Unemployment & Nursing School

U.S.A. Georgia

Published

Hello all!

I'm an LPN in Macon and I'm currently about a week away from being laid off from my current job due to critically low census (psych hospital). Has anyone here gone back to school to become an RN while maintaining unemployment?

I have already started my paperwork for admissions into the Gordon College bridge program, however, my admission/paperwork will most likely not be in for me to be admitted this semester to finish the remainder of my core, and there is a chance that some of my core will not transfer properly because some of my core classes were taken in Virginia. (All of my PN classes were taken at central georgia tech).

I would love any suggestions, I have 2 years of experience in psychiatric nursing, but nothing else, and the job listings here are slim to nonexistent. I know beggars can't be choosers, but I would prefer not to do agency/home health or traveling, as my experience in med/surg is limited to my school clinicals and would prefer a place where I would be able to have some help relearning/refreshing my knowledge. Of course, if at all possible, I would love to be able to maintain unemployment for the majority of my RN school so I can focus on my studies. I just want to make sure that I haven't overlooked anything in my research.

Thanks!!

In my situation, I was laid off in December 2009, and desperately searched for work to no avail. A relative recently graduated from a nursing (BSN) program in another state, and was making almost as much as I was making at my previous job with the gov't that I had held for more than 10 years.

I was of course receiving unemployment, and when I enrolled at Middle Georgia College, the financial aid people weren't the best but I was able to learn one can receive unemployment and not be actively looking for work. You have to fill out what they call the "blue slip" it's called the UI Claim form or something like that. Have one of your instructors sign it each week and return it to your local service center.

Your claim will automatically renew if you are eligible for additional benefits, but you may have to go reapply for extended benefits. Once all of your benefits are exhausted, you will not receive any more from them. They are quite adamant about this too. I mail my forms in to them because it is easier to mail them and not wait in the line but I have heard that some center staff are notoriously rude and I try to avoid them as well.

Unfortunately for me, my benefits are up in December, and I will have to reassess my situation at that time. If I were already enrolled in a nursing program, I would be eligible for the WIA funding (Workforce Investment Act - google for your locale office) which will cover a whole bunch of stuff but I listened to poor advise and had not completed all of my science requirements and have to wait to be accepted in a program.

I wish you the best of luck!

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Hey guys! I was wondering what is the WIA program? I looked it up and found information on it but I am still a little confused. How do I apply? and would someone qualify just by being in a nursing program?

Thanks!

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I was able to get into school at Gordon (for the LPN-RN Bridge, though I'm not in the program, just finishing out my pre-reqs) When I switched from the REU crap to the 'claimant trainee' program - they did ask what year I expected to graduate, and gave me the blue slips to have a professor/teacher sign, but I'm not sure how long I will be able to draw, from what I can tell I just have to keep refiling until I'm done, since as a claimant trainee you do not have to look for work.

As far as the WIA program, it's similar to the claimant trainee stuff, except they actually pay you go to go school - you have to get your blue slips signed but I believe you get financial aid for school but I believe you have to have been laid off to get it. I know several people in my LPN program were on this and their school was paid for, and I believe you can only use it for a technical/vocational diploma/degree, but I am not entirely certain - I will try to ask when I go to the unemployment office to turn in my blue slip and find out.

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I specifically asked about education benefits and unemployment, and the people at the office in Gwinnett county where I initially applied said that once you had exhausted all of your tiers as they call them, you were done with unemployment. I though the people in Gwinnett were rude and just brushing me off and asked the folk at the small office in Eastman close to where I am now, and they said the same thing. They also referred me to the WIA office, and the Workforce Investment Act lady said that you must be "enrolled" in an approved program (nursing is approved). The enrolled bit confused me, and I called back for clarification and was told that you had to be attending by someone else. My impression of the whole enrolled vs. attending bit is rather vague (probably intentionally). I can't think of the name of the lady that I talked to in Eastman, but all of them are very delightful to work with. They will actually help you because most everyone that I have dealt with thus far have been in this exact situation. To be eligible for the WIA program, one must be classified as a displaced adult worker.

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When I looked up this program I didn't see anything for nursing from a RN perspective what nursing progrM did you find. Only saw three places that supported the program in georgia and they were for cna's.

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I Suppose the program would essentially be the same statewide, and for my particular area, there are two colleges that are eligible for WIA. You have to search your particular region to find out if your institution is listed. For instance, when I search my region, I get this; http://www.gcic.edu/gawia/Prg/PrgMain.aspx?RegId=16&PrgClsId=51

I doubt any graduate programs would be listed, and of course private institutions would not be listed either.

Hope this helps.

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