Budgeteers, would you consider this???

[indimom]

I'm seriously considering going back to school to get a medical technical degree. In order to do this, I would have to quit my current job (I run a licensed home day care and the program I'm looking at requires daytime coursework at hospitals/labs about an hour away).

I may or may not be able to manage some part time work on top of the classwork in the evening or weekends. That remains to be seen. DH wants me to focus on the schoolwork especially the first couple semesters since it's a competitive program (they only accept about 30% of applicants based on pre-reqs and test scores).

We will be cutting our income by about 30%. I think we can manage, but our budget will be tighter than the bark on a tree. (And I feel like we're on a tight budget now). All of the extras will be cut completely and we will put a hold on any additional savings (but not DH's retirement) during this time period.

My biggest concern are EMERGENCIES that may come up in the next two years. We have an option that would give us some more cushion, but I just can't decide if this is a good idea or not...

So, your advice, please!

We currently have 12 years left on our mortgage. We own around 50% of our home (based on our last appraisal in 08). We could refy to 30 years which would lower our interest by a percent and would cut our payment in half.

This would allow us to live a bit more comfortably while I go to school (not for extras, but to insure some cushion for emergencies and unexpected expenses). We would not WASTE this money in any way. If it was unneeded month to month, it would go into a savings account.

I checked some online calculators and if we revert back to our original payment quickly after I get out of school, we would only be behind two years on our final payment. If we overpay by a couple hundred, we could still finish out our mortgage on schedule. This should be doable once I've gotten a new job because the starting pay in this field is double what I bring in now.

My other thought/idea. I was looking into loans for this program which I anticipate costing under $10,000. I checked online and it looks like the rates for college loans have risen from around 3-4% to almost 7% since last year.

Would it be a better idea to take equity out of the house if we refy to pay for the schooling? This way I'm only paying 3.9% interest on the schooling costs. Yes, this would add a couple years to our anticipated payoff date.

Final detail. Our daughter will be a junior in high school the year I would finish my schooling. Will having school loans vs. a larger mortgage help or hinder her ability to get financial aid when she goes to college??

I just don't want to make a decision out of ignorance which is going to cost us dearly or make life more difficult for my kids once they hit the college years.

Sorry this was so long. I appreciate any and all advice. Thanks.

 

[girli565]

Is there any way to do the program you're looking into part time? I know many technical schools and AA programs that are very accommodating to a person who has a career during the day. Maybe look into other schools offering the same program that is more accommodating to your schedule?

Going back to school is usually never a bad investment, you may be tight for a few years but once you finish school and get a job in that field you'll be making more money than you do now, right? I'd risk it and go back to school.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm seriously considering going back to school to get a medical technical degree. In order to do this, I would have to quit my current job (I run a licensed home day care and the program I'm looking at requires daytime coursework at hospitals/labs about an hour away).

Is this a certificate program or will you get a college degree? What job would you be getting when you're done?

I may or may not be able to manage some part time work on top of the classwork in the evening or weekends. That remains to be seen. DH wants me to focus on the schoolwork especially the first couple semesters since it's a competitive program (they only accept about 30% of applicants based on pre-reqs and test scores).

What will you do if you do not get into the program after having spent money and time on the pre-req courses and testing? Do you have a back-up plan?

We will be cutting our income by about 30%. I think we can manage, but our budget will be tighter than the bark on a tree. (And I feel like we're on a tight budget now). All of the extras will be cut completely and we will put a hold on any additional savings (but not DH's retirement) during this time period.

I suggest that you create a budget that is based on just your husband's income. Then try to live on it for a while. You may learn that it is not as hard as you thought, or it may show that you cannot afford to do this.

My biggest concern are EMERGENCIES that may come up in the next two years. We have an option that would give us some more cushion, but I just can't decide if this is a good idea or not...

Do you have an emergency fund now? If not, this may not be the right time to be cutting your income voluntarily.

So, your advice, please!

We currently have 12 years left on our mortgage. We own around 50% of our home (based on our last appraisal in 08). We could refy to 30 years which would lower our interest by a percent and would cut our payment in half.

This would allow us to live a bit more comfortably while I go to school (not for extras, but to insure some cushion for emergencies and unexpected expenses). We would not WASTE this money in any way. If it was unneeded month to month, it would go into a savings account.

I checked some online calculators and if we revert back to our original payment quickly after I get out of school, we would only be behind two years on our final payment. If we overpay by a couple hundred, we could still finish out our mortgage on schedule. This should be doable once I've gotten a new job because the starting pay in this field is double what I bring in now.

I'm not a big fan of putting the house on the line in order to finance school. Student loans can be placed in deferment if you fall on hard times (loss of a spouse's income, debilitating medical bills, etc.) but your mortgage company doesn't care if life has gotten in the way of paying them.

The starting pay at the new job might be double what you're making now, but there are some other considerations such as uniforms, commuting expenses, continuing education costs, licensing fees, and whether there will even be a job waiting for you when you get out of school.

My other thought/idea. I was looking into loans for this program which I anticipate costing under $10,000. I checked online and it looks like the rates for college loans have risen from around 3-4% to almost 7% since last year.

Would it be a better idea to take equity out of the house if we refy to pay for the schooling? This way I'm only paying 3.9% interest on the schooling costs. Yes, this would add a couple years to our anticipated payoff date.

You should talk to the financial aid officer at the school to determine the actual costs. They can also show you where and how to obtain loans. I already stated that I would not put the house on the line to pay for school when student loans are available.

Final detail. Our daughter will be a junior in high school the year I would finish my schooling. Will having school loans vs. a larger mortgage help or hinder her ability to get financial aid when she goes to college??

I just don't want to make a decision out of ignorance which is going to cost us dearly or make life more difficult for my kids once they hit the college years.

Sorry this was so long. I appreciate any and all advice. Thanks.

No, your debts are not a consideration when FAFSA calculates your EFC for your daughter's college needs. They only want to know what you made last year and what you have in the bank now. They will take business and farm assets into consideration but not how much you owe on the family home.

One more bit of advice: Talk to people who have gone through the program you're looking at. Find out the percentage of graduates who are working in the field. Ask how long it took for them to find a job. Get first-hand information on what kind of benefits, wages and opportunity for advancement there is in the field you're entering. Look for professional journals written for and by people who do the kind of work you're studying for. Find out what kind of changes are anticipated with the new health care laws. DO NOT rely on the school to inform you on this stuff. They will paint a rosy picture of what it will be like. Get the real scoop from the man (woman) in the trenches.

 

[Natalie's Mommy]

i'd wait a year and try and live off just your husbands income banking away yours for an emergency fund. that way you wouldn't have to refinance your mortgage or worry about an eremgency since you would have that years worth of cushion built up.

 

[ceecee]

So much depends on what you can do with said degree. Medical Tech may not pay that much, although if you are getting an Associate degree thru a tech school it shouldn't be that expensive. I probably would not do it if it meant going into debt. Look into an allied health associate degree that will give you a good income (PT, dental hygt., resp ther, etc.). Also check to see what kind of wait and how many people are accepted into their programs and make sure the college is accredited.

 

[ajh88]

Others have already addressed things nicely - I would wonder if the coursework at hospitals, etc. is constant throughout the program? Many programs (perhaps not this one though), have periods of coursework then maybe one semester where you have to do clinical type work - just saying you may not have to quit your job right away, depending on how the program is structured.

Also, you might consider if you could still work part-time even during school. Is it year round, or would you have summer off? You may not make as much as you make now (and obviously you would have to look at cost/benefit for your family), but just because you are going back to school doesn't mean your income has to reduce to zero. It may not be a job you love or one you even want to keep, but even 20 hours a week might help make things not so tight - or help to cover school expenses so you don't have to take out loans.

If you find that you really can't work and get through the program, you could always let the job go at that time. I just think that anything is do-able for a short period of time - I graduated school (pharmacy) last May and worked full-time through the majority of my program. It wasn't easy and I was a boring person (work or school and very little play), but we all knew it was relatively short-term. Even if you worked one shift a week and every other weekend, that should get you 30-35 hours a pay period.

Good luck no matter what you decide!

ETA: Sorry - I see now where you mentioned you may be able to work part time - I would definitely say to go for that! But realistically try to determine what job you might get and how much it might pay.

 

[indimom]

Is there any way to do the program you're looking into part time? I know many technical schools and AA programs that are very accommodating to a person who has a career during the day. Maybe look into other schools offering the same program that is more accommodating to your schedule?

I could do the prereqs part time or online. Once you are in the program, it is M-F daytime hours only. We live in a rural area and this is the cheapest program (technical school). The universities are just about as far away and three times the cost.

Going back to school is usually never a bad investment, you may be tight for a few years but once you finish school and get a job in that field you'll be making more money than you do now, right? I'd risk it and go back to school.

It would definitely be more money and would most likely offer additional benefits which I do not have now.

Is this a certificate program or will you get a college degree? What job would you be getting when you're done?

It would be an associates degree in science. I could continue on and get a bachelors hopefully after I have a job under my belt.

What will you do if you do not get into the program after having spent money and time on the pre-req courses and testing? Do you have a back-up plan?

There are actually three different programs I'm considering in radiology/radiation therapy and in imaging (sonography or x-ray tech). Many of the prereqs for these three programs are the same, so I was considering applying to more than one to hedge my bets somewhat. The area I am most interested in is radiation therapy, but it happens to be the one with more requirements. None of these programs have a wait list, but you can reapply if you do not make it in on your first try.

I suggest that you create a budget that is based on just your husband's income. Then try to live on it for a while. You may learn that it is not as hard as you thought, or it may show that you cannot afford to do this.

I have considered this. I just hate waiting.
I admit its probably our smartest option.

Do you have an emergency fund now? If not, this may not be the right time to be cutting your income voluntarily.

Yes, we have an emergency fund. About three months worth of living expenses. My concern is, I know how quickly that can disappear when things go south. Our house is in good shape (won't need a roof for awhile, etc.) and we just bought a newer car last year. Medical worries me though. We've gotten nailed by that before.

I'm not a big fan of putting the house on the line in order to finance school. Student loans can be placed in deferment if you fall on hard times (loss of a spouse's income, debilitating medical bills, etc.) but your mortgage company doesn't care if life has gotten in the way of paying them.

Thanks. This is just the type of advice I was looking for. I never had loans when I went to college back in the day so I know very little about how this works. Can all loans be deferred (subsidized vs. unsubsidized)? I'm not sure what I may end up with. Your right that this makes a big difference in my feelings about borrowing from equity in the house.

The starting pay at the new job might be double what you're making now, but there are some other considerations such as uniforms, commuting expenses, continuing education costs, licensing fees, and whether there will even be a job waiting for you when you get out of school.

Uniforms are definite. Commuting is likely. I'm not sure about the continuing ed and licensing fees, so I'll have to look into those. I don't know if there will be one waiting, but everything I've read seems to indicate these are careers that are expected to grow faster than average so I'm hopeful. Our local hospital has been growing by leaps and bounds and we are a small community so I've got a glimmer of hope that I may find a local job, but I'm not counting on it.

You should talk to the financial aid officer at the school to determine the actual costs. They can also show you where and how to obtain loans. I already stated that I would not put the house on the line to pay for school when student loans are available.

That's on the agenda. As well as meeting with an advisor to get a clear idea about which area I may be most interested in or if I can/should apply to more than one.

No, your debts are not a consideration when FAFSA calculates your EFC for your daughter's college needs. They only want to know what you made last year and what you have in the bank now. They will take business and farm assets into consideration but not how much you owe on the family home.

Thanks. I was never sure exactly what they take into account. That's simple enough.

One more bit of advice: Talk to people who have gone through the program you're looking at. Find out the percentage of graduates who are working in the field. Ask how long it took for them to find a job. Get first-hand information on what kind of benefits, wages and opportunity for advancement there is in the field you're entering. Look for professional journals written for and by people who do the kind of work you're studying for. Find out what kind of changes are anticipated with the new health care laws. DO NOT rely on the school to inform you on this stuff. They will paint a rosy picture of what it will be like. Get the real scoop from the man (woman) in the trenches.

I've got one meeting lined up with a friend of a friend. My sis (who works at a nearby hospital as a speech therapist) is also looking into this for me. I may also be able to shadow a bit which would be nice. I'll be sure to check out your other suggestions as well.

i'd wait a year and try and live off just your husbands income banking away yours for an emergency fund. that way you wouldn't have to refinance your mortgage or worry about an eremgency since you would have that years worth of cushion built up.

You probably are right. I just hate to wait. I feel like I've already waited a long time. But this would make the most financial sense, if I can get past adding another year to our living-on-peanuts school plan. Ugh.

So much depends on what you can do with said degree. Medical Tech may not pay that much, although if you are getting an Associate degree thru a tech school it shouldn't be that expensive. I probably would not do it if it meant going into debt. Look into an allied health associate degree that will give you a good income (PT, dental hygt., resp ther, etc.). Also check to see what kind of wait and how many people are accepted into their programs and make sure the college is accredited.

I'm looking at a technical school, which is about a third the cost of a traditional university program. My first choice (at this point) would be radiation therapy. My second choice would be sonography. None of the programs have a wait list. You either are accepted or you have to reaply. The school is accredited.

Others have already addressed things nicely - I would wonder if the coursework at hospitals, etc. is constant throughout the program? Many programs (perhaps not this one though), have periods of coursework then maybe one semester where you have to do clinical type work - just saying you may not have to quit your job right away, depending on how the program is structured.

I could probably do the prereqs while I work. That would be one semester or two depending on the program. My hubby is the one really pushing for me to put school on the top burner. I think I can manage both (until I hit the clinicals which require daytime M-F). I worked 40 hours a week my senior year of college back in the day and still graduated summa cum laude. I think I'm smart enough and a hard enough worker. My only concern is how long it's been since I've sat in a classroom.

Also, you might consider if you could still work part-time even during school. Is it year round, or would you have summer off? You may not make as much as you make now (and obviously you would have to look at cost/benefit for your family), but just because you are going back to school doesn't mean your income has to reduce to zero. It may not be a job you love or one you even want to keep, but even 20 hours a week might help make things not so tight - or help to cover school expenses so you don't have to take out loans.

I was thinking 20 hours a week also. I could probably get weekend shifts of some sort. It won't be great pay, but it would help pad the budget.

If you find that you really can't work and get through the program, you could always let the job go at that time. I just think that anything is do-able for a short period of time - I graduated school (pharmacy) last May and worked full-time through the majority of my program. It wasn't easy and I was a boring person (work or school and very little play), but we all knew it was relatively short-term. Even if you worked one shift a week and every other weekend, that should get you 30-35 hours a pay period.

That's how my schedule was back when I was 22 and going to college. I handled it fine. I'm not 22 anymore, but I work 12 hours days now, so I think: How much harder can it be?? I guess it depends on if I can still remember trig and analytical geometry. If I have to spend hours to relearn this stuff, I might feel differently.

Good luck no matter what you decide!

Thanks!

ETA: Sorry - I see now where you mentioned you may be able to work part time - I would definitely say to go for that! But realistically try to determine what job you might get and how much it might pay.

I've looked at that. The pay scale I've gotten online seems accurate from what I've been able to find out locally. That's good. It's just scary starting something new at 39 with two kids heading into middle school and high school! I should have done this years ago.

Thanks everyone.
I'm going to keep looking into the different options. I do think my best bet may be living on DH's income while banking my own even though the thought of extending another year pains me.

 

[sookie]

No. I would not. You need to check and see what the job availability really is. And technical schools very much tend of overcharge. If it is associated with a state school (for instance a community college) that is usually a little more reasonable.

 

[indimom]

No. I would not. You need to check and see what the job availability really is. And technical schools very much tend of overcharge. If it is associated with a state school (for instance a community college) that is usually a little more reasonable.

Oops, I may have misled everyone. This is Ivy Tech Community College. I tend to call it a technical school. Sorry.

 

[ekatiel]

Have you checked into online university programs-- ones offered through real brick and mortar universities, not the for-profit online only schools? IMO, the best you can do for a two year degree in the medical field is to get your associate's degree in nursing and become an RN. I'm not sure what the online degree availability is for ADN's, but my DH was able to get his MSN online through Texas A&M Corpus. You can also look into local community colleges for ADN programs. I am very wary of technical schools (especially private, for profit schools). Many of them over inflate wage estimates to lure students in. Also, with nursing, you can go on to get your B.S.N. and even your M.S.N. and become a Nurse Practitioner (that's what my DH is ), so there's room for even more pay growth. --Katie

 

[ajh88]

Sounds like you have thought about it quite a lot. I was right in your shoes about 5 years ago. I had a decent paying job and our life could have continued to cruise along just fine and I decided to go back to pharmacy school. It had been 10 years since I had graduated college and I was looking at 4 years of graduate school at the age of 30.

I'll tell you what I did - I took baby steps - a couple of missing pre-reqs at community college first, then taking the entrance exam, then applying to school, etc.

You seem to require some pre-reqs...sign up for one (or two) at a time and see how it goes. Usually I'm a huge fan of online learning, but maybe you should seek out a night course or something on purpose to get re-acclimated to the classroom. It isn't a huge time or money commitment to take those courses (if I have understood you correctly) - if they go well, take the next baby step to apply to the program and so on. In the meantime, you can look at the budgetary considerations and see how they play out for you and your family.

Also, you mention you went to college previously - will any or all of those credits transfer? I know some schools have time limitations, but not all do - I'm guessing you've already checked into that, but it might cut down on some pre-reqs and cost.

If you have vetted out the job prospects for the careers you are considering and have done the number crunching, I would say go for it. I suppose if you end up being able to run your household on 30% less money while you are in school, paying back less than $10,000 in loans shouldn't be too bad on a much increased income, KWIM? My DSis used to be a radiology tech and it paid quite well - (she has an associate's degree from a community college) - she just hated being on call when she worked at the hospital.

Anyway, I still say go for it - it is scary and intimidating, and not easy (I won't lie), but if it makes you happier and ultimately provides more financial security for your family, it will be worth it.

 

[AnninIowa]

What is your husband's job? Is it in the town you currently live in? Thinking maybe if you wait until your daughter is off to college and then you could move to the city where tge college is and where you will likely find work. Sounds like you will likely have to commute for a job after you get your degree, so you have to factor in future coasts associated with that. Good luck to you!

 

[indimom]

Have you checked into online university programs-- ones offered through real brick and mortar universities, not the for-profit online only schools? IMO, the best you can do for a two year degree in the medical field is to get your associate's degree in nursing and become an RN. I'm not sure what the online degree availability is for ADN's, but my DH was able to get his MSN online through Texas A&M Corpus. You can also look into local community colleges for ADN programs. I am very wary of technical schools (especially private, for profit schools). Many of them over inflate wage estimates to lure students in. Also, with nursing, you can go on to get your B.S.N. and even your M.S.N. and become a Nurse Practitioner (that's what my DH is ), so there's room for even more pay growth. --Katie

I've looked at traditional four year universities and community college. I am not considering online, for profit programs because I wouldn't get the clinical experience required.
I got my wage info from non-school websites like association sites and employment sites. I also checked with a few family/friends who work at our local hospitals to see if our community falls on the low or high end of the scale I found online. We seem to fall about in the middle.
I will check into associates degrees in nursing. I had put that idea out of mind because I've heard that if you don't go on for the full degree it's a lot of dirty work for low pay. I'll check it out.

Sounds like you have thought about it quite a lot. I was right in your shoes about 5 years ago. I had a decent paying job and our life could have continued to cruise along just fine and I decided to go back to pharmacy school. It had been 10 years since I had graduated college and I was looking at 4 years of graduate school at the age of 30.

I'll tell you what I did - I took baby steps - a couple of missing pre-reqs at community college first, then taking the entrance exam, then applying to school, etc.

I talked with DH last night and I think I'm going to go this route. I'm going to find an interim job that will work better. I said in an earlier post that I work12 hour days now, but that's being generous. On top of my regular 12 hour day, I put in a lot of weekend hours prepping for the week, getting supplies, keeping up with the books. DH thinks he can get me an afternoon position with his company and that they will work with my schedule if I need to take a class here or there. (They've done it before).

We are also going to adjust to the lower budget, putting the overflow away. I may not finish my degree until DD's senior year, but it would be the safer route.

You seem to require some pre-reqs...sign up for one (or two) at a time and see how it goes. Usually I'm a huge fan of online learning, but maybe you should seek out a night course or something on purpose to get re-acclimated to the classroom. It isn't a huge time or money commitment to take those courses (if I have understood you correctly) - if they go well, take the next baby step to apply to the program and so on. In the meantime, you can look at the budgetary considerations and see how they play out for you and your family.

Also, you mention you went to college previously - will any or all of those credits transfer? I know some schools have time limitations, but not all do - I'm guessing you've already checked into that, but it might cut down on some pre-reqs and cost.

I doubt I'll have the luxury of transfering to many. I got my degree in 1995 (I majoried in journalism and minored in art/photography). I expect it was too long ago. Also, the programs I'm looking at are heavy on math/science. I tested out of the math courses back in the day, so I don't have any on my transcript. I'm sure I took a science or two and know I took psychology (which is a prereq for one of these fields). But, I still am not expecting to anything to transfer.

If you have vetted out the job prospects for the careers you are considering and have done the number crunching, I would say go for it. I suppose if you end up being able to run your household on 30% less money while you are in school, paying back less than $10,000 in loans shouldn't be too bad on a much increased income, KWIM? My DSis used to be a radiology tech and it paid quite well - (she has an associate's degree from a community college) - she just hated being on call when she worked at the hospital.

I think I can deal with being on-call. My sis has been doing that for years as a speech therapist/audiologist and it doesn't seem too bad. I'm also not worried about paying back the loans. Knowing the kids will be heading off to school is a big motivator. I'm basically looking at all work and no play for the next 8 years, but it will be worth it.

Anyway, I still say go for it - it is scary and intimidating, and not easy (I won't lie), but if it makes you happier and ultimately provides more financial security for your family, it will be worth it.

Thanks. That's my goal. I feel like I dropped the ball a little bit and would like to improve our prospects. Working from home has been great. I got to be home with my kids 24/7. No day care costs when they were younger. No using up vacation time to stay home with sick kids. It was nice.

But, I've also hit the ceiling as far as income potential, and I would like to have a bit more financial freedom at retirement than I currently anticipate. We've gotten a few wake up calls recently about how easy life can change and how costly medical situations can get. I'm starting to worry about our dependance on DH's income/benefits. (If something happened to him, I would sink fast.) I think it would be safer if I moved into a career where I can advance, make a better income, and have access to benefits. I don't want to bury my head in the sand.

What is your husband's job? Is it in the town you currently live in? Thinking maybe if you wait until your daughter is off to college and then you could move to the city where tge college is and where you will likely find work. Sounds like you will likely have to commute for a job after you get your degree, so you have to factor in future coasts associated with that. Good luck to you!

My husband works locally. Honestly, I'm not a fan or moving, but would consider it once our kids are out of the house. For now, I would probably commute. We live in a good area for this option. We are geographically centered between Indy, Cinci and Louisville. That's a lot of hospitals within an hours drive. Not to mention all the smaller facilities closer to home.

Ideally, I would love to stay where I am (both our parents are older and hitting their 70s). We have a local hospital and oncology center/outpatient center I could walk or bike to work when the weather is suitable. I love that idea. But, I don't expect a lot of turnover here so it would be a matter of keeping my eyes/ears open for opportunities when they become available. In the meantime, gaining experience working for one of the larger facilities within commuting distance.


Thanks again for the advice everyone. Keep it coming. I'm starting to feel better about this already.

 

[ekatiel]

I've looked at traditional four year universities and community college. I am not considering online, for profit programs because I wouldn't get the clinical experience required.
I got my wage info from non-school websites like association sites and employment sites. I also checked with a few family/friends who work at our local hospitals to see if our community falls on the low or high end of the scale I found online. We seem to fall about in the middle.
I will check into associates degrees in nursing. I had put that idea out of mind because I've heard that if you don't go on for the full degree it's a lot of dirty work for low pay. I'll check it out.

After I posted last night, I went to salary.com and looked up info on Radiation Therapists. On the salary.com site, the pay looks a bit better than an RN, but I also went to DH's hospital and looked for jobs (he works at MD Anderson in Houston, so it's a HUGE cancer hospital), and the RN jobs seemed to have a salary midpoint of around $67K vs. a salary midpoint of $52K for the radiation technologist postings. It may be different in your area, though. Either way, that's pretty good pay for a 2 year degree ! How is job availability? Also, something I noticed is that you need to be certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (A.R.R.T) for the radiation technologist jobs -- will the program you'll be attending allow you to apply for that certification? Good luck with whatever you choose!! --Katie

 

[ccgirl]

What is the job outlook around there? Around here; there just aren't enough of those jobs for the people that are qualified. A lot of times, it is a per diem thing so not very steady.

I have toyed with the idea but am not interested in the nights, holidays, weekends gig.

Good luck with your decision.

BTW, Associate of Science in Nursing is the "full thing". I think you are probably thinking of an LPN but someone with an Associate of Science in Nursing is a full fledged RN. My MiL did that and ended up as a Nurse Manager at a nursing home making a very good salary.

 

[moonpie85]

I asked myself these same questions a few months ago. All the research I did pointed to a lack of jobs in radiology/xrays. So before you get too far into it please see if the jobs are there because in TX they simply aren't. Everyone said the same thing, "I've had my certification for two years and can't find a job."

That's when I decided against it. Wasn't worth the risk to me when I have a family to think about now.

Good luck in your decision

 

[nunzia]

My SIL started out as a Med Tech and did online schools to get higher degrees..she makes good money in a high demand field (without the higher degrees needed) and has managed labs, worked on projects with the CDC, and really has a great career. She currently works and teaches college part time. This is good field, from all I've seen and has provided my SIL a great and rewarding career.. All your ideas are workable, but I would certainly talk to a school counselor and also look into scholarships..every bit of scholarship, no matter how small, allows you to do more with less future loan payments. Also, maybe your area has a deal where they help covers certain costs if you work at a certain place for awhile after graduation? My daughter, who is Labor/Delivery Nurse found a program that covered alot of expenses, materials, etc and also defrays interest on loans if she works in NM for a time. So many options and I think this is a great chance for you to really look forward with a career.

 

[indimom]

What is the job outlook around there? Around here; there just aren't enough of those jobs for the people that are qualified. A lot of times, it is a per diem thing so not very steady.

I have toyed with the idea but am not interested in the nights, holidays, weekends gig.

Good luck with your decision.

BTW, Associate of Science in Nursing is the "full thing". I think you are probably thinking of an LPN but someone with an Associate of Science in Nursing is a full fledged RN. My MiL did that and ended up as a Nurse Manager at a nursing home making a very good salary.

Thanks for the info on the associates degree in nursing. Looks like I was confusing the two. I took a look at the nursing program and that just might be a better option. The cost and time period would be close to the same, but the program is located quite a bit closer which would be a nice bonus. Thanks for the tip.

I asked myself these same questions a few months ago. All the research I did pointed to a lack of jobs in radiology/xrays. So before you get too far into it please see if the jobs are there because in TX they simply aren't. Everyone said the same thing, "I've had my certification for two years and can't find a job."

That's when I decided against it. Wasn't worth the risk to me when I have a family to think about now.

Good luck in your decision

I've got some feelers out so maybe I'll have a better idea soon what the prospects are locally. I really want to make a change, but I'm so nervous about making that final leap of faith.

My SIL started out as a Med Tech and did online schools to get higher degrees..she makes good money in a high demand field (without the higher degrees needed) and has managed labs, worked on projects with the CDC, and really has a great career. She currently works and teaches college part time. This is good field, from all I've seen and has provided my SIL a great and rewarding career.. All your ideas are workable, but I would certainly talk to a school counselor and also look into scholarships..every bit of scholarship, no matter how small, allows you to do more with less future loan payments. Also, maybe your area has a deal where they help covers certain costs if you work at a certain place for awhile after graduation? My daughter, who is Labor/Delivery Nurse found a program that covered alot of expenses, materials, etc and also defrays interest on loans if she works in NM for a time. So many options and I think this is a great chance for you to really look forward with a career.

I know years ago a friend had a lot of her nursing degree covered while working at a nursing home. I thought these types of things were long gone with the economy the way it is, but it's worth checking into. Thanks.