[AcadienneMT]

Hello all,

I'm an MT in Prattville who has recently been informed that I'm being laid off in July -- my job is being outsourced to India. !! I've considered nursing as a possible new career for several years, and now I'm being forced to think more seriously about it. I have a B.A. in Psychology and 14 years of MT experience, so I'm thinking nursing would be a logical choice. I'm considering applying to Trenholm State Comm College in Montgomery to their LPN program, mostly because I don't feel my husband and I can afford for me to be out of work for longer than a year, and I know the AD program at Troy is at least 2 years. I would then consider working toward my AD at a later time.

Does anyone out there have any advice for me regarding LPN vs RN, or Trenholm State versus Wallace in Selma? Or whether I should even go into nursing as a career? I've been looking at many of the posts on this site, and I have to say...I'm a little scared of nursing at this point! (Mostly because of burnout, low pay for exhausting and stressful work, etc.). I'm also afraid of the possibility of many nursing jobs eventually going to immigrants who are willing to work for lower pay. (I think I'm a bit paranoid because of what's happened with my company outsourcing jobs overseas.)

Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice out there.

[Cherish]

Sorry about your layoff. Have you thought about doing an accelerated BSN program? You already have a bachelors all you would have to do is meet the prereq's and then get into the program. If you can find a part time job while you do the prereq's that would be great. Then apply to the program there are many accelerated BSN programs some are only 15mths. I think this may be the best option for you. Google accelerated BSN programs in the state you are in for more information. Hope you do well in whatever you choose, good luck!

P.S. Your in alabama right heres some information on colleges with them:
http://www.jsu.edu/depart/nursing/ (Jacksonville State Univ.)
http://www.usouthal.edu/nursing/ (Univ. of South Alabama)

Hope that helps.

[AcadienneMT]

Hey, thanks for the quick reply! Yes, I have thought seriously about going straight for a BSN. In fact, UNC-Chapel Hill had such a program, which I'd scoped out while I was up in North Carolina (and yes, I think it was about a 1-1/2 year curriculum). I should have gone ahead and done it while I had the chance!! I'm really kicking myself now. The problem is, there really aren't that many nursing programs here in central Alabama. I'll check again to make sure, I definitely might have missed something. Two things are holding me back somewhat from pursuing that BSN path: The tuition costs, and the length of time I'll be out of work. I do realize that it would probably be well worth the additional $$ and time spent to pursue a BSN (I think I even read once that many people in the health field are interested in REQUIRING nurses have a bachelor's degree -- yikes!), but...I just don't know if that's going to be within our means at this time.

My husband and I just moved to Alabama from NC a year ago for his job. It was a rough year for us financially, and while things are much better for us now, we're still trying to recover from the incredible expenses of moving to another state, paying the house note in NC while renting here until the house up there sold, and both of us having taken pay cuts to come down here. Now, just as we were getting on our feet, WHAM...the layoff. Such is life in the USA these days...

Thanks again for your suggestions and good wishes. I will do a little more research and see what I can find out about BSN programs here.

[Mommy TeleRN]

Just something else to think about if you want to do ADN or accelerated BSN -

find out if area hospitals hire nurse interns. I live in TN and here at many hospitals you can intern within 1 yr of graduation (so in a 2 yr program 1 yr into it - about the same time it takes to become an LPN) Pay varies anywhere from 12.50-18.00/hr depending on shift and facility. So that might be at least a part time employment option while you finish your program.

Personally I knew I wanted to be an RN and just went for it..I just want to get it over. You really do not get a lot of credit towards your RN for being an LPN - basically just foundations is all you get to skip. You still have to take all the gen ed too when you go to your RN.

Just something to consider - the ADN/intern route.

Mommy

[focker-male nurse]

Check with St Vincents.. I belive they started a program that is through Jeff state Community college and you can work for them while you attend nursing school. I think it takes 3 years but if you need to take a slower less painful pace then that might be an option. I dont know for sure if the program is in exsistence yet but I read a new release on it last year and the program is supposed to be tailored specifically for people who work at the hospital. I've done clinicals there, seems like a great place to work.

St. Vincent's Hospital - Birmingham, AL

[focker-male nurse]

Heres something to consider.. LPN is 3 semesters and ADN is 5. The classes are exactly the same the first two semesters so its not much easier. I would encourage you to consider applying ADN, if you get into it and decide its too much to go on you can switch to LPN while in the program and go your route. But I bet once your in you will do everything possible to stay in.
OH and Community colleges are way cheaper and are the way to go for po folk like me. you can always get BSN online in a year while working if need to.
good luck!
St. Vincent's Hospital - Career Opportunities

[focker-male nurse]

here is the program i was speaking of:
Nurse Education Partnership