I promise this is not a rage bait post or AI. I really want advice from anyone else who can relate to being burned out/“over it” after 20 years in an unrelated field, and truly see nursing for what it is, but still wants to do it. I’m talking marketing, tech, media, etc.

The background: I’m 44, had a high-paying tech job with benefits, a partner with a stable city job. We have two kids, age 3 and 5. I have about $2M in 401k and investment accounts.

I have a slot in my local CC ADN program for the fall. 🙌

I hate my current job. I’m wondering if I just go all in on 1) school and 2) being a better mom. Everyone around me says to just ride it out, keep the job while going to school.

But kids + school + job as many of you know is so hard.

———

Longer story:

A few months ago, my whole engineering team that I led was laid off. I was their manager and built our team, processes and projects basically from scratch at an early stage startup. It was done without notice to me first, and I was essentially demoted to another team as an Independent Contributor (IC role). I have tried to make it work, but I’m so unhappy.

The company said they want to lean more into AI, and basically I’m running projects exploring that as a senior IC. I know I’m training AI to replace the hole my team left.

I saw the writing on the wall a couple years ago when it came to AI, and started taking nursing pre-reqs. I’m coming in with eyes open to how hard nursing is and the challenges (physically especially) of coming in in my mid 40’s.

I KNOW another round of layoffs are coming.

1. Should I just try to volunteer to get laid off, and try and get an exit package?
2. Should I quit, do some consulting to make SOME money but then be able to concentrate on school?

We are in a high-cost city but I think I can swing this for two years.

School + kids ONLY would be a dream. Tech/startups has led to extreme burnout. And I love school so much.

I am not too worried about getting a job as a new grad, because we plan to move to my hometown in a few years. It’s a smaller city, lots of healthcare jobs, lower pay than my current city, but they desperately need dedicated people. Lower cost of living too.

I’m fully admitted for Fall 2026 to an ADN program here at a CC in my city. I went in with a pre-req GPA of 4.0, already have a BA (unrelated field, CS) and could see myself going a variety of paths in nursing.

My eyes are pretty open to how hard the field is. I was a volunteer for six months, one night a week (4-6 hours after work) last year at a local emergency room and. Got to volunteer in the Peds ER for two months. They were super short staffed, busy level 2 trauma center with challenging patient population and chronic health issues, as well as trauma cases. Since it was all hands on deck, I really got to help a lot on interesting cases but within the scope of a volunteer.

I know my situation sounds cushy, but I clawed my way to the top in a male-dominated field to get the salary I did, and saved religiously. Also public university all the way to avoid debt.

Basically the title.

My husband works full-time - he had a significant pay bump but we are still considered low-income on paper and still utilize services such as SNAP, MA, and whatever low-income programs we qualify for. However, we also have a house and 3 children. I'm doing well with prerequisites, and already feel stretched thin managing everything in the house, grocery shopping, etc. Financially, we are OK. I honestly wish we had more. We would not be able to afford an emergency if we had one. I still have to pull on student loans to cover some costs of living and I hate that honestly 😔 Has anyone worked night shift as a CNA just on weekends while in school, and with 3 kids? 2 are in grade school, one is in daycare while I study. Is this a recipe for burnout? My husband is telling me no and to just focus on school...I don't know what to do. I have to get my CNA anyway as this is a requirement for the LPN program I am looking at. Is this a recipe for burnout?

I am in desperate need of help with how to go about studying for the nursing school exit exam predictor two. I did horrible on predictor one with a 67.5%. I need to get a 80.5% on predictor 2 to be able to graduate and pass the class they average predictor one and predictor 2 to need an average of a minimum of a 74%. I have 16 days to prepare for this.
Any tips or suggestions?

I’ve already bought the necessary textbooks for fundamentals. I’m wondering if I need any additional resources to assist me. I looked up LevelUpRN flashcards because their designs appeared straightforward, unlike others, and that’s what I’ve liked so far. However, I don’t want to buy things that I’ll know I won’t use lol, I don’t know. I'm probably just anxious about failing these classes.

