Advice for a future RN...hopefully!!

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I need advice! My goal is to become a registered nurse, eventually in labor and delivery. There is a school near me called maric college that offers an 18 month program but it's only to become a medical assistant. Should I do that to get my foot in the door? Or should I go straight for an RN program? It just seems likes it's going to take me years otherwise, but I want to do it the smart way! ANY ADVICE!!! I'LL TAKE IT!!! Thank you!!:uhoh21:

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Go for the RN program not medical assistant... you will still have to do RN program after a nice long medial assistant program.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

hi, chanie, and welcome to allnurses! :welcome:

california is hurting for rns and governor schwarzenegger has been very helpful in doing whatever he can to help people who want to become rns. i'm posting several websites for california residents designed to help you in getting an rn. many of the community colleges in california are finding other ways to get students into training and leaving behind the waiting lists. so, you should explore the nursing programs in the community colleges around where you live (i'm giving you a link to listings of the rn programs in california). some california hospitals are offering special programs to help people get into community colleges and get their rns as well. you have to research and explore to find these facilities that are doing this. the tuition in the community colleges is only $20 a unit (that's only $60 for the average 3-unit course) and this is much cheaper than maric college which is a private institution. in my opinion, you would do much better to get training in a nursing home as a cna (certified nursing assistant) and work at that while working toward your rn. many nursing homes will train you on the job. to be a labor and delivery nurse you will have to become an rn. i'm also giving you a link to information about labor and delivery nursing. good luck with your endeavors!

general information about the career of nursing:

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CICU, NeuroICU.

Go for the RN. Becoming a medical assistant is only delaying the inevitable (hopefully). If you're going to seriously thinking about nursing school, start doing your pre-req's early.

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If your goal is to become an RN, getting a MA certification won't help. None of those classes will transfer to any nursing school that I've heard of, so if you dont want a career as a MA, then you would essentially be wasting your time and money doing that first if you plan on going to nursing school anyways. Besides, most RN programs (associates degree) are 24 months or less. Good luck!!! :)

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Specializes in ED.
I need advice! My goal is to become a registered nurse, eventually in labor and delivery. There is a school near me called maric college that offers an 18 month program but it's only to become a medical assistant. Should I do that to get my foot in the door? Or should I go straight for an RN program? It just seems likes it's going to take me years otherwise, but I want to do it the smart way! ANY ADVICE!!! I'LL TAKE IT!!! Thank you!!:uhoh21:

An 18 month MA program? wow! If you start nursing school, you can get a job as a nursing assistant after a year of clinical in some hospitals without the na training. You can get trained as a NA in some nursing homes in a couple weekends. Do not spend the time and money on a MA program if you want to be a RN. Spend that time taking pre-reqs for nursing school. You can complete it all in 3 yr if you do the community college route.

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Specializes in LTC Occupational Med,Internal Med.
I need advice! My goal is to become a registered nurse, eventually in labor and delivery. There is a school near me called maric college that offers an 18 month program but it's only to become a medical assistant. Should I do that to get my foot in the door? Or should I go straight for an RN program? It just seems likes it's going to take me years otherwise, but I want to do it the smart way! ANY ADVICE!!! I'LL TAKE IT!!! Thank you!!:uhoh21:

I went to school for MA about 5 yrs ago and while working as an MA was cool I wish I would ahve bitten the bullet and went straight for my RN. None of the classes counted when it came time for me to go back so I ahvd to start all over!!! Also Working as an MA was limited to M-F 8-7 so I didnt have a chance to go to school full time. I had to stop doing the MA thing to become a CNA so I could have the flexibilty to owrk varying shifts while i finished pre-reqs. While it was a pay cut:trout: I am now glad I did it like that because I start nursing school in January!!!! Like all the others have said Go 4 th RN MA is a waste of time if thats not what u want. The only advantage i see is I know how to give injections and take vitals and things of that nature. But those skills arent hard to do so t reallyu isnt an advantage at all!!!

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