I need opinions. I know all of you are good at voicing them....
 

I hate my job.

It is my opinion that if you're not happy in work, you can't be fully happy in life. It is also my opinion that you're the only person solely responsible for your happiness. Therefore, I've made the decision that I want to quit my job of 10 years. It's been a wonderful place to work, and I know I have it good there, and I also know there are many places that suck to work at. I'm employeed at a pharma giant, and it's the largest employer in my state. People think I'm half nuts for wanting to leave; however, I'm a lucky girl to even be there because I'm not college educated. I guess I can understand the half nuts bit... I have a month of vacation, great benefits, a kings ransom (for what I do), and some job security.

So, here's my dream: quit my job and attend school full time. I want to go into nursing. This isn't something that just came up overnight. My daughter was premature at birth, and since then, I've wanted to be a NICU nurse. I've been unhappy at work for almost 2 years, and I've tried to go back to college part time, but I can't do that and be a single mom. I started going back 4 years ago for this, and it's all I really want to do.

Here's my plan, and this is what I'm fishing for opinions on.

I'm a widowed single mother. I have no doubt I will get grants and go to school for free. I'm waiting on my W2's so I can fill out my FAFSA. My concern is more about monthly bills. Being that I'm a widowed mother, my daughter collects social security. If I'm unemployeed or make under a certain amount, I qualify for a widows pension, which is equal to the amount my daughter receives monthly. These 2 checks will equal 2/3 of my current income. All I need is a little more monthly income and I'll be able to sustain my home and current bills. I don't want to uproot Sara through all this. Would it be totally insane to take out a student loan to live on for 3 or 4 years? (I'm guessing 3, I'm just going for the associates for now...1 year pre reqs, 2 years clinicals.) The amount of the loan would probably be equal to that of a nice car, which I could probably pay off within 5 years after graduating.

Anyway, I've gathered the opinions of friends and family, and I guess that's just not enough. I want opinions of people who are not "close" to me so that you're not agreeing with me to tell me what I want to hear.

Thanks guys. Let your opinions shine... :laugh:

I don't think that's insane at ALL! It's a completely standard way to go about doing this - a way to "get it done." It's done all the time and is often "a part of it." It's part of the process of making it happen, in other words. And nurses often make GOOD money - - - sometimes SERIOUSLY good money - - - So that would help pay back the student loan. You're a student, you need money for your education which you "don't have," so take out a student loan to help you pay for things. It's an investment in yourself. . . . . :)

I lived off of student loans for grad school. At the time it was fine. However I borrowed the full amount for two years and will be paying them off forever. Granted I did consolidate and am not paying off a huge amount each month, but those interest fees are killer. If you go this route try to get all subsidized loans. The interest doesn't start until 6 months after you graduate.

Have you considered working a part-time job while going back to school full time to make up the income difference, or would it be too difficult scheduling wise?

Good luck! I would do it, the health field always has job openings.

well there certainly is a need for nurses, so if you're going to leave a stable job to go to school for something, it's one of the best fields out there.

i know you're responsible and mature and always put your kids first. i'm sure you wouldn't even consider doing it if it were going to harm sara & sam in any way.

i don't think it's crazy to take out a loan. student debt is good debt (as long as you're not a f*cking idiot about it), federal loans are super flexible and low-interest, and education is never a bad thing.

plus i think it will make a really positive impression on your kids if they see that mom is willing to make big changes in her life in order to improve it.

Can take one or two classes before you quit your job just to make sure it's really the direction you want to go in? Maybe take a leave of absence, if your company offers it, while you take the classes?

If you do decide to quit your job and go back to school, to make a bit of extra money you could maybe become a door to door sale person... such as Avon etc (I'm not sure what other companies there are overseas).

I used to the Avon when I was unemployed and it did bring in abit of helpful and much needed cash. Plus it's a bonus that you can fit it around YOU and your time.

I think you are very brave considering all this, I hate my job as well and wish I had the will and motivation to do something about it.

All the best and huge amounts of good luck to you!

