A few questions

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Hello all!

I am new the this lovely community and I would like to first off say hi! First, I would like to give a bit of a background. Currently I work for a energy conservation company in Connecticut. I am engaged and have a daughter that is turning 2 years old tomorrow (man do they grow up fast!). I will also be turning 25 in December. For a while now, I am been considering my future and what I would like to do. The thought keeps coming into my head about nursing. I find the human body extremely interesting and I also love to help people. So, here I am, asking for some help/information.

First of all, I am considering going for my LPN first. I have a few reasons for this. One, going to school for four years (probably 5 for me) is going to be a bit tough for me and my family. Also, the closest school that offers nursing is about a hour away from my home. This leaves the 2 year programs. Which actually ends up being around 4 years total. One year of prereqs and 2 years of classes in the program (again, this maybe more time for me since taking 16-18 credits a semester and working full time won't work). With this, I am really considering going through a state run program to become a LPN. With a LPN, I have an options still to go for my RN down the road and I believe CT has a program for LPN's who wish to become RN's (to be honest, I need to do more research on this). My question, does this sound like a good plan for now? The LPN program is 3 semesters and starts in Fall '08.

Now a few questions about being a male LPN. Would it have any affect on my ability to find a job? Whether it maybe for the better or worse? Should I expected to be treated differently by pt's?

I think this is all I have for now. I know more questions will come to mind as time passes. I would like to thank everyone that replies in advance! Thanks!

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

Welcome! Although I strongly recommend RN as your ultimate goal, I don't think LPN is a bad place to start, especially since you're fairly young. The LPNs I've known at school and work had a very good basis to build upon for RN school. The drawbacks are that LPN jobs can be harder to find in hospitals, and don't pay nearly as well. At my facility, LPNs start at around $12/hr, while RNs get just a bit over $20, base. LPNs can make better money in long-term care, but they earn it.

If you can afford to do it, an entry-level job in healthcare is also a good background for school, though not strictly necessary, IMHO. I've met very good RNs who were in their first healthcare job--a good dose of common sense can be as useful as experience, in many ways.

I've met some pretty sharp people who've been content to work as an LPN, or even as an aide, for their entire career. Nothing at all wrong with that, but they generally haven't been depending on their own pay as their primary support. Most LPNs I work with are pursuing an RN, since they're already doing very nearly the same work. Might as well get paid accordingly.

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Specializes in SRNA.

At this point, I would suggest "doing your homework" and meet with advisors from both the LPN programs and any RN programs (Associate or Bachelors) near you that you're considering. Tell them straight up that you're starting from scratch and request a list of all courses you'd have to take, including prerequisites. Ask the LPN program how to make the transition to RN...especially if there will be additional courses you'd have to take before enrolling in a RN program. It looks like there are many nursing schools in CT!

I was a 25 year old working full time in 2004 when I started this journey and I'll be graduating in 38 days from a BSN program. I completed my prerequisites and my core classes while working full time over 2 years, then my nursing courses take 16 months since we go through the summer (Fall/Spring/Summer/Fall). I quit my job before nursing school and I've been lucky that there's a lot of money being thrown at nursing right now. I've received enough free money to cover tuition and I've had to take student loans just to cover living expenses, which I share with my better half.

School will be a stressful time for you and your loved ones, but if this is truly what you want, it'll be worth it in the end. Good luck with whatever path you choose!

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my 2cents. Many employers reimburse some or all of your tuition, if you remain in their hospital following graduation. try LPN, see if like nursing at all. Then talk to your Human resource dept. about advancing your education to rn. I have said this before in this forum, Helping people is good, but should not be the reason you go into Nursing. Nursing is more than helping people, that is just one personal attribute. that's like, loving to draw and wanting to be Micheal Angelo

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Specializes in LTC, cardiac, ortho rehab.

well im a male lvn and i havent found any trouble regarding finding work. but i got to warn you, when your a male nurse, your also exprected to be a forklift and a security guard. good luck

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