doubleregg,
I just lost a long post.
I hate when that happens. Please check out my post about doing it over again at 50+.
I am an LPN and have been on SSDI since June of 2004. I have been sick off and on through out the years. However, I believe that I have a handle on it now. I have been stabilized on meds. Have not been in hospital since 2006. I was in the hospital many times from 2003-2006. I have Sarcodosis, a diseased with exacerbations and remissions. I believe that I am in semi-remission. Meaning that I am okay, with the meds I am on.
What everyone says about RN school is true. I have been there and done that. However, I am thinking about doing it again. I started out in RN school. I failed a med-surg course. I believe that I failed it due to exhaustion. It became very intense, and I had difficult time keep up. Although, I lived, ate, and breathed nursing school. That was back in March 1996, and I did not realize that I was starting to get very sick. After failing, I decided to transfer into LPN as advanced placement. I completed program in 12 weeks. Shortly, after I passed my boards in early 1997,I obtained a job in nursing home. (which is easy to do, all you need is the license and a pulse) I only lasted a few months. The work was overwhelming, and I only worked PT.
In 1998, I found the perfect job in a drug rehab. It was not physically demanding. I liked this type of work because I know of drug abuse. Although, I am not an addict, I have been so affected by it. I have several family members who are addicts. Unfortunately, even my own daughter is an opiate addict. So, I know this area very well. Unfortuantely, this rehab closed, and I was devastated.
Then, I found a job in psych hospital. Although, at times, it was physcially demanding, too. But, definitely, not in comparison to hospital job. I started out being good to myself and only working PT. Then I worked FT hrs, and then started doing doubles. They were supposed to be only 3 12hr. shifts, but always ended up being a full double. I worked there for 4 years. I abused my body by working so much, and went to a wicked exacerbation that lasted for years.
But, now I am ready to go back to work. However, it has been suggested that I get my RN. It is difficult to find jobs in my area for LPN other than nursing home. There are more opportunities for RN than LPN. My goal is to get into behavioral health clinic. It won't be physically demanding. As an LPN, I can not get a job in the outpatient clinics. And, my pay will definitely be higher as an RN.
If everything is approved, I think that I will return to RN school. I know what I am in for. I know getting through school will be the roughest part.
Although, this time, I am doing with no other obligations, too. The first time I was in nursing school, I had school-aged children. They are all grown now.
But, be forewarned nursing is very rough, physically. However, if you can make it through nursing school, you can probably find a position in an outpatient clinic. I will be 52 when starting nursing school. I will have to take my pre-reqs this fall.
Good luck in whatever you do.
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