Thinking about going into Nursing

If you truely want to know what nursing is all about go work at an area nursing home or hospital to get a feel for the position. work as a cna for a while because this is the same things you will be doing as a nurse. It's not all clean and easy work and at time it is very trying especially working with dying patients or a family who's not ready to cope with the death of a loved one. I hope this helps alittle and if you are going into it for themoney which so many are now a days don't waste your time because you definitely don't get paid what you are worth

------------------

Oh, I don't want to become a nurse for the money! When I spoke of financial stuff, I was talking about the cost of schooling! I want to become a nurse because I want to help people & I want to make a difference in their lives if I can. Most of all, I want to experience the miracle of childbirth. Which, I know that there are downs to that too & not all births turn out to be like we hope them to be. Anyway, thanks for the advice!

I was 28, married with 2 small children, when I returned to college to study nursing. There is a lot of financal aid out there. Contact the college which you are planning to attend and ask for a financal aid package. It is usually free to fill out. This will tell you if you are entitled to any grants and loans. I didn't work prior to going into nursing so I had no idea what to expect. It would be great if you could find a job as a nurses' aide while awaiting to stat school. I found out the students who worked in the medical field had a advantage over me because they were already exposed to a lot. I live in NJ and in my hospital LPNs are being weaned out. My advice to you is to check out your local community college and start in a RN program from the get go, you will not regret it. If you start out as an LPN, you may put off going back to get your RN. Good luck! I hope I was helpful.

[This message has been edited by linn (edited September 18, 1999).]

If you really want to go to nursing school then you will find a way. I agree with the others. Check out your state tech schools or state college. An Associate's Degree will take two years full-time. Some programs allow you to sit for the LPN boards after the first year (which will be a better paying job than your present one) and then finish your RN degree. There's money out there but you have to ask questions. Finding that money will actually help you with some of the skills needed to succeed in nursing school. Good Luck

You sound a lot like me. I am 29 and have two sons(3 and 1) and I have decided that nursing is my calling in life also. We have a Jr. College here where I live and I've been checking into things and this is what I've come up with. First, in February I am taking a CNA class. It is only 2 nights a week for 12 weeks. After that I plan to get a part-time night job at one of our hospitals or nursing homes. I stay at home with my boys and I don't want to put my youngest in preschool until he is atleast 3 so in the Fall of 2001 I will start a one year LVN program. In the meantime I also plan to take the prerequesites for the ADN-RN program one at a time that way eventually I can take the one year LVN to RN transition course. Maybe after that I'll take a little more and get my BSN, who knows. I think that doing it this way is a good option for people with children and financial concerns because you don't have to just drop everything and go to school for 3 years. It is also my hope to work in L&D. Having children was the greatest experience of my life!! Anyway, best of luck in whatever you decide!!

Kimberly

Oh, I also meant to say that I think you SHOULD just go for it if you think you and your husband can handle the struggle. The LVN/LPN programs only take a year and you can always get more education later. Go for your dream while you are young and also only have one child(I'm assuming your child is in school, so daycare won't be a problem). Like one of earlier posts said there is a lot of financial aid out there as well as loans. The LVN program here costs about $3000 so a loan would definitely be worth it. Also, you probably can't start until the next Fall semester(atleast that't how it is here) so ya'll could start living on your husbands salary now and save all of yours for school. Look to the Lord, He will help you find a way!!

Just go for it. There are college loans and if you want to do it, do it now. I am 43 years old and have 4 children. I an Nursemidwife and it took me 10 years to finish my education. I am happy at what I do and have no regrets. I work in labor and delivery for 3 years before midwifery school. I volunteered as a labor coach for single moms, that really slam dunked it! Now, I am in a FNP program!!