[USER]

I’m a 29 year old woman, no kids, never married, lol I don’t even have a boyfriend.

As I’m turning 30 this year I’m looking at my future and I do want kid(s) and a partner some day.

Here’s where I need your advice. I have a job making $55k/year.

I have an okay savings but I’m looking into school! Something healthcare.

Are any of you in the health care? Do you recommend it?

I want a good career before I do all this! I know, I waited so long to do school but no one in my family has ever gone to college.

It wasn’t even expected of me to do so. I just want a good life.

I’m a hard worker! I need advice from a woman who has a good job with kids.

Please let me know what I should do. I have no guidance! I’m starting from scratch!

[Carol]

There are a lot of good healthcare career options. I’d suggest you visit a community college admissions counselor to talk over getting started and what the requirements are for the field that interests you.

[April]

Nurse of 18 years. Do not recommend health care unless you enjoy lots of stress and frustration.

Health care in the us is now a business and could care less about the patient just the money they are making off of you.

[Candice]

My sister is an x ray tech and loves it. Very good pay, hours, and benefits.

She makes almost as much as a RN but has much less frustration.

[Crystal]

Congratulations on deciding to go to college…and the first one in your family! You are definitely not too old.

You are young.

Nurse of 17 years here. I agree with an above poster…..nursing is frustrating.

I loooove taking care of people- it is my calling.

But, the status of healthcare in this country has become unbearable.

Before I left the hospital I would wish to wreck my car and get hurt enough to not have to work for months…..and I wasn’t the only one.

I’m a hard worker but they push you beyond what is humanly possible- trying to do the job or 2 or more people.

You are left with the ethical dilemma of choosing your own mental health or the physical well-being of the patients.

You should be able to have both.

I also recommend dental hygienist.

They make MORE than nurses with what looks to me like a lot less stress.

[Paula]

I understand that respiratory therapists make great money good luck with your choices research jobs and salaries vs school time and cost

[Heidi]

I have 7 children. My home and cars are paid off. I’m 45. I started motherhood early.

I can tell you with all confidence, don’t wait. The economy is only going to get more expensive and you’re already on the older side for starting out.

Things are only going to get more expensive and wages aren’t going to rise to keep up with it.

Adding a school bill at your age won’t help either.

You will spend your whole life chasing that bill so that it doesn’t ruin your credit so that you have a chance at buying a home.

Also, statistically, people with student loans often make no more than the common high school graduate.

They die with those loans in place. My friend owed 38k on hers a few months ago.

She just paid $1300 and AFTER that she owes $42k.

That’s right, it went up.

Her payment didn’t even cover the interest, let alone the principal.

She’s in her 50s, been paying on it since she was young and hasn’t made a dent.

My advice is to start a family now and rather than ride the sinking ship of student loans, learn financial literacy instead.

Instead of paying those loans, sink any extra money you have into investments.

Stop collecting junk that will never make you happy and collect money instead.

Because I’ll tell you what. When you’re my age you’ll value things like trips to the Caribbean more than you ever will ‘things’.

I wish I had all the money back from all the things I just ended up donating to goodwill.

I’d probably have an extra $500k in my lifetime. But, I’m comfortable and so are my 7 children.

It’s always best to listen to someone who made it.

You wouldn’t take advice on how to sail from someone that lives in the desert.

Never take money advice from a poor man.

[Judy]

I was an xray technician for several years. Pays well and not as stressful as nursing.

I’d also recommend looking into ultrasound.

God bless you in your endeavors!

[Janet]

I started nursing school at 31, with one child and no husband. If you focused and clear on your goals, you can do it.

Nursing has been good for me, I’ve worked overseas and in many different specialties.

Good, steady income and I achieved my goals of mortgage free before I retire.

[Kathy]

Have you ever thought of joining the military, specifically Air Force?

I was in the Air Force for 10 years as a medical lab technician.

[Tricia]

I’m an engineer. School was miserable. I took one class in biblical exegesis this summer and determined I don’t hate myself to try to do school and working full time.

Have you considered electrician or welder? Albeit, it’s mostly men, but two years of full time school would get you started, and they pay $35-50/hr with OT typically.

Can be shift work, outside environments.

I think they are less stressful than nursing.

[Johnson]

Always yes to schooling as in education if that’s what you’re interested in Always a good career to be in healthcare

[Samie]

I work in healthcare and its tough to find a setting and schedule that works with also taking care of kids.

The pay is good, but many schedules don’t aline with daycare or school hours.

So, then you have to figure out who to pay to get your kids to/from school, or put them in after hours for extra $.

They have holidays and weekends off, which many working in healthcare don’t have those days off.

Highly suggest researching a career path that has working hours like schools, and is flexible for when they have off, and when they are sick.

I know many who leave the hospital setting to try and work in schools as a nurse to better be able to support their kids.

But school nurse positions are few.

Healthcare jobs working in outpatient settings are typically closed holidays and weekends, but not summers or school breaks.

[Lynn]

Further education is always a plus despite the cost. Bravo for you ! No one can ever take your education from you!

[Christine]

I’m a nurse! The years I’ve worked in the hospital were pretty traumatizing, but I’ve worked in home health taking care of my disabled son and it’s been great.

[Anna]

Healthcare is in a rough place right now as many systems are dealing with financial issues.

I work for IT at a healthcare system.

My suggestion is to reach out to a local healthcare system to volunteer or shadow in a few different areas.

Get a feel for the people there and their stress levels, what kind of people they work with and get a better feel for what you could be getting into.

Some kinds of work are better if you like patient interaction where others are better if you work well on your own.

Also consider growth opportunities and how far certain certs/degrees can take you.

If you work for certain health care systems (regardless of role) they will cover the cost of certain degrees or offer tuition reimbursement since they’ll hire you once you graduate.

[Anna Dougherty]

You’ve got this! A friend who retired from being a surgical nurse for 40 years told me recently that if she were to do it over she’d run the blood machine during surgery.

That being said, I’m not in healthcare.

However, a few friends that are hospice nurses and several friends who are labor and delivery nurses all LOVE their careers!

Wishing you ALL THE BEST in whatever path you go!!

[Gina]

Dental hygienists make $80,000 to start where I live. You can look into the educational paths for that.

Maybe start out at a Junior College & transfer over to a 4 yr.

M-F job with paid holidays & sick leave.

[Kathleen]

Go to your local community college and speak with a Career Counselor.

They’ll help assess your strengths and interests and set you on a great path. Best wishes!!!

[Krista]

Depending on where you live (like BC Canada) the govt has incentives for you to take courses and be paid while in school!!

And in some courses they pay for the course.

This happened after COVID.

[Author]

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