Career change to nursing

[tampasteve]

I am in my late 30's and looking for a career change. I have looked at nursing and EMS in the past, but life circumstances kept me from changing careers. Recently I have been looking into changing out of IT and into nursing, specifically as an LPN. The LPN class starts in August, I am considering going to a CNA course in February that runs through April. That would allow me to get experience in a clinical setting, as at the moment I do not have any experience.

The LPN course runs 5 days a week, 7:30am-1:30pm. Would it be a good idea to work as a CNA (assuming I pass that cert.) on the off hours or should I use that time to study - or even stay at my current job (which is higher pay than a CNA) which would let me work part time. My major concern would be landing a job without experience other than what is earned in the clinical portions of the courses. Alternatively I could also volunteer a few evenings a week and keep my current job part time. But would that be too ambitious with the LPN course work?

Thank you for any advice!

[ShadowNurse]

Without a doubt volunteering while attempting LPN school is a no-go. Anything extra in your life needs to be cut out. Your class schedule sounds about right for an LPN program. Now add in clinical time, doing paperwork for clinical, doing research for clinical, writing papers, miscellaneous homework. I haven't even touched on studying or exams.

I'm not saying you can't work during your program. I did during my RN program. But people who ask if they can work need to take a good, hard long look at what nursing school entails. It is not normal college. They are going to work you like you have no other commitments in your life. Tests and exams cannot generally be re-scheduled. Attending lecture is not optional. Clinical hours (with rare exceptions) cannot be made up.

So just be very hard and realistic about what you can manage. Would it be realistic for you to try to learn a whole new job as well as go to nursing school? Or would earning more in a job you are familiar with while sacrificing experience which is not nursing experience be a better option for you? People become great nurses without being CNAs all the time. I was not one. So it's really all up to you.