Well, I'm tired of living the way I'm living working as a CNA and EMT never having anytime off breaking my back and getting nowhere still not cracking 10 dollars per hour in either job. I've decided to enroll in a nursing program as soon as possible. Although RN is where my hopes lie, LPN seems a little more realistic right now. I know there limited in employment but I feel that I can make a good male Long Term Care Nurse. And 16 dollars and hour sounds better right now than 8 dollars an hour and 9.50 an hour. I've been working in LTC as a CNA for almost a year and I do like the environment besides all of its shortfalls. I know it's gonna be hard but to me it's more realistic. I can walk into vo/tech next semester and begin my actual second semester of LPN nursing school and learn actual nursing. If I go RN route it would take 2-3 years of absolutely going all out to earn a GPA high enough just for a chance at the RN program. I know that LPNs are not RNs and there's a reason why it takes longer and more prereqs but LPN is really appealing to me right now. And I know that if I retain employment at my current facility would hire me upon completion, and the starting pay is 16 dollars an hour but Nurses at my facility can earn up to 23 dollars an hour (LPNs) . The next time someone asks you why you didn't go straight for RN tell them, Have you tried it? It's not an easy road. I know that LPN school is gonna be hard as all get out for me but I feel it's something I need to do, I want to have a career that's i can truly live on. Any input?