I am a hospital sitter. I make $12/hr there and no benefits. Since they won't hire me as a CNA I have to cultivate more options. A CNA here makes $16/hr. I know that LPN's are in skilled nursing here and I'm ok with that. Also, I with my completed courses can finish the LPN program in one year. In LTC they make $21/hr. I don't mind a $9/hr bump PLUS benefits.

Will becoming an LPN be worth it in the long run? I need to make more money ASAFP. From there I could do the CSN bridge to RN. My pending divorce is really screwing up my prior plans an as such I can't wait to get into the RN program. A year for prerequisites alone?? I can be making the money I need with benefits in this time.

There's so many programs here at CSN. Health IT, Respiratory Therapy, Rad Therapy, etc. By far this is gonna help me out the soonest. I really could use some insight. Also, this is all coming out-of-pocket. I can't get financial aid. I'm maxed out.

i completed the LPN program in 10' at CSN and have worked a year and am doing the bridge program this coming spring, and i had the exact same feeling you had in regards to needing to "get into something" and obviously completing this program and then having your pre reqs completed will spring board you into the bridge program for sure. you are right though in terms of starting sal per hour, LPNs in LTC and in Rehab(im working at one now) get that much to start if your a new grad but really not much more even with experience(im working with people who have been LPNs for 25 years only making a few bucks more than me), id say its worth it still (if you find a place that allows for overtime and your motivated to work, the money is pretty good) but I would recommend doing the bridge or some form of bridge in the future. The Lpn program at CSN is a great one and its proven the only problem is that its 4 semesters, but costs way less than Kaplan which i think is 1year at 36k(screw that!) hope this helps a little, best of luck to you

http://sites.csn.edu/health/nursing/lpncurric.pdf

just did a double check so ya 4 semesters (2 years) CSN cost: looks like 5k

http://sites.csn.edu/health/nursing/lpncareerguide.pdf

Kaplan (1 year) cost: $36-40k

huge difference between the two...there is no way i could pay that much