Please tell me what you would do in my situation (Re:LPN to RN program)

Pattiecake · Nov 23, 2004

I think what I would do in your situation is attend the course that causes the least disruption and stress in my and my families lives. I believe you said not all courses are accepted everywhere. So work where your are accepted. If you wish to pursue a more widely acceptable education in the future, you could still do that. With a bit of nursing experience to back you up, the course will come easier.

Pat

Pattiecake · Nov 23, 2004

I think what I would do in your situation is attend the course that causes the least disruption and stress in my and my family's lives. I believe you said not all courses are accepted everywhere. So work where your are accepted. If you wish to pursue a more widely acceptable education in the future, you could still do that. With a bit of nursing experience to back you up, the course will come easier.

Pat

harleytx · Nov 23, 2004

I had the same plan LVN to RN. Community College looked good but another year of pre reqs. Excelsior looked better, I recieved their package, but like you I became uneasy with the program not having a "clinical" portion, the possibility of something changing after I was half way through (just my luck). I have been worring about this for months now and with Jan registration coming up, I have decided NOT to decide ... yet. I agree with the other post.. Do what will cause the least disruption, keeping in mind what may or may not be accepted in the future. Good Luck.

Justmeandmycat · Nov 23, 2004

I am feeling kind of overwhelmed about the decision I will have to make in the next few weeks and I would like to know what you would do in my shoes. This might be kind of rambling but please bear with me...
I live in Tennessee(but have family in Arkansas) and
I found an accelerated LPN to RN program in Little Rock, AR that was unlike any other nursing program in my area in that it gives you credit for you experience as an LPN.
So early this year I applied to it and was accepted, realizing at the time that it would mean a big move an a lot of stress but thinking it was the best long-term thing to do (at the time).
I even took the chemistry and nutrition this school requires this semester at the local university.
But I got to feeling a little wishy-washy and thought it might be a better deal to go through Excelsior College and avoid the move and the hassle. I took Nursing Concepts I. a couple of weeks ago and passed with a B. Got all excited and have since applied to EC's ADN program. Even though I have to admit I'm a little uneasy about the deal with California not accepting EC grads anymore. I don't plan to go to CA but then again who knows?
But Baptist School of Nursing has been on my mind, and today I got a thick envelope from them reminding me that registration is December 30 and telling me what I need to bring and wear, etc...
and I am starting to feel like I'm going round round like a record baby...
I've heard Baptist is a really good school and feel like I'm throwing a good opportunity away, at the same time I've got three kids who will have their lives disrupted if I decide to go to Baptist. On top of that I just found a job in my area here in Tennessee as a private duty nurse in a lady's houseon the 7pm-7am shift and though it is hard for me to stay awake most all night and I am tired there aren't many jobs where you sit on the couch with your shoes off watching tv and surfing the internet with your laptop and get paid $18.00/hr to do it.
I don't want to know that it is my decision and I have to decide what I think is best for me. I already know that. I just want to know what you think you would do in my shoes.
Thank you very much.

Hi. I think I'm in the same boat with you and Harleytx. The only difference is that you have been able to make your lpn work for you. I've previously said before that I don't want to work in a nursing home which seems to be the only option for me in northern CT. So I thought I would try reciprocity in MA to get on a med-surg floor. But before doing that, I talked to a recruiter at a hospital in MA who told me not to bother since there were very few LPNs at their hospital, only ones that had been there forever and they weren't going to hire any more. Consider yourself lucky that you got a private duty assignment - I can't even do that without one year med surg behind me so I can work in for a HHA since I'm in CT. Connecticut SUX!!

I was thinking about Excelsior but then got scared too about the CA issue. I looked into another "blended program" and they wanted you to sign a contract to the tune of $10,000. I backed away from that and have figured out that EC is way cheaper and accepted by the BON (at least here and at least for now). I would feel comfortable with EC if I were in a job already that at least gives me access to some clinical knowledge before going futher. I'm hoping I can get into a doctors office and do EC when I have some bucks behind me.

THe other option is to bag nursing all together since the prereqs and the wait list for the local ADN program would put off earning a nurses salary for another four years. Good luck to you in your decision. I don't know what to tell you. I'm thinking of phlebotomy now just because the class is affordable and it might generate a flexible income later. I too am holding off doing all of the prereq's required at the community college. (It's not that I'm anti-college or incapable, I have a Bachelors that's just too old to transfer.)The irony of all this is that I was an agency CNA (rated highly desireable for my skills) that worked at the local hospitals for $18.00 (sometimes time and a half for $27) on med-surg PACU and Psych and now that I have an LPN I'm not allowed in the door. How screwed up is that? Last but not least, my CNA expired one month before I graduated as an LPN because I thought I could finally let it go and not worry about facility hours and CEUS . I thought maybe I could get back in with my former agency and when I went to the office they were no longer there. I was told by a secretary in the office next door that they weren't in existence any more, something about a merger. Found the company they merged with, and they don't operate in CT anymore:uhoh3: I'm pretty convinced at this point that God has it in for me. :imbar I'm doomed to work in the crappy nursing homes here unless I can come up with some other ideas. Again good luck, and let us know what you decide.

