Unsure what to pursue

[SolarKat]

Even if you do the LPN/LVN, I'm fairly sure that any ADN would have a clinical requirement (as a hybrid program) or a clincal exam series (like Excelsior's)...and those clinical exams are really hard to pass if you're not practicing the skills daily (sterile dressing, physical assessment, etc.) and getting exposure to the zillion ways things present "in real life" vs in a textbook. If you enjoy helping people, something like a visiting home aide position might give you the flexibility without the intense clinical training requirements. Something like a phlebotomy certificate might be quicker...but even a part-time phlebotomy position will still have shiftwork requirements...and it's been a while since one of my RN friends worked as an insurance nurse...but back then they sent an RN to do the home medical stuff for high-dollar insurance policy clients (blood draws, etc). I don't know if the Red Cross uses just phlebotomists, or if they require nursing degrees. Back in the day (30 yrs ago), a mobility-impaired friend (could stand, drive, etc, but used a wheelchair generally) did his RN and moved into management after graduation...I would talk to a national nursing organization about the opportunities for disabled/differently-abled nurses, truly.

Are you in an urban area? In Boston, one option for intermittent/part time work is in alternative education. There's a very active (and fairly well-off) homeschool community that pounces on educational offerings - an 8-week workshop series in writing, a one-week immersive, a monthly lab class...this model might be something you could leverage in your area, and it wouldn't necessarily require a full degree as much as it requires experience/skill in whatever you're teaching, networking skills, and an affinity for your target age group. Community colleges and tech high schools here also hire people to do adult workshops in everything from knitting to specific cooking (Nepalese, anyone?) to technology skills (how to use that iPhone)...you might put together a program you'd like to teach, and shop that around your local venues. A retired teacher friend of mine got her "master gardener" certification and keeps an amazing garden - she sells plants/cuttings, and does workshops both at her home and around the Boston area (garden clubs, community groups, etc). Do you have a hobby you could leverage (both with/without degree/cert/credential)?

If you're really sure that online employment is where you're bound, then there still are freelance options - graphic design, marketing, etc. I fear that it's *all* going to be competitive, though. And there are still going to be expectations, metrics, etc. Some of my military-spouse friends (hubs did 26yrs in military electronics) do online customer support and make decent money. Again, they have to be available for their shift, handle stressful situations, have a quiet home environment (because it's phone-based with Internet requirements), etc.

It might not generate anything, but I still think talking to your local disability resources agencies is worth a stop - you're right, they may not think as "outside the box" as you do, but they have experience with the hiring market in your area, so it might spark something in your brainstorming. Your doctor(s) might have contacts to suggest, too. The local library might have resources or networking opportunities. There might be a MeetUp group in your area that could offer support or suggestions (whether in a career field or in terms of opportunities for disability employment). Online discussion boards in your areas of interest or area of disability? Certainly you're not the first to deal with what you face - use the wisdom and resources of those who have gone before you. Even the national organization for a particular disability probably has resource people to talk with...worth an email or two.

One more question - what, truly, does a work week look like, in your planning? You mention limitations on time/energy. Can you do a full day of work, or only a little at a time? What can you manage in a week, in a month? What can you do in person? (No need to respond publicly.) A realistic assessment here, combined with crawling Monster, LinkedIn, or Indeed, might give you some ideas of what's actually out there. Plus, you never know...something cool might pop up locally that would work for you.

I think others have mentioned in other threads that a masters with no experience is a big risk for a company to hire...so it, alone, probably won't solve your dilemma. A masters "just to have" is fine, but keep in mind that it's unlikely to be a golden ticket. I realize that you face certain challenges, but if you're working for *anyone* else, you're just going to have to deal with a certain amount of less-than-fun work/expectations. Everyone has days/periods where the job just *sucks*...and times when it's less than fulfilling, and times when it's stressful, and that goes for everything from unskilled labor to multi-advanced-degreed CEOs/scientists/professors. To advance in the competitive economy, there's just a certain amount of "paying your dues", like everyone else starting at the bottom of the ladder. I'm not sure there's really a workaround to that.

In the meantime, crank out those gen-eds like there's no tomorrow...