Is a 4 yr degree still worth it if it takes much longer than 4 yrs?

I have a BS in Speech Therapy, and worked for a while as a speech therapist. I didn't like it, I have always wanted to be a nurse, but stuck with it because it paid the bills. Now laws have changed, & I can't work w/o a master's in speech therapy. I am now working as a CNA and am going back to school to finally become a nurse. My family thinks I should go back and get my master's in speech therapy, instead of going to an accelerated 2nd degree program for nursing. They think that I am changing careers due to a low work ethic (I've worked full-time since 16), which isn't true, as I have I know that RN's, LPN's and CNA's work much harder than SLP's from experience. They think it is silly that I will have about six years of education and only a couple of BS degrees. Do you think college is still worth it if you spent a total of 6 years getting a BSN and another BS? I have to go back to school no matter what, but I don't know how to make my family stop being judgemental.

If you didn't like speech therapy, and have always wanted to be a nurse, certainly don't go back and get your MS in speech therapy. That'd be a recipe for failure.

You want to be a nurse. You've always wanted to be one. Do it! It's not only what you want, but it's an in-demand career. And a couple more years isn't much time to invest if you end up doing what you've always wanted to do. In fact, I think that's a great deal.

Sure, maybe in an ideal world, you'd have studied nursing right off the start. But you didn't. It would be far worse for you to try to force yourself to study and work in a field you don't like, when with only two years of study, you could end up being a nurse!

And someday, if you want to make your family happy, you can go back and get a master's degree in something related to your new nursing career. But for now? I think you're doing the right thing.

Unless they're paying your tuition, what do you care what they think?

I spent 5 years in college, and got a B.S. and and M.S. Yes, it was worth it.

Six years of education and ONLY a few B.S. degrees? That's quite an accomplishment for anyone; tell me, what do THEY do for a living?

In Germany most students take 6 years or more over their degrees.

Don't listen to your family. Follow your heart/gut, otherwise you'll regret it. Do what you need to do to be happy.