CNA/LPN/RN transition & nursing homes

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · May 27, 2008

The summer before my nursing school began I too took a job at a local nursing home as a CNA, I did this for a few reasons, mainly to see if I really wanted to become a nurse before I put myself and family through 4 years of school...I thought it was a great place to get hands on exp.

Granted I never worked so hard for such little money in my life, but the skills I learned as a CNA not only helped me in nursing school but it made my transition into nursing much smoother.

If your end goal is to be an RN, why not just pursue your Rn now? You only have to sit for boards once--that is a perk, and by the time you get your LPN, and then start to work as an LPN, then go back to school for RN, it will be harder to study and do clinicals since you will have an LPN job to contend with.

I dont know about your area, but in mine the hospitals dont hire LPNs excpet for Behav Health and extended care. So if is a medical Hospital unit your looking for, one more reason to just get your Rn from the start...

Best of luck to you!!!

PS--after a year of being a CNA at the nursing home, I transfered to the hospital to work as a CNA and they paid a large chunk of my nursing school for a commitment from me to work for them. When my graduating classmates were scrambling off to interviews, I had 3 dept heads seek me out to ask what MY intentions were after graduation...

InTheMeantime · May 27, 2008

Well, the reason why I was going to move from CNA to LPN and then consider RN was the issue of me being a single parent and the length of time it would require me to become a RN (4 yrs) plus trying to work a full-time job.

I am the only financial support for my children. Therefore, I would need to still work FT and take 2-3 classes at a time.

The nursing home provides paid training so that's perfect. LPN is 3 semesters and RN is 4 years. Only way I can rationalize going to school 2-3 classes at a time to be an RN now vs later while still working FT is if I can somehow become an LPN based on my credits/courses while working towards being an RN.

catlynLPN · May 27, 2008

Just throwing in my 2 cents worth, but with you being a single parent it looks like there should be some kind of assistance out there for you to go to school without having to work full time.

LPN school is GOING to be FULL TIME also......as far as I know you can't take just a few classes of LPN school, unless it's some prerequisites like some algebra, etc. But when you get on down in the program, I would imagine that it will be required to be in class and clinical full time.

If I were you, I would try to see if I could get assistance, to help with cost of schooling and then work PART time.

You've also got to think about child care.

There should be some assistance out there for a young single mother trying to better her and her children's standard of living.

See if you can get it. You deserve it.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · May 27, 2008

an associates RN degree is only 2 years vs the 4 for the BSN.

Dollar wise you will probably make more as an RN and I agree with the other post as far as scholarships/grants. I was married with 4 kids and had a decent income and still found tons of money for school.

Ask at the school about any grants/scholarships that they know of, they want your tuition money as badly as you want your degree, they will help you find it, also do you have a community center? Mine had 2 scholarships avail to me. Also ask at the hospitals if they know of any....there is a lot out there, it just takes some digging to find them...

Best of luck!!!

Thornbird · May 28, 2008

I think taking CNA training is an excellent first step in nursing, especially if you have little ones to support.

There is always talk of LPN's being "phased out". They were saying that over 20 years ago when I took LPN training and it still hasn't happens. If it did, LPN's wouldn't be "de-certified". There would just be no new licenses issued. That being said, it IS hard to find an LPN job other than nursing homes and homecare in many places. You might want to check out the job market.

I also agree with the others. You can become an RN in 4 semesters with an associate degree. This is a much better level of entry than LPN. Far more job opportunities and much easier to work on your Bachelor's degree. You can even do that part time or online. There are LPN to RN (associate degree) programs. But, much easier to start as an RN. Take it from one who started out to do your plan and got "sidetracked" for 20 years by single parenting issues and is still an LPN. Do it while you can.

There should be financial aid available to you, especially in a college program.

LPN schools are usually full-time also. In college programs you can take all your pre-requisite classes a few at a time and then when you enter the nursing core classes, the load is easier to handle. Do careful research before entering a program. Once you are a CNA, you can "pick the brains" of nurses you work with for ideas on school.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · May 28, 2008

could you find CNA work and see if the facility would pay or help pay for RN school? I would go for the 2 yr RN and then further if you like.

Drysolong · May 28, 2008

Personally, I chose the CNA, LPN route to RN. Currently an LPN and getting to RN is slower than I would like. But it's a good plan for me. My circumstances were different than yours. (OP) However, I would suggest that as a CNA to probably just concentrate on the RN program.

My :twocents:

InTheMeantime · May 29, 2008

Thanks everyone for the advice!!

I found two local nursing homes offering paid CNA training over the summer. So I plan to apply and see which one will accept me. I also just found out this summer I am approved to have my childcare 100% paid for! :yeah:

I'm also applying to recieve financial aid (pell grant) to start taking my core classes at the community college for the 2-yr RN program.