A Little Vent and A Plea For Ideas

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

  1. What would you do in my situation...?

    • 6
      Go with your gut, work as much as you can, and go to school
    • 0
      Go back to working full-time and hope a job that will satisfy family will come along
    • 1
      Work full-time and take up phlebotomy
    • 1
      Work, save up money for program, and reapply once you have enough to cover full cost of attendance
    • 1
      Put off education indefinitely

9 members have participated

I am totally stoked about getting into LPN school for the Spring 2013 semester. I feel like I can finally begin a new chapter in my life and start moving forward instead of constantly starting over. With that being said, I feel like I am meeting some opposition from my family who feels I should just take up phlebotomy and keep working full time jobs. I feel like the fact that I have no solid skill set or formal training in anything is really not helping me and is a hinderance. I usually don't have trouble finding work but it is generally temporary and low paying (I have never made over $9.00/hr). I have applied for a W.I.A. grant but have basically been told I won't get funding until either the fall semester or Spring 2014 (if I start in January I will be GRADUATING in Spring 2014). Now I am just frustrated because my family thinks I should have just taken a secretary position and a phlebotomy class and gotten on with life. From what I have seen in the way of jobs where I live, a phlebotomy certification is useless without a year of experience. My family's answer to this? Just volunteer somewhere for a year... :banghead: In my mind, doing this will have me no better off because now I am still waiting tables yet I spent $1600 to become a phlebotomist which I am now having to actually spend money to do. Am I the only one who thinks this would be silly? I was thinking I could sign up to take at least 1 class (college orientation) and try to test out of the required math and English. Not only would this save me money (approximately $720), but it would save my spot in the program so I don't have to reapply etc, allow me to keep working and save money for a full load for the summer ($2160), and keep me on track to graduate Spring 2014. Does anyone have any ideas on other ways I can get funding since I am trying to save my financial aid for later pursuits and no scholarships will be available until fall semester? Am I missing something? Can someone tell me why my idea is bad and seems unrealistic?? I just want to see what my family sees. Someone help me please.:drowning:

-Exasperated WannaBe LPN

0 Votes
Specializes in Rehab, Geriatrics & School Nurse.

Go with ur gut or you will regret it....trust me. Your family is gonna talk smack but this is ur life not theirs. You can still work while in school if you want as an CNA after ur first semester as a lpn student. I think u should go for LPN!!!

0 Votes
Go with ur gut or you will regret it....trust me. Your family is gonna talk smack but this is ur life not theirs. You can still work while in school if you want as an CNA after ur first semester as a lpn student. I think u should go for LPN!!!

Thanks for your insight. It just feels like my time is now. I don't really understand the lack of support from my family. So after my first semester I can possibly get hired somewhere as a CNA? Would I have to take some sort of test or anything?

0 Votes

after your first semester of LPN courses you should be able to take the test to be a CNA. at least that's how it works in Ohio. GO FOR IT!!! don't let anyone keep you from going with your gut! especially when it comes to education :nurse:

0 Votes

Or you can take a CNA course, see if you can get a position in that and you like it, and see what kind of financial aid, scholarships (see what your former high school has for scholarships for graduates) you could get and just go for an RN, even if it's an associates for now at your local community college--which most have night courses. For the time that it takes to get your LPN, I would just put that time into an RN. Don't get me wrong, I am an LPN and LOVE it, however, I was also into my 40's had kids and a huge commute and it was not feasible at the time to do anything other than an LPN to RN bridge when the kids grew a bit. To be young and starting out, I would have gone directly to CNA (to get a job in the field, experience, ect) then to RN. You could bridge to your BSN when you can. Another choice would be an EMT-B course, and perhaps that is a better job market than CNA in your area, then to school, but seriously consider just going forth for your RN. If you have responsibilities that make it hard to do RN right now, then by all means do your LPN, but I would be sure to do something first to get a foot in the door (CNA, EMT...) There are a number of hospitals that train their CNA's (they will call them patient care techs) to draw labs and do EKG's, so I would meet with HR at your local hospital, see what you have to do to get a tech positon, and let them know you are going to school for nursing and do they use LPN's??? And one other thing, you could be a med assistant in an MD's office--medical assisting school is also an option. But apply for financial aid, do what you can to pay for schooling without too much of an out of pocket for you.

