Teacher who would like to shift to nursing profession

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Hello to all the CNAs/LVNs/RNs out there.

I have read a lot of postings here and I really believe that this is the best place to solicit advices.

I am 41, single mother of 4 kids and a teacher of one of the biggest districts here in Texas. I am making around $58k annually. BTW this is my 20th year of teaching. I am now at the point wherein I am getting tired of teaching (too much stress, staying late for grading and recording, doing the same things again and again, etc). I don't want to ruin my record because of this feeling.

I am thinking of shifting to nursing since I really want to do something that is related to caring for people. I am willing to spend a year to go back to school plus my savings is just enough for us to survive for a year. I have checked some school websites and I realized that it takes 2 years to finish the program for RN. I know this will not work for me since I have 4 children to feed. I saw another option: Take an LVN program which is for a year, start working as LVN then take the transition program to RN once I have adjusted to my new profession.

I just want to know if there are nurses here or know somebody who did the same thing. I would love to hear your/their experiences. There are so many questions that pop up to my mind such as: Is it worth it? How much does an LVN receive? Will my salary as LVN feed my children and my schooling fo another year? Am I too old to shift profession? Is this option possible?

Please help me by sharing your opinions and eperiences! It will be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

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Well if you think teaching is stressful...wait until you get into nursing. It is a whole different kind of stress! I am a student now, and the stress of school is someting else. I work at a hospital as an aid now and the stress is out of this world for everyone on the unit. I mean everyone is disgruntled. It only gets worst when you become a nurse...more responsibility. Right now I am so dissapointed. I am wondering of the stress of school is even worth it. If you are truly passionate about nursing, then go for it. Just know that the stress of nursing may be even worse than the stress of teaching. Good luck.

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If you have a bachelors degree, many RN programs have degree programs that are 1 year. What state/area are you looking to go to school?

Hello to all the CNAs/LVNs/RNs out there.

I have read a lot of postings here and I really believe that this is the best place to solicit advices.

I am 41, single mother of 4 kids and a teacher of one of the biggest districts here in Texas. I am making around $58k annually. BTW this is my 20th year of teaching. I am now at the point wherein I am getting tired of teaching (too much stress, staying late for grading and recording, doing the same things again and again, etc). I don't want to ruin my record because of this feeling.

I am thinking of shifting to nursing since I really want to do something that is related to caring for people. I am willing to spend a year to go back to school plus my savings is just enough for us to survive for a year. I have checked some school websites and I realized that it takes 2 years to finish the program for RN. I know this will not work for me since I have 4 children to feed. I saw another option: Take an LVN program which is for a year, start working as LVN then take the transition program to RN once I have adjusted to my new profession.

I just want to know if there are nurses here or know somebody who did the same thing. I would love to hear your/their experiences. There are so many questions that pop up to my mind such as: Is it worth it? How much does an LVN receive? Will my salary as LVN feed my children and my schooling fo another year? Am I too old to shift profession? Is this option possible?

Please help me by sharing your opinions and eperiences! It will be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

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Reply to Jojo:

Thank you Jojo for your reply. I am here in Houston, Texas. Do you know a school here that offers that 1 year program that you have mentioned for those who have BS degree?

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Specializes in Psych nursing.

I live in Washington state and a LPN makes 17-19 dollars a hour depending..I am a new RN one year and I am making 66,100 a year in Psych nursing--It is a very very stressful job...:nurse:

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I would strongly advise against this. You are making an excellent salary. Nursing jobs are getting harder to find after all the hard work of school. (You would start out making less than you do currently and you are dealing with sick people - life/death issues.) I am a current student and contemplating dropping out (parent of 2 teenagers) due to the stress of school and after my acute care facility experience. I can tell I would be stressed going to work every day. Please focus on your children and being the great teacher that you currently are - I am sure you know your field like I know mine (dental hygiene for 20 yrs). It is difficult changing to a new profession, finding time for studying, kids and yourself. Good luck in your decision making, everyone gets burned out now and then. You might want to investigate a different field altogether. By the way, before you start in the advanced nursing program they have you complete the prerequisites first - two anatomy classes, microbiology, patho (check this out too - because it may really take you longer than you think). I retook these classes due to time limits. I feel now I would rather finish my teaching degree that I started a while ago (I have two years before classes expire).

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Specializes in ER.

My boyfriend is a teacher and I am an RN. If you think teaching is stressful after 20 years wait till you have your first shift as a new RN/LVN! Nursing is a 24/7/365. You will likely work nights when you start out and you will definitely have to work holidays if you are in a hospital. Childcare can be hard to secure especially for overnights, holidays, and weekends. If you become an LVN you would be taking a big pay cut, at least in my neck of the woods. Nursing school can sometimes even take longer than 2 years if you don't have A&P, microbiology, pharmacology, etc. I am not trying to discourage you from becoming a nurse but it is not as great as the media makes it out to be. Nursing is the hardest job I have ever had.

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Hi

I have been a nurse for 23 years and it is very stressful, please make sure you are going into nursing for the right reasons.

Thanks

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I have an education degree and am an accelerated degree which means i will finish with my bachelors in nursing in a year. you probably will need to take some pre-reqs before you apply but i think you would be a strong candidate for an 2nd degree program. good luck!

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I was a teacher for 13yrs, and shifted to nursing (the same reason as yours) - one of the best decisions I've ever made. Shifts vary... some days are busy, other days are fine.

In teaching, every day you're stressed; and you're right... when you get home, you still work - grade papers, prepare lesson plans, phone calls to parents, worry about getting observed the next day... etc, etc...been there, done that.

If I were to choose between LVN and RN, for a year difference, I'd choose the RN route... big difference in salary.

Good luck!

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I'm going to give you a few things to think about.. I'm TRYING not to be negative. If this is a dream of yours then GO for it. If it's something you think you want to do to "care" for people, look into other things. Caring for people went right out the window with all the paperwork and pill pushing that comes before patient care. If you can't find an accelerated RN degree (since you already have a BS) then you will most likely go the LPN route since it is 1 year. I was once a LPN and my salary wasn't anything to write home about. Could you live on 15-17 per hour with not so good benefits? Do you have childcare for overnight when you have to work or stay late? A lot of places have mandatory every other weekend. There are a lot of things that changed my mind after becoming a nurse. I am now a RN and I am happy doing what I'm doing but I can tell you that your teaching salary is still waaaaaay above what I make as a RN. My position now can only be filled by a RN so LPN's have a smaller job area to play around with.. Good luck with your choice- If I had to do things over, I would have chosen a different route.

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I can also understand what is stated above. If you strongly feel nursing is for you - go for it. This comment above is also what I think about of the teaching profession - different stressors. I am glad you stated them - I will rethink about giving up where I am in the nursing program. One semester down, three to go. (ADN though - I thought I would get an online BSN later while working). I am at a community college because the tuition is much cheaper. It is still a difficult program. I just worry about getting a job when I am done. Best of luck in your decision.

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