Recommendations for LPN to RN programs in Western WA??

U.S.A. Washington

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Specializes in Rheumatology/Emergency Medicine.

I currently live in TN and can start a LPN to RN program here either Jan 2012 or summer 2012. I have a job offer in Seattle with the VA at $21.09 base, I'm debating taking it and finishing my RN up there or staying here and finishing first prior to moving. What do you all recommend??

Any good programs up there?? I have a BA in History, have A&P I/II, prob & stats, Intro to Micro done. Those are the big 4 prereq's for schools here.

My base as an LPN here in TN is $16.50 in the ER, I'd be a med nurse basically at the VA in Seattle and I'd have to choose whether to commute to Seattle or try to live close.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

Tony in TN

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Tough question! There are some good programs in the area. It depends if you want 2 or 4 yr and if you can get in.

The VA is a huge hospital and has lots of opportunities to learn. Is the 21 base for LPN wage?

I worked there years ago as an LPN. They were not nice to us at all, though treated the RN's very well (or used to). I don't know if that attitude changed or not. I heard they built on to it as well. It was huge back then! We also had to rotate two shifts and work 10 days straight. I really hope that changed, lol.

As for living, Seattle is very expensive to live in, but you might be able to make it work on 21.00/hr. There are many suburbs if you don't mind driving a bit.

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Specializes in Rheumatology/Emergency Medicine.

Thanks Tokmom,

I work for the VA in TN and they treat the LPN's like red headed step children here as well, not going to believe this....new grad LPN starts at $11.38hr here, while CNA starts out at $15hr. I took an ER tech job at $15hr until I could get an LPN job and they matched my pay, otherwise I would be making less than my wife who is an CNA (non-certified).

My biggest concern is getting into a program, any program, anywhere. The way things are going it's not a good idea to be an LPN, RN's get treated much better at the VA than LPN's. When I was working as a floor nurse in a civilian hospital, I was treated much better and got the same patient load as the RN's, I really enjoyed working at private hospital, but the VA pays better.

Tony in TN

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