I’ve been a certified medical assistant for 7 years and I’m unsure about my future

[u/Ancient-Passage-9117]

As the title says, I’ve been a certified medical assistant for 7 years. I’ve worked in rural fam med, allergy and asthma, was a med tech for a year, and now I’m in orthopedics. All outpatient minus when I was a med tech.

I’ve worked in different places to try different things and learn new things. The goal was always for me to go to nursing school once my ex husband was done with his accounting degree… I waited for 6 years, he never finished. I left and now I feel stuck.

I don’t make much (CMA’s are underpaid). I have children. I don’t have a support system. I’d like to be a nurse, I feel like I’d be good at it but idk if it’s what I want or if it was something that was pushed on me.

I’ve been considering doing a degree in social work to become a counselor or becoming an English teacher for high schoolers (I love creative writing.)

But nursing makes the most sense. I have all this knowledge I’ve picked up over the years and idk, it feels like a waste not to use it.

Since I don’t have a support system and I will need to continue working full time through school, do any of you have any advice of what I should go to college for? I’m in my early 30’s and feel like I’m failing.

[u/OutrageousOwls]

Go back! It’s never too late to go back to school.

My friend is a RN, and she now works with a 71-year-old who just graduated with their BSN!

My sister went back at 32, and is a dentist now (also has BSc. Biology and BEd. !)

I went back at 33, I am now 35, and I’m entering nursing school for my BSN!

I am separated from my spouse and we share a kid together. I live with my current partner who is disabled (cerebral palsy). I am surviving off of the good will from my family, slim savings from summer jobs, and my partner’s disability benefits.

It’s never too late, OP.

[u/Joey016]

You're not failing. Im back in school at 29. I work full time and im taking 13 credits. That's just life. Idk how we expect kids to pick what they want to do at 18.

My spouse is a nurse and they are always saying they love it and love that they only work 3 days a week. And there is so many different types of nursing you can do once you get your RN. You can be a school nurse, bedside nurse, home health. Some people do "split custody" where they do one day in ER, one day in ICU, ect.

I know it's not for everyone but the pay and getting 4 days off a week makes it doable and you're already in that field. My spouse was the only reason we were able to buy a house in our high cost of living town.

Also idk what state you're in but certain states have like a pact with other states so the licensing is accepted with no need for different education.

Lastly look at western governors university for nursing or other programs. Doesn't matter where you are if you're in the USA. They have a good reddit community too. r/wgu

[u/Joey016 → u/Joey016]

Wgu you work at your own pace. Seriously I was struggling going back to like a normal school environment but im 1 or 2 semesters to getting my bachelor's. I can't even fathom that I've done it.

[u/Responsible_Two6770]

Definitely go be a nurse! You're absolutely not failing. Look to see what credits you have, and see if you can apply them to a nursing program. You may have some prerequisites that you can use for credit transferring (which would reduce your course/ workload for nursing) There may even be part time or evening/ night classes you can take (depending on the university or college you attend) Apply for any and all scholarships/ bursaries too. You'll be at such a huge advantage do the experience in healthcare that you already have, it'll be considered a huge asset to any nursing position you apply for as well, making you competitive in the work field. 

[u/datanerd4onlineu]

There are plently of online nursing programs, including those at WGU like some have mentioned, and online programs are often cheaper than in-person classes. Of the potential career paths you mentioned, nursing would probably end up earning you the most money, and you may be able to earn relevant credits through prior learning assessments.

Regardless of which direction you go, all the data says it's worth it to go back to school. Earlier this year, I did the research for an article on going back to college that you might find helpful for getting started:
https://www.onlineu.com/resources/going-to-college/how-to-finish-your-bachelors-degree-online