I'm driving myself crazy on what to do and would love if someone could give me some input/advice. This is long, but I would appreciate any comments.
Here is the deal. I'm a CNA. Worked 2 years in LTC and 1 1/2 years in med surg at a hospital. I'm am currently in a tough RN program and halfway done. By tough I mean less than 10 out of 60 students pass each semester. Its really rough. Our school's NCLEX pass rates are 99% and they intend to keep it that way.
I am debating on dropping down to the LPN program at the same school. I would only have to go one semester since I have made it this far and I would have my LPN. The only bad thing is I can't quit my job. I'd have to pay back my tuition reimbursement. Plus I love working at a hospital and i learn soooo much there. Some of my former class mates dropped to the LPN program and they are actually getting to do more skills in clinical than we did in the RN program. Some of the students who were bombing their RN tests are now getting A's in the LPN program. I've been passing in the RN program but barely. Anything under an 82% is failing and I've been getting around 84-86% on my tests.
My concern is if I fail the RN program I will be put back on a wait list which could be 3-5 years to get back in and i would have nothing to fall back on. I've looked into other schools but I would have to start at the beginning of their program if I switched.
Plus I feel like we are just flying through our RN material. We have soooo much info crammed into our program that I feel like my head is going to explode. I don't even feel remotely prepared to be an RN. Lets just put it this way, I started clinical in January and after 6 months we were hold we should be at an LPN level.
I am at such a loss at what to do. If I go LPN I'd have to work two jobs since I have to keep my hospital job. They rarely hire LPNs there. I know as an LPN I'd be working at LTC most likely. I know LTC is rough and understaffed. If I stay in the RN program and don't make it I may not get back in for years, so I will not have that LPN to fall back on. Even if I do complete my RN, our hospital has said they will only hire me if I am working on my BSN (which I did plan to do).
No, it won't make you feel more confident. It won't take long for you to regret it bitterly. Your writing is far more literate than most and you're clearly intelligent. You have what it takes. Do not even think those words "if I fail." The instant you hear them in your head, banish them and replace them with "when I pass"!! I mean it!
Do NOT focus on what you (and many students) call "skills." Those are not skills, they are tasks, and believe me, you'll get plenty of practice in them in your first year of work as a nurse. Three months into work you will wonder why on earth you ever thought giving an IM or throwing in a Foley was such a big deal. It's because -- they aren't. They are very, very minor parts of being a NURSE. And nobody whose opinion is worth listening to in your new jobs will judge you poorly on them. Hell, I never put in a Foley once in four years, the opportunity just didn't present itself. I learned in one try. It's not a big deal, really.
One reason the LPN students appear to have the edge on that now is because they are not learning what you are learning. You will be fine. Go forth!
:flwrhrts:
Thanks for this. Your reply made me feel a lot better. Your right, LPN students are not learning what we are learning. They are two different programs.
vc01ca
36 Posts
Thanks for this. Your reply made me feel a lot better. Your right, LPN students are not learning what we are learning. They are two different programs.