Nurses Career Support
Published Oct 26
Mercedes Kim, CNA
1 Post
I'm trying to advance my career. I'm tired of "just" being a CNA because, at least in my experience, we wind up getting treated terribly and as expendable frequently. I also just need to have more financial security for myself and my family.
I live near the Canadian border. Programs near me (in the United States) are fairly limited. I already have a B.A. in Psychology, by the way.
In the time it could take me to do a part time LPN program, I could attend other programs and become an RN. If I can manage to attend an accelerated RN program, I could get done the fastest out of all these routes.
However, accelerated RN programs are only in Seattle and nearby Seattle areas. Unless there's one that's a hybrid class, I don't know that I could attend. We are unable to move - my husband wants to stay in this area at least 3-4 more years because his first son and bio mom are nearby, and I don't know that we could come up with a compromise or something.
I feel that becoming an RN would also offer me more opportunities as far as what kinds of settings I can work in. CNAs are so limited up here. The choices are hospital (bad experience), LTC/SNF (currently working in this and am not a fan), or home care (not always under nurse supervision, which wouldn't "count" as experience to renew my CNA cert).
I could probably get away with working part time to attend, hopefully with as much financial aid as possible, but I need to find a program I can feasibly attend. Commuting to Seattle would be expensive and dangerous for me, as I tend to start falling asleep on long drives.
I also tried looking at out-of-state programs, but there are very few accelerated RN programs that are accepted by WA's BON. I don't think I could afford flights for any distance or hybrid programs anyway...
Any advice? Suggestions? Help???