[Transplant Nurse]

if you are out of work right now you also might be able to get some assistance in payng for the coding class, my mother in law also got assistance for that, though i think it was less than $2K total. It was through a state funded program helping get people back to work, here it's called Jobworks. Heck with the economy like it is the money may be all dried up by now better hurry on that one.

[Epona]

Hi iwanna. I think you have made some good decisions on getting the RN. I went back to school in my early 30's and I have a mild health condition. Nursing school is the HARDEST thing I have ever persued. It's tiring mentally and physically. It really is and I am only in my 30's. When I decided to go back to school, I thought 'how hard can this be?' Yeah... right. It's the toughest thing I have ever done in my life and probably ever will do. So before you do it (which I am guessing you have decided not to).. I would REALLY think about it and way all the pros and cons. I am glad I am where I am at with just a year to go. Looking back, had I known it was this hard, I may not have done it. But I will make it. I am almost there. Best of luck to you in your decision!!

[iwanna]

Epona -Yes, I decided definitely not to attempt RN training, again. I know what you mean about it being tough in RN school. It was very intense and difficult back in my late 30's. I can only imagine what it would be like now. I made it quite far in my program back then. And, I had fears of making it that far again, and to fail at the end. It would be so frustrating and devastating, a second time. At least, I was at a point where I could transfer into LPN course.
My sister has dubbed me "the professional student". Unfortunately, I don't posess the degree that someone with four plus years of schooling would have. I started out to be a medical office assistant when I was 34 and graduated at 36. I was shocked when I graduated and went on job interviews. At that time, medical assistants were making just a hair above minimum wage and no benefits. So, I decided to go on to be an RN. I was a single mother of two school-aged children. And, I was 39, by the time I was done. I get mad when I think about 5 years of training to end up in a profession that only takes one year. Funny, I had someone try to talk me out of going for an MOA and that LPN was the way to go. But, I heard that LPNs were being phased out. Why did I not listen to her? Oh well, shoulda, coulda, woulda is senseless. I can't change it now.

Transplant nurse- I am on it. I called my OVR counselor and told him that is the route that I want to go, if I don't get job soon. He told me that they may help me with some of it. I already have an ASB degree from the local business school for medical office assistant. They won't pay for another degree, but will help me with some costs. I really don't think that I would need a degree program. As, I already have the medical courses down pat. I would just need to take the clerical part of it. I'm hoping it that it is just a matter of taking a few classes and being able to certify. Do you know how long it took her for training?
I did just apply for a position at hospital for an abstract coder. However, I highly doubt that I would get position. But, I thought tht I would give it a shot. It did post that an LPN with a minimum of three years experience in healthcare would qualify. For this position, though, I would hire someone with more clerical background. Although, I did have a very brief intro to coding in my MOA course.

[Suesquatch]

In what state do you practice? www.excelsior.edu might be the solution for you.

[Rad Student]

I have also been called a professional student, but it's not by choice! The jobs for life disappeared just about the time I earned my BA, so I never got one, and now no one does. Due to no safety net in the US, we are forced into that position.

[caliotter3]

If you can't get into a stay at home position right away then try home health. Your previous experience qualifies you. Most of the time I have seen provisions made for older nurses who could not do heavy transfers, etc. You only have one patient at a time for shift work (which I recommend over intermittent visits) and you can work as few or as many days during the week as you want. Sometimes you can get a very easy case where you do little more than monitor a peds case while they sleep at night . Some trach and g tube care and/or monitoring the vent might be involved. But this is far less strenous that accepting a full load in an acute setting. Good luck in your future endeavors. Please keep us posted.

[iwanna]

I have thought about home health/hospice, but I don't have med-surg background. I have worked mainly in behavioral health. Although, I did work, geri-psych, but we were not a medical facility. We would send our pts. to local hospital when needed. We did minimal med-surg. I have had some pts. with g-tube. And, it's awful that I don't remember much. It seems like it was so long, ago. It has been six years since I worked geri-psych. I have thought about applying to different agencies such as Maxim.