I'm very seriously considering going back to school, specifically for nursing. Are there any adult learners here that can tell me about how to afford school, living expenses and child care? I'm starting to get discouraged at the thought this may not even be a possibility.

If you are going back to school you can take out a loan. I suggest you pick a school that is cheap. There are benefits you can get from the government, such as food stamps, housing, and child care. I started going to school when I was pregnant. By the time I finished my son was 5. I took out a loan through my school. I wasn’t working during this time. So I applied for snap. I was able to get it because I have a child and I said I was in school. I also put my son in day care/preschool which the government paid for (parent program). It is something you can do. It won’t be easy going to nursing school with a child but trust me if I can do it so can you. And I really mean that. I am not a very smart person and I get distracted easily. Studying was very hard for me to do. But I did it somehow.

You may be able to get help from your state and the government for loans, living expenses and even childcare! I know a lot of adult students who are eligible for snap, food stamps, loans, or other assistance because they're putting themselves through school, let alone with a child as well! Don't give up!

I've seen nurses go back to school to get an associate degree and start working in a hospital, and the hospital will assist them in getting their bachelor’s degree. Usually, a two-year or three-year commitment is required, but that's another way to get your BSN. UPMC Harrisburg is a great learning hospital, and if you can get into any learning hospital, I assume they may be the same because they value education. After all, one of their functions is teaching Med students, but the sentiment is usually shared with those in school while working. In the hospital, it's not uncommon to meet 85% of the staff in school for something; it's a continuous learning environment.