Sara - sounds great! At least you are being smart about it. I would just make sure you have as many ducks in a row as you possibly can before jumping ship from your current job with the economy and all. And go out on a good note with them... you never know when or how you might cross a path with one of the people who helped you along your way with that company. Also... you can't go wrong being a nurse! You can work ANYWHERE... you can travel overseas and do all sorts of fun stuff. Last but not least... be straight up with your daughter about why you're doing what you're doing. Not that you need to explain yourself to your kids, but I think it'll help with her respecting your decision in "uprooting" her as you said.

"Just go for it"...
 

As someone who was married to a nurse (Who I love and STILL miss daily), I can tell you it takes a special soul to work in the health field as a nurse. Some become nurses for the obvious pay, but those who want to be a nurse because they care moreso about people over the monetary gains usually succeed more in this career field.

Good luck and "Just go for it".

Agreed with MyLittleDemon.

You can do it, and it'll be hard, but as long as you get as many ducks in a row as you possibly can before you make the leap entirely, it'll be easier.

I did something similar about 2 years ago. I quit my full time job that paid fairly well (not great, particularly for what I was doing, BUT well enough that we weren't hurting for money most of the time) because I absolutely hated it, and went freelance.

It was nervewracking at first, and still can be sometimes, because freelancing can be so unpredictable, but I am so much happier even when we're struggling than I was when I was at my old job.

And what Carrie said about your kids is true, too. I clearly remember my mother picking up and going back to school to get her business admin degree after my own father passed away, and how hard she worked, and I'm still proud that she made it and graduated even with 2 kids under 10 to contend with.

One day, I hope to do what you're going to do, too.

Just not for nursing, because I don't like sick people. They whine and smell funny. :distress:

You can do it. And you will be great.

Maria,

I think it is great that you are considering this and figuring out what you can do to make it happen.

A few suggestions.

Just make sure nursing is what you really want to do. If it is, then the sacrifices will be worth it.

Research what the pay will be for the position you will be qualified for after you graduate. You said you were going for the associates, right? Is that an LPN? I would research what the pay range is for that position so you will have an idea as to whether you will be able to make it on that pay, especially since you might have the student loans to consider.

Do you have plans to pursue the bachelor's? If so, will you new position allow you the time and flexibility to pursue it?

Are the widow's benefits available to you even if you are voluntarily unemployed - since you will be quitting your job?

What about health insurance? Will you have health benefits for you and your girls while you are attending school?

I'm sure you have thought about all of these things cause you're a really smart woman. Just expressing some of the concerns I would have.

I really admire you for this. I don't really like my job - well, career, I should say. If I had it to do over again, I would definitely do something different. However, at this point, I don't really feel like I'm in a position to be able to do it. I would have gone to medical school. And me doing that is just not realistic. I'd have to quit working and go to school full time. I'd have to take a lot of undergraduate classes as my degree did not require any chemistry or biology. I'm still paying a **** ton of loans from law school (the monthly amount isn't bad but I'll be paying for a long time). I don't really want to add $100,000+ to my loan balance. And, I like my lifestyle. If I wasn't contributing to the household expenses, we'd have to move. It would be probably 8 to 10 years until I was established again and by that time I'd be old.

I guess if I really wanted it, I'd find a way. It just seems like too many obstacles. And I guess I don't want to work that hard for it. Which is why I admire you.

As long as you've considered everything and don't think you'll regret it - do it.

Ok...the dissenting opinion.

I think in THIS economy, one would be damned fortunate to HAVE a job, like or dislike, and to make a career change at this point, no matter how logical and organized of a "Plan" you have is financial suicide. :shrug:

My thoughts exactly.

Yeah it is great to say follow your dreams, etc, and it is important I guess, but like chiliD said, now is a time for stability, especially as you have a child to support (it would be a different story if it was just you).

I wonder how many people actually love their job? I certainly don't, I go to work for the money. The day the money isn't is an issue is the day I don't work...

Oh and I wonder if you would love being a nurse after doing it for 10 years?

