I need help in deciding whether to become an LPN

U.S.A. Maryland

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Hi there- I am interested in becoming an LPN in Maryland, but I can't seem to find many schools near Rockville, Md other than community colleges and the Phoenix online school. First of all, can anyone steer me in the right direction? Is the Phoenix online school looked upon well in the medical field? I am currently out of work and the travel industry which I have had a career in for 20 years has all but dried up. I am looking to get into the nursing career where I can start as quickly as possible, and then maybe go back for additional education once I have a job. Can anyone help me? Thanks so much for your time...

Hi Jules...Thanks so much for the info...I feel so confused at this point, that I'm just not even sure what to do anymore...Never did I think that when I hit 40 I'd ever be in this type of situation, but I lost my mother, father, and brother all within two years of each other so it's been a tough time. My brother left behind my niece and nephew who are badly neglected in PA, so my attention has been on them for the past 6 years. Child protective services has been to the house 9 times all complaints from different people including the school, but since there is expired food in the house, they will not remove the kids, even though the food does not make it to their mouths. The kids are strictly advised to lie about the situation, and if we try to step in, she won't let us see them anymore. My brother and I travel back and forth every other weekend just so that they are bathed and fed, so I'm truly scared about the whole school thing at this point. I didn't want to give you my sob story, but I thought that it might give you a bit of insight as to what I'm facing. You truly have inspired me to know that you started nursing school in your late 30's. One thing that I wanted to ask you... (if you're not sick of having to respond to me by now) I had been checking all of the schools for a one year LPN program, and for instance, Frederick Comm. College said that they have a 1 yr prgram, but when I went on their website, it is one year for the classes, and almost another year for the clinical. Can you tell me if I am truly looking at 2 years for LPN? If so, just like you said, I do not think that I can support myself on the CNA income. Thanks again for all of your help...

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate. I'm so sorry to hear about your neice and nephew but thankful they have your support. I work in pediatric psych and a majority of my patients are neglected and or abused, it is heart breaking. Just watching you complete your schooling goals will be a positive message for them about education. Here is a link to a state scholarship program you might consider. I know a couple of people using this one. http://www.mhec.state.md.us/financialaid/programdescriptions/prog_nurse.asp

Most community college LPN programs are one full year of classes with clinicals a couple of days a week during that year but there are pre-reqs also. Forgive me if you've written this before but do you have any college credits now? Since I started so late I took a heavy load and did CLEP exams for some of the fluffy gen-ed courses to move things along. It was challenging but I just kept pushing foward and you can also! I started nursing school on a whim and was thrilled to find that I love it. Keep posting with any questions or if you need encouragement. Hopefully others will write in with information also. Happy holidays.

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Have you looked into Frederick Community College? They have an LPN program, and I *think* that they waive the out of county tuition fee for nursing students. But not being a Frederick County resident does count against you when applying to the program (they have a point system, so you don't get any points for living in Frederick).

I am torn between their nursing program and their Surgical Technician program, but I start my prerequisites there next month.

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Hi there...

It's been a while since I last wrote. Since then I finished the CNA course and received my certificate. I am working as an in home CNA now. It's great...I just love it. I am taking my prerequisites now, and am also torn between the nursing program and the surgical tech program at Frederick Community College. Have you decided which you will go for yet? Just wondering. Hope you are doing well...

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I am going to apply for the evening/weekend nursing program next year, hope to start 01/12. The surgical tech program sounded interesting to me, but they did not offer night/weekend classes, so nursing it is. I am very excited about it and think it will be a better career choice for me. Just plugging along with my prereqs for now.

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Hi Cate,

I'm a RN now but I did my LPN first. Because I loaded up my courses and took some toward my RN while in LPN school it only took me just over 3 years. FWIW I drove 90 minutes each way for my LPN program. :) Not ideal but what had to be done. Have you looked on the MBON web site for a list of all the schools offering LPN programs? You definitely should be able to find a facility that will train you as a CNA so I wouldn't pay to get it. If you can waitress or bartend you'd make way more money in a shorter period of time. How long does your unemployment go for? You are probably making more with that than a CNA also. If I sound down on CNAs that isn't what I mean its just that they do back breaking work for peanuts and in the scheme of nursing school once you are past your first semester there is very little benefit to being a CNA, imo. Good luck.

I just wanted to say, ive been a CNA for 6 years and Im just now going to school for my RN but you saying there is no benefit from being a CNA before becoming an LPN or RN is false. Ive talked to my bosses at the Rehab facility i work at now and they look at your history and they would take a new nurse that has worked as a cna before they would take a nurse who has no nursing history, and you also LEARN working as a CNA bc you work WITH the nurses.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I just wanted to say, ive been a CNA for 6 years and Im just now going to school for my RN but you saying there is no benefit from being a CNA before becoming an LPN or RN is false. Ive talked to my bosses at the Rehab facility i work at now and they look at your history and they would take a new nurse that has worked as a cna before they would take a nurse who has no nursing history, and you also LEARN working as a CNA bc you work WITH the nurses.

FWIW I was talking about benefits as far as nursing school goes and I didn't say no benefit:

"in the scheme of nursing school once you are past your first semester there is very little benefit to being a CNA, imo"

Of course everyone is different but in my situation getting my CNA wasn't necessary. I was hired before I even took NCLEX. While in nursing school I made over twice as much as a CNA makes so there wasn't any way I was going to quit that job to do the difficult job a CNA does for less pay. In any event many congrats on school and best of luck to you! Jules

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I have never heard of a Johns Hopkins free training program. What does it entail?

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