Hello all,

I am entering a CNA program within the next two weeks. I am 31 coming from the IT field. I see some similarities; with both, as you reach higher certification levels, you get better employment opportunities and the work tends to shift more away from the "task oriented" duties of a nurse aide.

So I am trying to understand what is the best career path. I realize 5 people will give you 6 answers, but I would like to take them all in.

I am 31 and so I do not have a life that I can put on hold while I go back to school full-time. No matter how far I go (and I am looking to become a RN) I will be employed most, if not all of the way. So people have mentioned that I could just start working to become a LPN/LVN. It seems that it would be better to get some experience as a CNA before moving up.

What I would like to do is: G

1) Get the CNA (4-6 week program) and hopefully find a job

2) After 3-6 months enter a LPN program ... is this a decent amount of time to pick up some of the things that I will need? Can you go right from the CNA program to the LPN training without much hands-on? I have been to college, and become a MCSE through self-study, so I understand the basics of studying for anything, but some things have to be experienced.

3) The average LPN program is about a year from what I have read on websites and forums. What is the average training period? Is it like M-F 9-5, is it a half day (the CNA programs in my state are like 8-2 or 4-8 ... its SC BTW)?

4) I figure after completing the program that I would take some time to get acclimated to the role. The same as the gap between the CNA and LPN training - only maybe I would take loner, say 6-9 months. Again I do not know if this space is needed for most people.

Do most people go from CNA to LPN, or do they go directly for the RN program? I thought to go through the LPN for the experience and maybe there would be an increase in pay involved.

Of course I have any number of questions (and anxieties about going from a (sadly) seemingly male dominated industry to one that is (sadly) seemingly female dominated) but what I have mentioned is sufficient to get me started I suppose.

Thanks,

Preston

Having an LPN won't really affect your pay as an RN. I personally would skip the whole LPN thing and go directly to RN. You wind up in the exact same place you say you want to be in less time. However, if you mean an increase in pay being an LPN while in nursing school - yes, you will get paid more as an LPN than as a CNA. You just have to work out if that is worth the extra time it tags on to getting to where you want to be. For me, that would be a heck to the no.