At 55, after a satisfying career as an English teacher, I am considering nursing as a second career. The local community college offers programs leading to the R.N. degree, but these are oversubscribed. As a Yale magna with several prerequisites already satisfied, I could be a strong candidate. My family does not need the extra income. Should I worry about taking opportunity from someone who might use it to earn a living?The alleged ethical dilemma here is ridiculous in the extreme. (Where was all this hair-tearing liberal guilt about taking up scarce slots in competitive programs when I was in law school? At least this person plans to use the degree.) If you would be a superior nurse, go forth and change bedpans (although whether or not a Yale magna who probably last took chemistry in 1970 would be a better nurse than someone younger is debatable, especially since nursing can be a physically demanding job). I love how it's implied that someone's financial need might make them more worthy of a slot even if they would be a worse nurse.
Those who disagree with me get to have the dumb but poor nurses stick them for blood.