Need Advice for working in Illinois during ADN program

U.S.A. Illinois

Published

Can anyone in Illinois tell me the starting salaries for both CNAs and Phlebotomists?

I currently have a BA in Accounting, but will have to quit my day job (and it's $40k salary) to go to nursing school since in Illinois (Chicago area) there are no night nursing programs. I am almost 95 % sure that my accounting employer will not let me flex my job since I am going for a career that I couldn't do within the corporation. However, since I have no husband, need to get my kid to college and have bills and living expenses I have no choice but to work.

I have a CNA license from 1991 and I haven't worked as a CNA since 1994, so I will either have to renew that license or get a phlebotomy certification so I can do those types of jobs outside of class hours--unfortuneatly at 1/2 the pay I make now (I'm assuming). There are not many after 5 and weekend jobs I can do in the office environment plus I want to get some experience in the medical field.

Which would be my best bet?

Thanks

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Where in the Chicago area are you? The College of Lake County (in Grayslake - a northern suburb) offers an evening program.

I am not sure about what CNA's can expect to earn per hour, but I can tell you that you will not make anywhere near your current salary as an entry level phlebotomist. Depending on whether you work in a hospital or private practice you can expect somewhere between $10-$12/hour to start out.

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Where in the Chicago area are you? The College of Lake County (in Grayslake - a northern suburb) offers an evening program.

I am not sure about what CNA's can expect to earn per hour, but I can tell you that you will not make anywhere near your current salary as an entry level phlebotomist. Depending on whether you work in a hospital or private practice you can expect somewhere between $10-$12/hour to start out.

I live in Aurora in the western suburbs and everywhere around me, either community college or university offers only a daytime program.

I do realize I will not make $40K as either a CNA or a phlebotomist so I am in the process of paying off as much debt as I can so I can align my living expenses to a $10-12 per hour job for the 2 year period I am in school.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I believe that Joliet Junior College has a weekend/evening program. I don't know if that's too far for you, or what the waiting list is like.

You will undoubtedly take a hit in salary while in school. Have you considered working as a home health aide? You would have quite a bit of flexibility in hours.

You might also want to check into pharmacy technician positions at drug stores. I believe they provide in-house training, and they might pay better than nurse's aide jobs.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

What about medical transcription?

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