Deciding Between LVN School and Returning to Work

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi Everyone,

I was laid off in October 2011 after 23 years of service working for an international law firm.

One day, not long ago, I woke up and decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. I know that I do not have enough time to complete my RN, so I thought I would pursue a LVN Certificate.

The other side of this coin is that a co-worker has e-mailed me saying that a position has opened up in the same department that I used to work in and it would be a promotion for me. She made sure to tell me that I would be a "shoe-in" for the job because I know the job, the software , etc.

So even though I have been admitted to Kaplan College and have tested for a few other LVN schools, I am thinking about going back to work. The sad part is, even if I did go back to work, I would have to quit work when my clinicals started.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Thank you.

Specializes in OR, Trauma, OH, Vasc., Ortho, Gen.

Life does not last forever one day you will be to old to work and reflecting on your life. Will you be happy with your choices, in the end thats all that really matters. after earning a bs degree in resort admin I figured out I hated the job and the field. It took me another 4 years as a firefighter at one of the highest paid departments in the US to figure out what I wanted. To help other people and pursue my passion for diving and HBOT. Im 28 going to school with folks much younger than I am but in then end i'll be doing what I love and never working a day in my life.

my 2 cents

Thank you, ggoodman. You are so right... life is just too darn short.

Good luck with the diving and HBOT.

Puddin2day- Might be a compromise. Have you inquired at your local community college about part-time Nursing programs. Because so many classes can be done online, fast track, on weekends you might be able to work as you earn an RN.

ggoodman - Got my first degree in Hotel and Resort Admin too. Hoping those hospitality and problem solving skills will help me as a nurse!

CDEWannaBe,

The community colleges only have their clinicals during the day (the same time that I would be at work).

Bummer, that's how my local community college is too. They phased out the part-time program with evening classes. When I complained the program director said I should ask my boss if I can have Tuesday and Thursday afternoons off for clinicals?!?

So in the meantime I'm taking all my prereqs at night and will stop working this job when it's time to enroll in the daytime only classes.

Guess the big question is how bad do you want to be a nurse? If it's what you really want, then maybe this new job isn't for you. Good luck as you figure it out.

I strongly suggest to do what makes YOU happy. Being laid off once already proves that you are not guaranteed a position where you work at, especially with the economy now. The benefit to being a nurse is having more options and more opportunities to find a job (and help people while doing it). No nursing job is guaranteed but its a lot more stable than most positions out there. If you want to work at your job now and LVN school is only during the day than why not go further? Do the nights/weekends RN program. (I know my community college has a nights and weekend program for RNs) RNs get paid a lot more and have a lot more opportunities. Do you want to live everyday wondering if you will be laid off again with no backup plan? Thats something you will have to figure out yourself.

I strongly suggest to do what makes YOU happy. Being laid off once already proves that you are not guaranteed a position where you work at, especially with the economy now. The benefit to being a nurse is having more options and more opportunities to find a job (and help people while doing it). No nursing job is guaranteed but its a lot more stable than most positions out there. If you want to work at your job now and LVN school is only during the day than why not go further? Do the nights/weekends RN program. (I know my community college has a nights and weekend program for RNs) RNs get paid a lot more and have a lot more opportunities. Do you want to live everyday wondering if you will be laid off again with no backup plan? Thats something you will have to figure out yourself.[/quote

The only reason I don't want to go for my RN now is that I will not have enough time (even with an unenployment extension).

I wanted something quicker so that I could possibly have a job before my benefits totally run out. I plan on doing a bridge to RN or BSN once I start working.

Thank you for your reply ark88.

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