Trust me, I've worried about the kids in 2 ways. Firstly, all of Sara's life, she's been used to getting things she wanted within reason. I won't be able to do that for a while. It's probably for the best. I've tried to give her all the things I was never able to have as a child, and my inner 11 year old is jealous. But, in my decision to start school, it's a good life lesson to her that you have to put in time and hard work to get what you want in life. It's also a great lesson to her that it's never too late to get an education, and to chase your dreams. I've talked to her and Samantha both about these decisions I'm trying to make because I want them to understand how important it really is. I also want them to understand that it may change their lives for a while, but for the better in the long run.
I've taken evening classes for a couple semesters, and I hate to be a whiner, but it's really hard on me. And my quality of work suffers. I have a hard time juggling job, home, kids, and school work. I've thought about a leave of absence, and I'm going to talk to my employer about it before I leap. They give us 2 years leave for education.
Ha! It's not for the pay, although it looks as if I'll be making 10 to 15 thousand more yearly. I honestly love helping people. haha... a dysfunctional friend of mine was drunk, got in a fight with her husband and threw a 3 wick candle at his head. It split him wide open about 3 inches long, and about 2 cm thick. She called me because he doesn't have insurance. I had to go shave his head and clean him up. She couldn't stand to look at it. I live for it. I've had a few people call me to help them out, and I've had a few emergencies where I was the only calm, rational person there. It just fuels my desire to go even more.
Exactly. I want my girls to look back and say "this is what mom did for herself and us."
Sick people do smell. Especially when they're old. I like old people though.

I would be an RN with an associates. I'd be making more then I am now. Nurses generally work 3 12 hour days within the week. I do plan on going back for a bachelors once Sara is grown. I will have so much more time then. I hope to eventually get my masters and be a practitioner. Social security will pay no matter what. I can get medicaid for Sara. Hell, I think I can even get it for myself, but I was told there is affordable student insurance to look into as well.
I appreciate the dissenting opinion!!! I agree with you, and that's another reason why I'm struggling so hard with this. I can't decide if it's financial suicide yet though. haha!

Thanks for all the well wishes and words of encouragement. And I appreciate the words of caution. That's why I came here, because you all will give me your straight opinions.

I totally agree. That's more important than a Blackberry or new pair of designer jeans. (Hopefully you see the point I'm trying to make.)

No, I really do, and I think after her father died, I tried making it up to her by giving into most of her wants. I do it within reason for her age, I guess, but it's not the way I was raised, and I'm most thankful for every little thing I get in life. I want her to be the same way.

Hi Maria, I just got to read this.....

I'm with Chili. So many people would KILL for your job at Lilly. I know you're practically guaranteed a job when you become a nurse, but there's gonna be some massive debt created, in the meantime.

I'm not very happy where I'm at, but, I'll have my house and rental props paid for, in less than four years, so I'm just sucking it up until then. So, there's a tunnel for me, in which I can see the end, approaching. But I'm Mr. Safe, too, not a big risk taker, so I definitely would stick where you are, if I were you.

But again, you've got to be happy. If you're miserable, I guess you have to go for it, but if your reasonably happy, I'd stick it out.

Just my two cents.....

Trust me, Homer, I know. :distress: This isn't your grandfathers' Lilly though. I was in Insulin for 8 and a half years. Now, you would think someone working in the only Insulin producing building in the United States would be pretty safe in their job, right? WRONG! Major cut backs, and there were a lot of us affected. I absolutely loved my job in that building. I felt I was doing something worth while for the world. It was facinating. I was forced out of my job and offered a severance or to take a different position within the company. I opted for a different position, and I hate it. But here's the thing: people like myself (no education) are slowly but surely are out of a place there. A lot of our benefits are being taken away, and our insurance sucks anymore. Lilly isn't as wonderful as everyone on the outside makes it out to be anymore.

ha! I'm in Indiana. What part of the state?

Well there you have it.... How certain are you, that you'll eventually be forced out? I would let that, be my guide.

Do you see yourself retiring from there, or will it not be allowed to happen, due to being forced out?

I do see myself being forced out. I've got 10 years under my belt, and with my seniority, I'm still scared. I think the building I'm in will sooner, rather than later, be closed down and outsourced. And God. I could have retired under our old retirement system at 54 with full benefits. Under the new system, I can't go until I'm at least 65. They're trying to cut 5500 jobs this time around and save 1 billion by 2011. They're going nuts with the financial cuts.

I admire your spirit and the ability to see yourself doing something different. I'm sure if you do make the sacrifices, and muddle through the next few years, you and your family will reap the rewards.

