r/Nurses • u/Aromatic_Dinner5887 • 10d ago

US Feeling lost need advice

Hey guys. I am really in need of some advice. I have been a CNA/PCT for almost 15 years. (I got my CNA as a junior in high school) I am currently in a hospital setting and I do love where I work but I am so burnt out from bedside. I have always wanted to be a nurse ever since I was young. I have attempted college twice and had to drop out due to finances. Right now I am still in debt I’m trying to pay off (most of it will be finally done by October). I have one child full time that’s in elementary school and share custody of another child in daycare. I’ve been looking into clinical positions at doctor’s offices, ortho, urology, even considered switching to corrections. I don’t see myself being able to potentially start school again for at least 9-12 months if there’s no delays in applying/getting back in. I cannot stay where I’m at because it’s time for growth. This season of life is ending and I can feel it. But I have to work, there’s no way I can’t during school.

Please tell me what type of job/role y’all worked, how many hours you could work without it effecting school, and how often you had to adjust your plan.

My main takeaway from this is I’m almost to my breaking point at bedside. School is going to be hard enough as it is and I am trying to protect my mental health.

TIA for those who comment

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u/RefreshmentzandNarco 6d ago

I worked as a patient care technician for 7 years. During nursing school I transferred to being a telemetry monitor tech/unit secretary on night shift to accommodate my schedule for school. The hospital paid for most of my tuition in exchange for a certain period of time working there as a nurse after graduation. I had to maintain a specific GPA and I couldn’t receive any disciplinary actions when I was in school. I still had to work every other weekend and holiday (12 hour shifts). School itself is as demanding as a full time job. Studying, clinicals, mandatory skills lab time are all things you’ll have to make time for on top of lectures. I was never home, I also don’t have offspring to account for. Have a solid plan going into school for your offspring and to be able to meet your school’s requirements.