Which is better?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I am currently a student at a Job Corps center and I am almost complete with my CNA trade. I am a little confused though about what I should do after I'm finished here.

Plan A) Take State exam and get certification to work in a nursing home close to my parents to pay my way through college to become an LVN and eventually an RN OR

Plan B) Complete this CNA trade and go to a different Job Corps in Oklahoma or New York to do the LVN/LPN trade for free.

It's hard because I want to stay near my family, but I also want to become an LVN and be able to support myself to go back to college for my BSN.

Which is better?

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It depends. For plan B, will your housing and utilities be free? I am assuming that if you live with your parents that you do not pay rent but possibly contribute a small amount of cash monthly. Will you be working for the Job Corps when you go to OK/NY?

It's hard to tell without a lot of parameters.

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Specializes in CVICU.

As a resident of Oklahoma, my understanding is that you do not pay rent or anything of the sort if the Job Corps campus has housing available. If this is the case, I would recommend attending the program in Oklahoma. From what I know about LPNs in NY, they are mainly limited to home health and long-term care. LPNs in Oklahoma are still used in the hospital, if that is your desired work area. My friend just passed her NCLEX-PN and was hired on a med/surg floor a week after.

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You may want to see if you qualify for a financial aid package before ruling the community college option all the way out. Also, working as a CNA prior to going through LPN/LVN schooling will likely be beneficial.

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Specializes in Long term care.

...it all depends on how you look at it really..

1)Family is usually a great support system and it can be an added stress to be away from them.

At the same time,

2)being away from family can be a great way to grow and sprout your wings!

Having your CNA certificate and actually WORKING as a CNA are 2 completely different things. Anyone who has ever worked as a CNA will tell you that. If you work as a CNA, I honestly believe it will make you a better nurse. You will learn things as a CNA that you just can't learn in nursing school.

I think you should go with Plan A. It kinda seems like you're leaning that way anyway. ...just sayin' ;)

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Specializes in MedSurg, Tele, ER, ICU, Float.

I was in your shoes. I got my CNA through job corps in the Midwest and was trying to decide if I wanted to go to advanced training for LVN/LPN on the east coast or go to advanced training through TCU to be a flight attendant (with my cna as a back up).

Long story short, I got my cna then did tcu and worked for a major airline only to leave after 2 years because I too want to get that RN/BSN degree... Moved back, closer to family, paying for school and working in a nursing home right now for a year.

If I were able to do it over again, I'd take the free opportunity from job corps to get my LVN/LPN in a heart beat. Currently, for my BSN, its been slow getting there on a cna wage. I wish I had that lpn salary to make cost of living expenses less of a struggle...

Best wishes on whatever you decide.

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