Thinking about going to school again for a BSN or Associates...

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Hi! I was very curious with this forum after I spotted a few people posting a similar problem to mine. I don't want to make my story too long, but I hope you're not bothered by its length.

When I first started college, I had this mindset where I thought I could tackle anything. I was pretty much forced into Nursing by my parents who kept warning me about how tough it was to find a job these days, and I took it with a grain of salt. Actually, because I felt like my future was being dictated I grew depressed, and while I was in the Pre-Nursing program I ended up doing poorly in Anatomy...Not just once, but twice. At that time I had no drive, I had no motivation to do nursing classes, and I was obsessed with the idea that I could make a living off of essays or articles... I thought, hey, why not - this is America, I could try out for a dream, but that's an entirely different story I won't tackle.

I graduated May 2014 with a B.A. in English, and after experiencing (in the shortest time ever) a lot of problems and finding myself virtually discriminated with finding a job teaching abroad...I want to go back for a second degree in Nursing.

I don't know how convincing I sound, but I know that I am motivated to go back. I know the trials that only the Pre-Nursing stage put us through, and I understand what is expected of me. I have a 3.06 GPA, and I know that I can't slack off in Anatomy or Physiology, Microbiology, and Statistics....Nursing210 and Nursing220 will be relentless on me, but I still want to do it.

I realize that I want to help people way more than I originally thought I wanted to. I want to help my family as well. I can't do a career where it leaves me empty-handed. I want to keep learning and helping.

That being said...since I have an accumulated debt of $30,000.00 I want to know what I should do? Should I tell my parents I want to get back to studying Nursing at a local college, or is it better to get an Associates? And how do I pay for myself....What options can I take since I don't want my family to help me, and I'm sure they can't anymore.

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Getting your ADN or BSN should be a decision you make based on what you can financially afford and more importantly what the facilities in your area will hire. Some facilities are Magnet facilities and prefer to hire BSN prepared nurses. You want to research this before you make a decision.

Also, I would shadow a nurse prior to committing to be coming a nursing major. Pre-nursing is rough, but, nursing is a-whole-nother ball game. It is important that you really know what you are in for. It's great that you like to help people, but, there is so much more that goes into being a nurse.

You also sound like you are going into nursing because you have had difficulty finding a job. Many new graduate nurses are struggling to find jobs. The nursing shortage does not exist entirely...some areas are desperately seeking nurses while others have plenty. Again, do your research so that you can make yourself as attractive as possible to potential employers.

To pay for school you can either take out more loans or try to find scholarships. You can also work during school if you feel you can handle it. I would really research nursing, the facilities in your area, and shadow a nurse prior to making your decision.

Best wishes on whatever you decide.

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Thank you!

My mother and cousins are nurses, so I actually know a lot more about what I have to face. I have also shadowed nurses before during a volunteering session years ago...

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Thank you!

My mother and cousins are nurses, so I actually know a lot more about what I have to face. I have also shadowed nurses before during a volunteering session years ago...

Wonderful then, again, good luck to you.

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