Congrats! My daughter is a nurse. I'd spend around $500 on a vintage Singer Feather Weight & spend the rest on fabric or put it in the bank. Or even an old treadle &/or electric , old, old.

I have two Janome's and I absolutely love them! One is a 6600 the other a 11000 - but started with a 350E (& loved that too and was just for embroidery work). Good luck on finding an awesome machine & double congrats on getting your nursing degree!

Welcome to Nursing. I loved it and was never sorry . Perhaps consider a basic machine and start on your masters degree soon with the rest of your gift.

I agree with Prism99 and suggest Janome, Bernina or Pfaff. I beleive that if you are going to spend a lot of money on a machine that you get a well know brand with a good track record.
You will want one with needle down, thread cutter, decorative stiches ect..
Bernina's are pricey and so are the accessories but Janome's accessories aren't as expensive and they have excellent machines. I know this because I have a Bernina that I love but wish I knew that info before I bought it. I had a Janome before that. Good Luck with you search.

Judy C.

I agree. Go out and "test drive" several and see what kind of deal they can give you!! Congratulations!!!

Congratulations! I'd get a basic machine for what you really need now and then later get one with all the bells. Good Luck.

Masters UGH,LOL.I bet more school it the last thing she is thinking of right now. Speaking as a nurse that has been up and down the ladder I suggest getting a good solid floor nursing foundation, So many young nurses climb the ladder too fast because administration pushes education, I have seen bedside nursing skills drasticly decline over the last several years. Most administative nurses have totaly forgotten the reality of bedside nursing and what it takes. I can speak from both ends I have been everywhere on the ladder from aide,to Director of Nursing and now reside on night shift back on one of the lower rungs lol.

Excellent Advice!

No offense intended in my suggestion to start working on a Masters in Nursing. I graduated from a Diploma program in 1960. Raised the family in a small town. I was a big fish in a small pond. At 47 moved to a medium city. Quickly realized I had become a minnow in a big pond. I agree do bedside nursing to gain footing. BUT start the higher ed before and during early family. It makes a nurse more able to move up. Quilting will be fun . Only the new grad can decide for herself.

Congratulations on your degree, I just attended my 50th nursing school reunion, I don't think any of us regretted becoming RN's. AT 50 I returned to school & became a nurse practitioner.
Anyway, as to sewing machines, you'll get a different answer from everyone on this board. Go to the different dealers in your area & test drive the different models & brands. the vintage machines are great but I have to admit I totally love the computerized multi stitch & mutli task machines, my favorites are Brother or Babylock (Brother makes the Babylock) In my opinion much more bang for the dollar.
Personally I would stay away from Viking, Pfaff & Singer at this point in time, a couple of years ago those brands were acquired by a holding company and have been going thru growing pains & it is difficult to find parts for the older models which were great machines. Hopefully they will be able to rebound.
When you test drive the machine that is right for you you'll know it, it will call your name.
Let us know what you decide