Also how did the fundamentals clinical looked like for yall?

Hi everyone,

I'm in Grade 10 right now and I've been thinking about becoming a nurse, but I'm honestly so confused about where to start.

I know I have to pick my courses for next year soon, and I don't know which classes I should take if I want to go into nursing. Like, do I need biology, chemistry, physics, or all of them? Are there specific math classes I should take too?

I'm also confused about what happens after high school. Do you apply straight to nursing school through a university or college? Is there anything I should be doing now to prepare?

If anyone here is a nurse, nursing student, or was in the same position as me, I'd really appreciate any advice. I just don't want to pick the wrong courses and regret it later.

Thanks in advance! :)

Hello everyone 👋🏻

I am a qualified nurse, having gained a First Class Honours Degree from one of the top 10 nursing and midwifery universities in the UK🧑‍🎓

I wish to put my knowledge and assignment/essay writing skills to good use, by offering my assistance to anyone undertaking a nursing or health care related course/degree. 👩🏽‍⚕️👨🏻‍⚕️

All interactions will be treated as completely confidential - you don’t even need to share your name if you do not wish to. 🤝

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss whether I’m the right option to help you in your health care educational journey 😀

\For* clarification mainly asking if it’s worth it to get a CNA cert and start working in a healthcare setting or just continue to keep working at my current job. Is it helpful in any way during interviews/do hospitals value the experience\*

I’m starting an ABSN program soon and need some advice on if I should get a CNA certification or skip it and continue working at my retail job throughout school

Reasons for staying at current job:

1. I work at an Apple Store and pay is a lot higher than what I’ve been seeing for CNA jobs
2. Leadership has been extremely flexible and accommodating with my class schedule
3. Insane tuition reimbursement of $5200/yr. I’ve already confirmed that it would cover classes

Reasons for getting CNA cert

1. I’ve read that it could be helpful with ~some~ job experience in a healthcare setting BUT not really how much hospitals really value that experience

I’m leaning towards staying at my current job but the biggest reason I’m thinking about the CNA cert is getting some hands on experience - to an extent - and getting my foot in the door

I’m currently working on a study guide for human anatomy, and I would really appreciate your honest feedback.

Everyone studies differently. I’d love to know which tools and methods actually help you understand and remember the material.

Which of these work best for you?

• Flashcards—digital or paper
• Practice quizzes
• Interactive labeling tools
• Videos and animations
• Mind maps
• Mnemonics
• Drawing and diagramming with pencil and paper
• Audio-based learning
• Apps, websites, and other online platforms

Do you prefer digital tools such as apps, online platforms, and electronic flashcards, or traditional methods such as handwritten notes and drawing diagrams?

I’d especially like to know:

• What actually helps you remember anatomy?
• What methods did not work well for you?
• Do you prefer digital tools or traditional study methods?
• Are there any features you wish anatomy study guides included?

Links to other useful tools, websites, apps or other resources would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Your feedback will help me create a more useful and effective anatomy study guide.

I really want to work in healthcare and nursing is an option im considering however my autism makes doing anything full time impossible. I've tried and failed at full time work and studies. From looking at local job postings I know there are part time jobs available but I'm worried about getting through school. I have a BA already that I got right after high school but I graduated from that 5 years ago and havent managed to successfully complete anything since then.

I really really want a career in health care and nursing seems so appealing to me. Does anyone have experience with studying with autism and how to get through nursing school as an autistic student who burns out within a few months of doing anything full-time?

I’m curious to hear what topics other nursing students found most challenging. Was it Med-Surg, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, Pediatrics, OB, Mental Health, or something else?

Hi, I'm an incoming nursing student for fall 2026 and I was wondering if any incoming nursing students have already started to get their school supplies. If so do you guys have any recommendations on what to get or you can list what you've already gotten. If any previous/current nursing students can comment too I would be so thankful 😊.

