Cannot decide on a path...ugh

[OBplease]

Having a hard time making decisions...I think I may need a life coach ;-) The couple of family members I have asked, say it's too many details for them to understand. I can understand that since they don't really know anything about how N/S works. Anyway, I need some objective ideas from people who are on the same path but not emotionally tied to the situation. Would appreciate all ideas. I need to make a plan to stick to...I'm a plan person.

My story..don't have to work but I want to be a nurse & about half of pre and co-reqs done for LVN and RN. I will have 5-6 left and will be done just in time for the programs to start. I have children in school and also by the time I could get into the earliest program (Jan.) I will also have a 3 and 4 yr. old, to consider, that will need care. If I don't do the Jan program, the 4 yr. old will be almost 5 by the time of the other programs and will be in school, the the almost 4 year old will be in pre-school.

My current decision...to add another class to A&P2, Lifespan and Dev., (this class would be Arts or Sociology) for this semester or leave my schedule open to take a 4 week evening and Sat. CNA class, starting mid Feb. I don't need this class to get into school and I probably would not work with it but would appreciate the experience. It would also give me credit for a basic nursing skills class for my second choice school (however, I would probably still take the class in school, so really I don't need the credit). The program is $755, includes the test, and is 15 min. from my home. It would also give me a skill, related to my nursing goals.

My long term decision...have 2 N/S, I am looking at, with 3 possible programs. I'm having a hard time coming up with a preference. I feel pretty good about the outlook of all possible options and I don't know what to work toward.

My school....Apps. due Jan. '12 , start sum. '12. Clinicals 2 days/week, 20 min. from home. Lecture 1 day/ week, 1 hr from home. LVN- sum. thru spring, then RNl late summer-spring. LVN grads go straight to RN at my school if they choose and students at my school have priority. My GPA is good and since I'm applying for only the LVN portion of the program but will have all RN pre. & co-reqs done, adviser says I'm good to go. No entrance exam.

Next program...has two options. LVN portion starts Jan. '12, acceptance Oct./Nov '11. Program starts earlier but is full time. M-F, 6-8 hrs./day, some clinicals could be 12 hrs. Class is 45 min. away, clinicals either 45min or 20 min. from home. LVN portion-Spring '12, Summer, Fall. RN transition- Summer '13, Fall, Spring. 2 days summer, 3-4 days Fall and Spring. 0r

Same school...Straight RN, same drive times as above. No summers, 3-4 days a week, application due by Jan. '12 Won't start til Fall '12. Hesi entrance.

I don't know if I should even consider the LVN, then RN option at second school, since it's so full time. If I don't, then which program is more appealing? It think they are both equally good schools, so it's more about the program specifics, how they weigh out but there is good about both. Would love some opinions. Thanks!

[Music in My Heart]

IMO, the CNA class is a waste of time unless you're intending to seek employment as an aid. If you don't need to work, I wouldn't bother; I consider working as a CNA for the "experience" to be worthless.

In my case, we were required to obtain our CNA certification prior to beginning nursing school. If you're not, I'd give it a pass.

I also wouldn't bother with the LVN route. Just wait 'til you can matriculate into the RN program and go for it. In the meantime, ace your prereqs and enjoy the freedom of time with your family.

[OBplease]

Thank you for your reply. A couple of more questions...

If my school only offers LVN, then RN, is it still only best to go straight RN at another school?

What if I volunteer? Is it worth it then to get the CNA?

[Music in My Heart]

if my school only offers lvn, then rn, is it still only best to go straight rn at another school? i think that, if your goal is to become an rn, then you should just focus on that - especially if you don't need to support yourself right away.

what if i volunteer? is it worth it then to get the cna? nope... as a volunteer, you won't be doing cna stuff (that is, feeding, bathing, transferring, and toileting people)

again, jmo.

[OBplease]

Great! Thank you! I went ahead and added another course tonight to my spring schedule, so most likely no CNA.

As for the rest (which program) still have to think on it. Will probably apply to both schools and forgo the LVN in Jan., and hope for the best.

Thanks again!

[coopermke]

I would definitely not go the CNA route if your program does not require it and you do not plan to work in this capacity. Experience as a CNA will really not give you much of an edge in nursing school, and simply taking the CNA class without even being employed as a CNA will offer even less of an edge.

The skills that are learned throughout an entire ($700+!!) CNA course are taught over the span of one week at my school, in other words, they are minimally important. Of course, the skills a CNA offers are beneficial to the patient, but they simply do not overlap with the content of nursing school on very many levels.

I would go the RN route, especially if the two choices are offered through the same school (so the requirements for admission are the same). I think that for long term security, it makes more sense to put in the extra time to become an RN because you give yourself the option of advanced practice down the road and can be flexible with specializing if you so choose. I know that may seem far away, but someday you might be very glad you left yourself those options. Also, getting a job in a hospital CAN (not in all cases) be easier as an RN because that is slowly becoming the standard.

I know you may hear horror stories about balancing work, family, school, clinical, homework ...etc etc. and they are somewhat true, nursing school is not easy by any means. HOWEVER, in my opinion many people over dramatize this fact. I got to school (4 yr BSN program at a private college) with many mothers who have young children (many of them single moms) and they are very successful in their classes. Dont let people scare you off... it is very do-able. I was terrified when I started school because of the stories I have heard, but I have found that with organization and effort nursing school is not the crazy, impossible feat that many make it out to be. It just takes hard work and intelligence! :)

good luck!

[OBplease]

coopermke: Thank you for your reply and thank you for the little "pep talk" at the end. I do plan on the RN, no matter what. It's just at my school they only offer the LVN, then RN route. Because LVNs from my school can continue right on into the RN portion, in all actuality, the main difference between the two programs I'm looking at is that the LVN, then RN (my current school) is about 10 weeks or so longer and that you have the capacity to work with an LVN if you wanted to, midway through. I feel like I have the best chance at my school. The way the adviser and reps at the nursing department have explained it to me (and other students I know there), as long as you are a student there and have finished most reqs, you are good to go. There is no entrance test. I feel like I still have a very good chance at the other school. There is a possible of 13 points for entrance, with 9 being the threshold for the last several years. I will have at least 11 points.

However, If I get into both, I don't know which I should shoot for. If there was a significant difference in the start dates, that would probably be the deciding factor. Since there isn't, it's really more to do with the details of the program and it's hard for me to look at it and figure out which will be better for me. They are both really good schools. I know this all seems silly because most people just want to get into one but I really feel like I have an excellent chance at my school and a very good chance at the other.