Starting Off-Advice, Please!

[redhead31293]

Hello!! I'm Jennie and I am an upcoming high school senior. For half the school day this year I'll be attending a high school career center, and by the end of the year I'll be able to take the test and become a CNA. I planned on going to a university after that for nursing, but I was recently informed that the career center has started a nursing school as well. Before thinking about attending, I checked to see if the school was accredited, and it is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing. If I chose the career center route, I could become an LPN in 18 months and work as a CNA while going to school. After becoming an LPN, I'd like to go on to become an RN as well if my future allows. I really want to become an LPN at least before settling down and having kids. I'm one of those people who wants to get married and have kids right away, but I know it's smart to have some schooling and a career before having kids. I know that having foreign language can help in the process, and by the end of this year I will have completed my 4th year of Spanish. I have good grades, and I work hard. So, I have a few questions.

Is it difficult to get into nursing school? I make mostly As, and my GPA last quarter was a 3.67, and I was wondering if that was good enough.

Approximately how long does it take to become an RN after becoming an LPN?

Would you say this route is a good one?

Please let me know if you have any other suggestions regarding my career path.

Any other general advice is welcomed as well!!

Thank you!!!

Jennie

[IUstudent]

Thanks so much for all the help! My sister told me that IUPUI has pretty much the same opportunities as IU does. I've been interesting in working in third world countries, particularly Kenya, and I know IU has a partnership in Kenya and students have the opportunity to go over there.

Regarding volunteer work, shadowing probably doesn't count for anything like that, does it? My friend shadows nurses at a hospital from time to time because her mom is the receptionist and is able to set up shadowing times. She really wants me to join her and I'm really excited for the opportunity. I was just wondering if it counted toward anything.

Yes shadow & do it as much as you can! On the application they look for that during the interview (except they are throwing out the interview starting this year).. volunteering not so much but would also look good. I dont know what kenya thing you are talking about, but im pretty sure nursing students cant study abroad unless its your freshman year and your still pre nursing...

[redhead31293]

Yeah! I planned on shadowing as much as I possibly can. My friend usually shadows a whole 12 hour shift, 7 to 7.

I've never had a job before, so do you think it is a good idea to get some working experience before applying for a CNA position? My mom always told me that my first priority as a high school student is to get good grades, and that I don't really need a job...but I'm worried that having zero working experience won't be good for me and no one will want to hire someone with no working experience. I've never had a formal job, just babysitting for people.

[maryw1212]

take a deep breathe, i can tell you are very enthuastic and ready to get going on your career goals. you sound like you really know what you want for yourself, consider yourself lucky. my opinion differs from everyone else. i would get my lpn as you had planned for a couple of reasons 1) what if it turns out you hate nursing? 2) nurses that were lpns prior to their rns make much better rns for multiple reasons the major one being the common sense needed for nursing and time to develop that 6th sense you'll need and come to rely on. one question, why is your lpn 18 months? most are 1 year or slightly less. i worked as a lpn for 2 years and then went to a rn transition program and had my rn in 1 year. you mention wanting to work overseas well i have just the thing for you. PEACE CORPS!!! my husband and i lived for 3 years in north africa with me working in a small medical clinic in our town. of course you need a couple years of experience before qualifying(i had 6 yrs) and it takes about a year from when you apply until you actually go on assignment(background checks, security clearance etc,etc), but trust me i would do it again in a heartbeat and consider it the best experience in my life. anyway i'm rambling on best of luck to you and follow your heart.

[redhead31293]

take a deep breathe, i can tell you are very enthuastic and ready to get going on your career goals. you sound like you really know what you want for yourself, consider yourself lucky. my opinion differs from everyone else. i would get my lpn as you had planned for a couple of reasons 1) what if it turns out you hate nursing? 2) nurses that were lpns prior to their rns make much better rns for multiple reasons the major one being the common sense needed for nursing and time to develop that 6th sense you'll need and come to rely on. one question, why is your lpn 18 months? most are 1 year or slightly less. i worked as a lpn for 2 years and then went to a rn transition program and had my rn in 1 year. you mention wanting to work overseas well i have just the thing for you. PEACE CORPS!!! my husband and i lived for 3 years in north africa with me working in a small medical clinic in our town. of course you need a couple years of experience before qualifying(i had 6 yrs) and it takes about a year from when you apply until you actually go on assignment(background checks, security clearance etc,etc), but trust me i would do it again in a heartbeat and consider it the best experience in my life. anyway i'm rambling on best of luck to you and follow your heart.

My mom said becoming a CNA would help me to see if I really wanted to become a nurse, but I think becoming an LPN would give me a better look at nursing and seeing if it is right for me. She worked for a year and a half with special needs adults and it was a hard job. She would get smacked by the "clients" and cursed at, and she couldn't defend herself because they were mentally handicapped people and she could get fired for retaliating. She experienced some individuals that would lay in their bed and just wet themselves or have a bowel movement just because they didn't want to get up. They were perfectly capable, but they have the right to stay in the bed and do it. It takes a special type of person to be involved in that work, and it was really hard for her.

I thought becoming an LPN would give me a start to a career and have that under my belt if I decide to get married and have kids. My mom got married at 19 and had her first baby at 20. She didn't go to college, so it was pretty hard for her, especially after her husband left her. So I think it's a good idea to get at least something to fall back on if something were to happen.

I'm not really sure why it would take 18 months for me to become an LPN. Where I was thinking of attending was just a high school career center, then they also opened a nursing school.

I've thought about the peace corps, actually! I've always had a heart for people in need, particularly those in the slums of Kenya. I also thought about becoming a midwife to tend to the babies and mothers of Kenyan slums.

[maryw1212]

to find an lpn course they are offered at community colleges and also at vocational/technical schools, just make sure they are accredited with your state board of nursing some are not! you sound like a really sweet, smart girl and i wish you all the luck in the world-i know you will find success in whatever path you choose. mary:o

[redhead31293]

Well, my mom informed me that the career center I'm attending this year also has started a nursing school. Before I got my hopes up, I checked to see if it was accredited and it is :)

Aww thanks so much!! And thanks for all your help :)