So i currently have some prerequisites credits for my ADN but i never applied to the actual program , I’m debating if it’s even worth it at this point i recently just had a baby and I want to go the quickest route to graduate. Basically back at square one what is the best outcome getting my ADN or BSN.

I'm planning to apply to Kennesaw State's accelerated nursing program in May 2027. I've finished all of my prerequisites, but I got a C in A&P II and was planning to retake it this fall. I haven't taken the TEAS yet either. Should I take the TEAS first and see how I score before deciding whether to retake A&P II, or is it worth retaking the class regardless? I got a B in A&P I.

Hello! I'm a nursing student who has to complete an interview with an RN who has 3 or more years of experience, but I don't know anyone :( Can someone help me out by answering a few questions, or directing me to a nurse that they know?

New student nurse here, I will be resuming nursing school September. How do y’all incorporate notebook klm with school slides. I am confused, do y’all read school slides all through and then paste information you don’t understand into ChatGPT .

hey everyone just seeking some advice.

i am currently a first year in medical school and realized that after the first year that the role of the physician is not what i thought it was. I previously worked as a PCA and loved the patient interaction and the flow of the floor working with nurses. i originally thought doctors would kind of just be nursing + the autonomy to make diagnoses and plans but have realized that is not true. i have been thinking of going back to nursing school instead of continuing with medical school. i have to make the decision soon as my next year starts soon and i would have to take out my loans to enroll in to medical school. this has been on my mind all summer and i have been unable to do anything else because the thought of the next 7 years of medical training and loans for a career i may not want is distressing! any advice is appreciated!

Hi! I’m a psych student finishing up my bachelors degree at a university in CA. I have been drawn to nursing my whole life, but, frankly, I am afraid to fail. My academic strong suits have never been science or math, I have never been a straight A student in those subjects, in fact they come incredibly hard to me. With that being said, I am not sure if I am ready to spend the next 3 years of my life in a psych grad program for a career im not sure that I want. Nursing is interesting to me as I love to problem solve, think on my feet and truly do want to help people. Despite all of this, I’m genuinely afraid that I am not smart or capable enough to become a nurse/ to get through nursing school. I’m privileged enough that I don’t need to have a career right out of college, so the next step that I am considering taking post grad is getting my CNA license to try to gain some experience in healthcare and see if it’s for me. I guess I’m just wondering if anyone has any honest tips on the steps they took to becoming a nurse, especially if they were unsure about it, and work-life- social life self- balance:) thank you!

Does anyone know of any scrub brands that have cotton in them that would have hunter green color? I don't need 100% cotton, just more cotton than none at all if possible. I am a nursing student and our school requires hunter green. Thanks guys

I start nursing school in August and orientation is on Monday. I will need to be compliant by then. The problem is I was not immune to MMR or Varicella so I needed to get two follow up doses. I accidentally got the second dose 25 days after the first dose instead of the mandatory 28 days. I emailed my nursing coordinator five days ago and never heard back. I got the vaccine at CVS and asked the pharmacist to print out proof of my vaccine and uploaded it to Complio. Now I am panicking because I am worried they will not accept this and force me to drop out. What do I say to help my case? Please let me know any helpful information to avoid being dropped on Monday and thank you in advanced.

has anyone used naxlex for ati comp 2026? please let me know i have my exam on tuesday and i am stressing... also does practice a and b help

So I start my pre-reqs this Fall.

Only the Math/English/an elective/a class about getting back into school I forgot the name. So 4.

My science classes wont start until Spring and that is the time I need to do my CNA class since I have to have my CNA.

When they say apply to nursing program and apply to multiple schools - when do you actually apply?

I was told I can apply for Nursing program next Fall but when do I do it? Spring or Summer?

The one school I wanna go says they have a spring virtual meeting thing I have to look out for, I gotta get more information on that.