Taking the Big Step

Published

Hey everybody...36 year old guy here who is finally taking a shot at the nursing field. I've worked in Surgery the past six years as a Surgical Tech. I think maybe I woke up one morning and realized I wanted new challenges and learn some new things...or maybe I realized I could do as good as job as our OR nurses. Either way, I'm starting classes this Spring at Eastern Kentucky University. Since I already have an Bachelors Degree (basically unused), some of my prereqs are already knocked out. I only need Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry and Nutrition..and then hopefully it's time to take on nursing school and the clinicals. I'm very excited about the challenges and the fact that my life will be transformed in just 2 or 3 years from now. Since I have a family and make OK money as a tech, naturally I'm worried about how I can continue to provide for my wife and kids. My wife does work, but her salary of 35,000 a year isn't going to pay all the bills....so I'm brainstorming some ideas on when I can work during nursing school. I know most of you on this forums are currently going through school, so I would like to say good luck and hopefully we can all be posting on the other side of the board here in a couple of years when we are RN's.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

:welcome:

glad you're here! I know you'll find some excellent resources!

Stephen

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Could you not work as a tech on a PRN basis, or work weekends? I'm willing to bet that the hospital would want to keep you in some form since you've been there 6 years already.

I work weekends at a bar and it has never interfered with my school at all. My first two semesters I actually worked evenings in a pathology lab and had the bar gig on the weekends as well. You will have time to work. It's not as demanding as some people make it out to be.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Could you not work as a tech on a PRN basis, or work weekends? I'm willing to bet that the hospital would want to keep you in some form since you've been there 6 years already.

I work weekends at a bar and it has never interfered with my school at all. My first two semesters I actually worked evenings in a pathology lab and had the bar gig on the weekends as well. You will have time to work. It's not as demanding as some people make it out to be.

I will probably have to transfer somewhere else in the hospital so I can work evening hours. Our surgery department runs a day shift and that's it. The biggest thing for me is to basically do awesome with the six prereqs I need before applying. Although I do have a prior BA, my GPA was only 2.7, so I need a string of A's to get that GPA near a 3.5 or better. The nursing program I'm shooting for has a point system if it comes down to competition (and I'm sure it will)

Fortunately, my previous degree is worth 10 points..so that will be a nice boost. So, really my biggest worry is probably not working during school, but just getting in at this point.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Honestly, since you have a previous degree and lots of medical experience, nursing school won't be that difficult for you. I have a biochem degree and I worked in pathology for 3 years before starting nursing school, and it has seemed really easy to me, and I go to a top 25 BSN program. I make mostly B's simply because I don't put as much effort as I could in, but I'm not trying to go to CRNA school either so it really doesn't matter. I'm also finishing another degree while in nursing school, so you should be able to squeeze some day shifts in surgery.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hey everybody...36 year old guy here who is finally taking a shot at the nursing field. I've worked in Surgery the past six years as a Surgical Tech. I think maybe I woke up one morning and realized I wanted new challenges and learn some new things...or maybe I realized I could do as good as job as our OR nurses. Either way, I'm starting classes this Spring at Eastern Kentucky University. Since I already have an Bachelors Degree (basically unused), some of my prereqs are already knocked out. I only need Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry and Nutrition..and then hopefully it's time to take on nursing school and the clinicals. I'm very excited about the challenges and the fact that my life will be transformed in just 2 or 3 years from now. Since I have a family and make OK money as a tech, naturally I'm worried about how I can continue to provide for my wife and kids. My wife does work, but her salary of 35,000 a year isn't going to pay all the bills....so I'm brainstorming some ideas on when I can work during nursing school. I know most of you on this forums are currently going through school, so I would like to say good luck and hopefully we can all be posting on the other side of the board here in a couple of years when we are RN's.

I'm in that "brainstorming" mindset as well. Being a single dad, I get no support and do it all myself 7 days a week. Daycare runs over 10k a year so I can even work, even a modest reliable car (love my Hyundais) comes out to a couple hundred a month not including insurance.

It's definitely challenging, but I've welcomed it all. I felt an artificial need to "show off" any success before now. Now that I'm in school again, especially for something as promising as nursing and something that feels so natural. I don't mind moving back down to a cheaper car or downsizing and asking the kids to share a room til daddy graduates, etc.

In all honesty, if my experiences are reliable, you'll have a harder time convincing your SO to modify HER lifestyle. Hopefully it works out though :welcome:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion