I want to change careers and go into nursing. I have a High School Diploma and very little college...?

What is the best route to take? I feel lost already! I am over 30 and just stepping into this world. I am married with three elementary school aged children. Where do I start and where can this take me? I am thinking of going to school to be a Medical Assistant...is this a good place to start?

Don't waste your time going for Medical Assisting. While people think it's closely related, it's really not. It's much more beneficial to become a Certified Nursing Assistant first, because you need to hold your CNA certification while in nursing school.

Many people go back to school after 30. I was a little late, too, also with 3 kids. It was tough!

My advice would be to start with a two-year Associates Degree in Nursing program, available at many community colleges. Start doing research into schools in your area, find out about their individual admissions criteria and ask them how competative admission is. Some have huge waiting lists. Some use a lottery system. Some use a points system based on GPA, ACT scores, and gen ed. credits you've completed. Every school is different.

But, generally you will need at least this: A college level General (freshman level) Biology course (which is usually an admission requirement as well as a pre-requisite for Anatomy & Physiology, which you will also need), General (freshman level) Chemisty, maybe Microbiology, maybe Nutrition, and you will probably have to take some kind of general competency test like the ACT, and will need a minimum score of maybe 22 or 25 or something. Your GPA they use for admission to the nursing program will be based on these college courses you take (or anything you took previously).

Once you're admitted, you need to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Your nursing school should either provide that course or be able to tell you where to take it. Some states allow you to take the test for certification without taking the course, but not all.

Usually there is a lag of anywhere from 6 months to a year from the time you apply to nursing school until you actually start, and you have to have some pre-reqs complete before even applying. So realistically, you're looking at a total of anywhere from 3-4 years until you actually complete the nursing program. The nursing core itself is sequential, and takes 2 years (four semesters) to complete. It's a good idea to take as many of your general education (non-nursing) requirements as you can PRIOR to starting the nursing core, because the nursing program is very demanding, and I always say that 6-8 credits of nursing courses per semester feels like 10-12 or more, so trying to also take gen eds at the same time is very tough. Especially if you have a family and are also possibly working!

Which brings me to my last point: Once you start the nursing core, full time work is almost impossible for most people unless you have a flexible job where you can work some nights and weekends. I wouldn't recommend working more than part time. If you need money, always apply for financial aid - almost everyone qualifies at least for student loans.

I don't think it's necessary to go straight into a 4-year BSN program. It's hard for many people to take that on, and admission is far more competative at Universities than Comm. College. You can always complete your BSN later - there are lots of schools that have online programs or on campus. Once you're working as an RN, your job will probably offer tuition reimbursement for your BSN. And BSNs don't really make any more money anyway. At my hospital, they only make $1 more than the associate degree RNs. And no, you won't have ANY trouble finding a job with only a two year RN. As long as you have your license, you're good to go!

It's a big commitment, but its one that pays off no matter how old you are. Look at it this way, 3-4 years from now, you'll be 34+ with or without a nursing degree, so you might as well go for it and have it! Nursing is a fabulous career for caring individuals who want a meaningful, satisfying job. It's hard work, it's not without its stress and frustration, but if you focus on the importance of what you do, those other negatives don't hold a candle to the positives.

Good luck!!!

Usually community college will give you the education you need to become an RN, you just won't have a BS degree. There are a lot of classes that you will need to take prior also, including math, A & P, Chem, stuff like that. I would recommend going to your local community college and talking with an advisor who can guide you with what classes you will need. Also keep in mind that you will have to do clinicals in the hospital in order to get your RN, so you will need coverage for your childern during that time. I would not start out going to school for medical assistant only because that will be more money you will be spending. Once enrolled in the nursing program, you should be able to get that job without the certificate you would get by taking that in school.

you start in CNA *nursing assistant* the tech college your going to should give you a list of exactly what classes you need to take..
good luck

This is the Washington state employment office site. They have a ton of information about jobs, aptitude tests, career information and requirements. Look for the links on the left side of the page.