[tatab]

Hello, I am a 30 year old woman with no previous college ed. I have been a veterinary asst. for the past 8 years, but can no longer perform my job due to health problems. I would really like to stay in the medical field and would like to start by becoming LPN/LVN? I live in a rural area and would like to do as much online as possible. I don't even know where to start and how long it might take. When I research online schools it keeps showing me LPN to RN- is it possible for me to start from scratch doing online studies? Any info anyone might have would be GREATLY appreciated!

[Tweety]

There are only a few distance programs from scratch online in the country. This is primarily because of the clinical component. You need a licensed person to work with in a clinical setting so many hours. Some of the theory and co-req courses like Anatomy and Physilogy, if not all of them can be taken online.

The best approach would be to talk to your local school and see what kind of programs they offer.

Nursing is a physically demanding and stressful field. So if you health problems are unique to vet med. that's one thing, but nursing can be hard on the body too if your not in good health to start with. I wouldn't recommend it if you aren't.

Good luck!

[GI Jackie]

I have never seen a program that lets you start with no on site classes and clinicals. Once you get the degree, you can usually advance with online programs. Good luck!

[rn/writer]

I agree with Tweety about the health problems. All the nursing programs I am aware of require a physical before you start clinicals. Many health problems, especially if they are currently being managed, would still allow you to become a nurse, but there are some that would make it highly unlikely for you to be accepted into a program.

Schools do not want to give a slot to someone who will be unable to manage the physical components of training, let alone the job world. They don't want the liability of taking on a student who could be further incapacitated by the demands of nursing school. And the reputable institutions don't want to give you the false hope of being employable when that is unrealistic.

Nurses who acquire health problems after they are licensed can usually find a less physically taxing position, but that is because they have experience that can be put to use in a different setting.

I would contact some schools in your area and make some hypothetical inquiries about your specific condition to see what kind of response you get. Depending on the type of condition you have, they might have specific requirements a prospective student would have to meet to demonstrate that their problems are manageable and under control.

It's better for you to find out what you're up against before you invest too much financially, physically, or emotionally.

I wish you success.