What would you do?

Slow and steady. Getting into Nursing School is not a given, nor is getting a job when you are done, so don't take on debt that you can avoid.

In North Carolina, if you don't get your CNA I while still in high school, you have to take it through a college, and the program is rather pricey. Considering the low hourly rate for a CNA, the program seems too expensive to me. At my school, the costs of the CNA program include: a background check, a urine drug screen, uniforms, a testing fee, the cost of tuition, the cost of books, a prescriptive learning license, and any other costs you incur. You also have to look at the fact that it will take money to buy the gas that will get you to and from class and to and from clinical sites. However, it is still much cheaper than the nursing program. Also, in North Carolina, you must have your CNA I BEFORE you can apply to nursing school, and if you do not have it you will not be accepted to any nursing program in the state. You may want to check and see if this applies for your state too. In addition, there is no guarantee that you will find a decent job with flexible hours as a CNA after you take the class, and if this is the case then you have wasted more money that you will never get back. The extra year may seem bad now, but it may give you time for a much needed break, it may give you time to find a source of income, and it may be a time that turns things around for you. If I were you, I would make sure I didn't have to have my CNA I in order to get into nursing school, weigh my options and figure out which was best for me, and then make my move. However, if I were in your position, I think I would wait the year and see how things went. A spot could always open up, people drop classes all the time. You never know what a year's time might do for you, and it could bring good changes to your life. Good luck!

The class may be closed, but perhaps the instructor will allow you to attend anyway (it is not unheard of) and since plenty of people drop out of these classes, you would have your seat. My professor did it this semester.

If not, I had to wait an additional year, unfortunately, and I know how you feel. I am probably in a better position to attend nursing school now, for a variety of different reasons. Everything is for the best, and if you are stuck waiting, try make the best of it by doing everything in your power to enhance your chances for getting into nursing school, and trying to get enough by way of funding together to achieve your goals.

Thanks for the replies!

I live in Missouri, I've looked into the requirements and I do not have to have to be a CNA. This is a part of the reason why I'm so conflicted.

The only reason why I'm considering this is because of the huge financial burden of nursing school. I could return to my former job at Subway, save money, and save myself the $1600 in tuition/fees. However, if I couldn't get into anatomy, I'd still be waiting. If I'm going to wait, I might as well do something to help me in the long run. Get my feet wet, start networking! The pay might not be much of a difference between a CNA and a sandwich "artist", but it's the experience I would be after.

As for attending the class, I could wait for someone to drop. Getting into a lab section that wouldn't conflict with my shedule as well, which is required, would be a whole different story.

Such a nightmare! Ah, sorry for all of the whining/venting/long posts. It helps me think and weigh my options!

I agree with Student4_Life. Totally take the CNA class this summer, bite the bullet, wait an extra year, and work/save to be more finanically stable? If you give yourself more time you put yourself in a position to not have to work a ton once you're actually in a nursing program and you just shore yourself up in ways you probably aren't even thinking about right now. Use the down time to take health career-related classes so your mind is still sharp but you're not under a whole lot of pressure to get everything done RIGHTNOW.

Also, in North Carolina, you must have your CNA I BEFORE you can apply to nursing school, and if you do not have it you will not be accepted to any nursing program in the state.

That's not true by any means. I got accepted into two programs this Fall and I have never stepped foot in a CNA program. I know of several schools that is close to me that does not require this.

Also to the OP,

In my state you can be a visiting student to another school, and your Pell Grant will pay for it. Also the credit hours will add to your "Full Time" student status. It's called a consortium agreement. I feel for certain you should be able to do this with your college, even though it's in a different state. The reason I believe this is because the Pell Grant is a Federal program and it supposed to have the same rules across all states. If it were me, I would check into this. The worse that would happen is that you pay for the CC class out of pocket, which would cost what? $300-400 dollars? Then you take your consortium agreement and receipt to your college FA dept and you get reimburised.

I would check with your FA dept and see if they do something like this, and you would be ahead of the game, I feel like.

agree with student4_life...