Having said that, I, like some others, do think it is risky to completely jump ship on a regular paycheck in today's world. Since you work for a major Pharm company, do they offer tuition reimbursement? If they do, just something to consider when looking at all of your options. I'm not saying it's a win-win by any means cause some companies may have some hefty requisites for it, like working for them for x mos/years, etc. But if they do offer and if you could stick it out with your current place for a year or so till you get through the more basic courses (if that even exists for nursing...maybe it's all in on day one), that could help you out financially -- i.e. allowing you to save some money over the next year or so and then if you want to go to school full-time, you might be in a little bit of a better position to do so.

Although I know that after working close to 50 hrs a week, I can't imagine a courseload of school work on top of it. Probably why I haven't gone back to school. But people do it! My aunt got her Masters by going to school on Saturdays. But you have kids -- I understand it's a different ball game and your weekends are not your own.

Good luck!

I guess I failed to mention that I see myself being fored out of the company due to job cuts and/or budget cut backs. I also failed to mention that my widows pension is only good up until Sara's 16, then I'm cut off of it. Sara will be 12 in November.

I'd go for it due to the fact that you don't think you have a lot of job secuirty. I was just reading an article about a man older than you who worked at a factory for almost all his life. No college education. And when he lost that job he realized that there isn't very many jobs you can get w/o a degree. At least not like there was when he first entered the workplace. Getting an education will help and I think it might be more risky to stick around at a job where you are concerned about job security, and wouldn't have many options if you lost that job.

Just some thoughts. Best of luck to you.

Maria, you and I have discussed this in depth so I'm pretty sure yo know how I feel. You're getting some excellent feedback, but I do feel compelled to say that it is possible to love your job. I LOVE my job and it is worth every bit of debt incurred to get here. There were a lot of sacrifices, but we always ate and we always had a roof over our heads. You hate your job and you have for a long time. You've taken some classes and have kicked ass. I know you can do this and come out on top.

I agree. I mean, I don't want to work. I would much rather be able to sit around and play video games all day and still be able to afford to buy those video games, but if I do have to work, I'm glad I do what I do and took the jump into freelance like I did.

Am I doing EXACTLY what I want to do? No. Do I always love it? No, lol, definitely not. But it's better than what I was doing before and it's going to lead me to being able to do what I want later.

I would love to go to college some day, though. That is a dream of mine. I have but a lowly high school diploma and I am pretty sure having a degree of some sort would've made a lot of this a little easier.

Just some "food for thought" - - - I personally can't imagine any possible scenario in which nurses won't be "in demand" in the United States within the next, say, hundred years....

I say go where your heart leads you. I found myself in very similar shoes last year. I detested my job with every fiber of my being. It had turned a very happy go lucky, light hearted person into an angry, bitter man. I had a GOOD Federal job... more than a month of paid vacation a year, free healthcare, dental, and a decent salary. But I worked under the crappiest possible management from the stone ages. I was continually the highest performing member of our whole department... which I think threatened certain department heads. They took extreme pains to sneak around and spy on me, and make an example of me if they thought I wasn't doing exactly what I was supposed to, when I was supposed to being doing it. I went high up in our organization trying to take care of it... but nothing ever happened. Except I got angrier and more bitter.

So when it was announced last summer that my department was taking voluntary buyouts, I took the offer without a second thought. It wasn't the smartest move financially to give up a solid job in this market... I'm still out of work. But I still wouldn't do it any different. I feel like a tremendous weight that I'd been carrying around for YEARS has been lifted. I am glad I haven't gone back to work yet either... I needed the break to calm down and let off some steam, and get my mind straightened out. I know the next place I work for I will go in with a different attitude. The thing is, we only get one shot at life (as far as I know). Why waste it on being miserable?? You'll figure it out... go for it. Follow your heart.

Yes, exactly. I'm up right now going, and this is the 8 hours of my day I dread the most. I wish they would hurry and offer buyouts... I will take it with a smile on my face.

I would say if nursing is absolutely what you want to do, go for it. Yes, in this economy, good jobs are hard to come by. But it's really not worth it if you are miserable and are constantly thinking of returning to school.

The RN time commitment isn't too terribly long, so you will be able to return to work in a couple of years, and you can always further your education later as you have mentioned already.

My grandmother and both of my aunts are nurses, and they have all had great careers. They've also worked in such a variety of settings....hospitals, private practices, teaching, home health, school nursing... you name it, they've done it.

Good luck to you, Maria! Hope it works out.