My409 · Nov 24, 2004

Hi. I think I'm in the same boat with you and Harleytx. The only difference is that you have been able to make your lpn work for you. I've previously said before that I don't want to work in a nursing home which seems to be the only option for me in northern CT. So I thought I would try reciprocity in MA to get on a med-surg floor. But before doing that, I talked to a recruiter at a hospital in MA who told me not to bother since there were very few LPNs at their hospital, only ones that had been there forever and they weren't going to hire any more. Consider yourself lucky that you got a private duty assignment - I can't even do that without one year med surg behind me so I can work in for a HHA since I'm in CT. Connecticut SUX!!
I was thinking about Excelsior but then got scared too about the CA issue. I looked into another "blended program" and they wanted you to sign a contract to the tune of $10,000. I backed away from that and have figured out that EC is way cheaper and accepted by the BON (at least here and at least for now). I would feel comfortable with EC if I were in a job already that at least gives me access to some clinical knowledge before going futher. I'm hoping I can get into a doctors office and do EC when I have some bucks behind me.
THe other option is to bag nursing all together since the prereqs and the wait list for the local ADN program would put off earning a nurses salary for another four years. Good luck to you in your decision. I don't know what to tell you. I'm thinking of phlebotomy now just because the class is affordable and it might generate a flexible income later. I too am holding off doing all of the prereq's required at the community college. (It's not that I'm anti-college or incapable, I have a Bachelors that's just too old to transfer.)The irony of all this is that I was an agency CNA (rated highly desireable for my skills) that worked at the local hospitals for $18.00 (sometimes time and a half for $27) on med-surg PACU and Psych and now that I have an LPN I'm not allowed in the door. How screwed up is that? Last but not least, my CNA expired one month before I graduated as an LPN because I thought I could finally let it go and not worry about facility hours and CEUS . I thought maybe I could get back in with my former agency and when I went to the office they were no longer there. I was told by a secretary in the office next door that they weren't in existence any more, something about a merger. Found the company they merged with, and they don't operate in CT anymore:uhoh3: I'm pretty convinced at this point that God has it in for me. :imbar I'm doomed to work in the crappy nursing homes here unless I can come up with some other ideas. Again good luck, and let us know what you decide.

If you go through Excelsior before the state decides to stop accepting them you will no doubt be grandfathered in, as the Excelsior RN's in CA are being grandfathered in.

Justmeandmycat · Nov 24, 2004

If you go through Excelsior before the state decides to stop accepting them you will no doubt be grandfathered in, as the Excelsior RN's in CA are being grandfathered in.

Thanks. That was what I was thinking. It's a little bit of a gamble but then again I don't have that many courses to take and maybe I could knock them off in time. I wonder when the state is going to pull its little act on us. If anybody knows whats going on in CT I'd like to hear before putting anymore cash down. This time I can't afford ANY financial mistakes. Thanks.

bellcollector · Nov 28, 2004

I am going with EC so might be a bit prejudice here. I think you are in an ideal position to go the EC route. You said the job you have isn't very involved and allows you tv and internet time. I would think that would also allow you study time then. Like someone else said if you are enrolled in EC and your state decides to not accept EC you would be grandfathered in. I also heard, can't remember where, that EC and LPN's are fighting the CA decision and seem to be making some progress given the nursing shortage and the likely hood that it will only worsen.

I too did not want to be stuck in a nursing home. Thing is I did end up in a nursing home when I graduated as LPN. Guess what I adore geriatrics. My one and only complaint and it is pretty big is I don't think they are well enough staffed. However I am hoping to get better opportunities as I proceed with my education. I say go for the EC. They offer a workshop which adds a bit to the cost but from what I have heard is well worth it. You can also get a video of what you need to learn for CPNE and most hospitals put new grad RN's through pretty good training/internships. I really do think it is your best bet.

There are also plenty of sites about and for EC students. They can be very inspirational and supportive. Good luck in what you decide.

Ross1 · Nov 28, 2004

A friend of mind is doing the EC program and has found it to be quite challenging and commented that she has learned a lot. My chief reservation about it is the CA thing, which I only recently learned about in these forums. While you don't plan to move to CA, one never knows what life has in store and I would be leary about having a degree that was not recognized in the most populated state in the USA that has such an overwhelming nursing shortage, one of the highest pay scales, and most importantly, the only state in the USA with mandatory RN-Patient ratios!

I used to live in CA and can say that it is one of the most beautiful places in the US to live with an ideal climate, albeit it is expensive and has earthquakes. Will I ever return? Right now I say NO because of my spouse's job in NY, however, there was a time that I said I would never leave CA and never never live in NY....but sometimes life throws us a curveball.

It would be a shame to invest so much in a degree only to find it useless when and if the day ever came that you found the perfect opportunity in CA.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Nov 28, 2004

Why hold yourselves back because of the one state that you might have a very small chance of moving to? One way around this is to get your BSN in a trad. school after you finish with the EC ASN program. You can go part time even.