Katkins, I'm sorry about the troubles with your DH. But I totally hear you about Sociology. I did it 3 times. The first time I dropped out after being accussed of plagerism on an assignment I actually didn't do any research for. Turns out half my step mother's class were accused of the same thing the year before. I complained of course and the teacher isn't there any more. Second time I dropped out because I was doing too much and third time I refused to spend any more money on the stoopid course so bit the bullet and finished it.
About politics do you mean hospital politics, government funding politics or nurses politics? After all the nurse politics at my last placement, I have vowed to never return to that hospital as either a patient or a nurse! But unfortunatly, politics is everywhere. I've learnt to ignore what I can, I keep away from the "bad eggs" on wards (once I work out for myself who they are) and keep in mind why I'm there. I love looking after people and I actually enjoy most aspects of nursing so I guess I can overlook certain things. Plus, I love the fact that there are so many areas of nursing so I am always bound to find something that suits me. There's community nursing (RDNS), being a nurse in a GP's office, being a nurse on production sets or in remote areas like the mines, Royal Flying Doc Service. I love it. I can't wait to get out there and start spreading my wings in all those areas! And if I ever get sick of nursing, I'll just swap over to the ambulance serivce!
If you've completed 2.5 years of your RN, you should be able to enrol with the nurses board as an EN and work as one in any number of areas (not restricted to nursing homes). If you don't want to finish your degree, that's another option. And I believe they get paid ok money too.
Good luck with what ever you decide.

MG