Can spanish help new LPN grads in NYC?

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Hi all, I'm new to this forum and after having worked as a male Flight Attendant for 9 years, the time has come for me to switch careers into one that has a better future for me. I've read up on several threads so far, including the ones that mention the difficulties for new grads finding jobs after graduating. I'm curious if getting certified as a Medical Interpreter would help me in landing my first LPN gig or am I dillusional in thinking both of these jobs can be combined?:bugeyes: I know this field pays much less than an LPN and would not be too interested in it alone. I am also fluent in 2 other foreign languages and would wonder if these skills would help me in the NYC area. I'm also thinking of getting certified as a MI before I start off as an LPN. Any thoughts, suggestion or advice would be most welcome!

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...anybody out there? I guess not.:angryfire

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Being proficient in spanish alone would make you more marketable however I dont know if having a MI certification would necessarily give you more of an edge. Simply having the language skills (not sure of what other languages you are fluent in) is suffice. Also, many of the reasons why there is such a difficulty in the job market right now is based on our poor economy, by the time you are done with your schooling, things should be different (at least we all hope so). What I'm more focused on is why would you prefer going for the LPN and not the RN?

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The LPN program I'm thinking of is a full time, 10 month program. I have a mortgage to pay and no job right now so I guess the timing is a major factor. After about a year as an LPN, I would begin studying for an RN. I'm not sure yet if I can manage to keep from losing my apartment, going to school full time and working at the same time. I was thinking of taking a certification course for Medical Interpreting so I could get into the health field ASAP. What I'm praying for is that I'm not forced to have to choose between working full time to hold onto my property or risk losing it by going to school full time to become a Nurse. Selling it nowadays would not be a wise thing either.:idea:

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I'm not sure of the salary of an M.I but have you looked into CNA certification? The reason why I'm suggesting that is because it's a position with more patient contact which is ideal and many facilities provide tuition reimbursement through the union. At my old facility, one of the CNA's was able to accrue alot of overtime and save money so when she was ready to go back to school she was able to only work part time. Also, another program available with that same union was to work part time, get paid full time status and owe them back the time upon completion of school. Unless of course you could attain employment as a M.I that would do the same?

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Does the union require one to work as a CNA in order to qualify? I've given CNA certification a thought, however, I keep coming across programs that are somewhat long. I do know of a certification course at Brookhaven Hospital on Long Island where you begin working directly in the hospital at the end of the course, but it would be a very long commute. Which union has this program? It sounds like something that'll work for me in my case. Thanks for the tip!

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The union is 1199,at my facility they provided tuition reimbursement for all employees in the union. As far as the work exchange program, Im unsure of the details in terms of who qualifies as the person who took advantage of this was a LPN at the time. I dont know how far the commute would be for you, but the course at the hospital sounds like a really good opportunity because you would already have a job lined up, its most likely unionized and since youll be at a hospital already, you could eventually get a position as a nurse later on. I'd definitely look into that!

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I just found out that the hospital requires a two year commitment as a CNA. It'll interfere with my LPN course once I graduate in June '10. I wish there were more hospital training programs like these in the NYC area or even CT. I am thinking of taking EKG and Phlebotomy courses along with my CNA. A combined course would be ideal. Not too many of those around I suppose. This'll make me more marketable I imagine too. The objective is to get into the workforce ASAP, preferably in healthcare.

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Specializes in LPN Student, next step RN.
I just found out that the hospital requires a two year commitment as a CNA. It'll interfere with my LPN course once I graduate in June '10. I wish there were more hospital training programs like these in the NYC area or even CT. I am thinking of taking EKG and Phlebotomy courses along with my CNA. A combined course would be ideal. Not too many of those around I suppose. This'll make me more marketable I imagine too. The objective is to get into the workforce ASAP, preferably in healthcare.

I am a recentgrad from the NYC BOE Nursing program and I have seen alot of position being offered that ask for spanish as a qualification. Too bad i dont know Spanish...:cry:

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