency d&c in the middle of her class. Honestly she is the only reason I haven't dropped out. She told me that I am an A student and she can see it in me, in my work and my discussions and participation in class. That the test scores don't reflect that. That they show a overwhelmed/burnt out mom in survival mode who is in fight or flight to the point her brain can't retain anything more than how to keep her family safe and the bills paid right now. She wanted me to take a semester off to focus on taking care of my family (she's doing the same right now) but i can't keep pushing my degree back. The sooner I get my RN, the sooner I can do the work I love and provide to finanical stability for my family.

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What's the market like for ADNs in your location?

It might not be your first choice, but it's better than no choice at all. If you can't afford the program, you can't afford it. Either you'll need to take time off to make more money to pay for school, or you'll need to choose a cheaper option.

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You may need to take a semester off to get your personal life squared away. Plenty of nursing students do that and graduate and are successful. If you are a full time student, financial aid is available. There are also loan repayment programs. Talk to your financial aid office.

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I've almost maxed out my financial aide... that's the problem and why I have to switch to a cheaper school. I'm already at 35k...

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