Good luck!!

0 Votes
Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.
after your first semester of LPN courses you should be able to take the test to be a CNA.:nurse:

...or a med aide.

When you pass Fundamentals (in first semester), you can test out for CNA.

When you pass Pharm (in later semesters), you can test for med aide. However, you'll only be able to work in LTC if you're a med aide. Nurses handle their own meds elsewhere or, at least, I've never seen one in a hospital or anything.

They earn more than CNA (but not much more). You'll become more familiar with the meds. It's less physical.

Still, CNA is a good bet. It's a great way to practice soft skills and when your aides are knee deep in pts, you can actually help instead of standing around with a bullhorn yelling out 'orders'.

Choice is yours.

You MUST be proactive and try your best to secure a GVN slot. *graduate vocational nurse* (what you'll be when you graduate - before you've passed NCLEX).

I've observed that many LTCs won't touch a new grad until they've passed NCLEX.

A suggestion (and play around with it to your liking according to the conditions in your local economy):

Once you get you pass Fundamentals (because the flexibility lies in CNA not MA or med aide...it's all about making sure that you have options and a WELL-PAYING job in the end.), get your paperwork to your dean and get your CNA.

Then, try homehealth (HH). You'll have plenty of time to study. It's 1x1. NOt 20x1. LOL It's quiet. You'll probaby earn more in HH. Your work schedule will be more flexible than LTC. Also, when you take clients, you come in contact with MANY facilities whichh translates to more networking opportunities.

That doesn't mean 'hang around the nurse's station' all day. LOL

Just find facilities that you like. Do your best to take assignments at THOSE facilities often and become a familiar face.

THEN...(when you're close to graduating, maybe 3 months out), apply for tech/aide positions at the hospitals, LTCs, LTACS...dialysis is great, too. Search for 'weekend double' positions.

Working evenings as an aide and attending school FT will be difficult. You need time to study and focus on your work.

Don't quit the HH agency. That way, you can roll into an LVN homehealth gig. I've observed that most staffing co won't touch a baby nurse. Liability. They may not 'train' you, but since you're known and you've worked for the HH for months, they're likely to be more than willing to bring you on and let you take on assignments as a nurse.

Let's say that you can't find an LVN job or the GVN position falls through?

It's ok. You have your $18-23hr (to start) homehealth job in the meantime.

Lastly, don't - DO NOT - rely on the internet to do the work for you. "Oh, I applied to 100 facilities and haven't rec'vd a callback"

Call and speak with the hiring manager. Go to these facilities and request the same in person. Fill out an app. For hospital work and jobs that force you to apply online? You've gotta unleash your inner opportunist and get to networking. This is healthcare and it's VERY small world. Don't burn bridges, for the sake of your career.

I have a job and was looking for another. I've interviewed with 3 prospective employers and they all know my DON.

Your family? You can't expect that everyone will be supportive of you and when you do become successful? You can't expect that some won't look upon your success and be envious. If you've achieved more than them? Of course, they would.

They may be happy for you. It's just that, for those that dont reach life goals or meet their potential? Another's success can be a reflection of their failure. They can't help but be bitter.

...or as the saying goes, "Haters gon' hate." LOL

If it happens - WHEN it happens - just understand that it's nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.

This is your life. These are your career goals. If you want to be a nurse?

Be one.

Maybe you'll succeed and maybe you'll change your mind or find something else more fitting.

Whatever you do, take care to not do unreasonable/nonsensical things for the sake of pleasing others...only. Years down the line, it may come to pass that you rue the very day that you were cowed by your family members.

0 Votes
Specializes in MR/DD.

The LPN school I went to required students to posess an STNA or CNA before starting the program.

Go ahead and get your STNA, get a job in a nursing home and then get your LPN. Becoming an LPN was the best decision I have ever made!

My income greatly increased after becoming an LPN... now if I can just get my first RN job.. ugh.

0 Votes

Honestly LPN jobs are hard to find.

Even then the salary seems to be DROPPING.

I make $1 less than a pheblot. I know who has 8yrs exp.

Sure you will start lower but you will increase as you gain experience.

I wouldn't do LVN. Save up and do 2yr RN if your young. I am not young. I am just starting my nursing career at early 40's. There isn't enough time for me to do much with it if I don't get on the ball an get my RN soon.

0 Votes
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