what to do? CNA or LVN?

[Btran]

So heres the story...I'm an LVN but I dont have a job at the moment. Ive gotten job offers for an LVN position at a psych ward and senior nursing facility but Ive also gotten a job offer from a hospital but they dont have any LVN positions available at the moment so they said they would start me off as a CNA first until an LVN position opens up. So heres the sitution..the hospital said they would offer me tuition reimbursement since i want to continue my education to become and RN. The psych ward and senior nursing facility doesnt offer tuituion reimbursement but ill be working as an LVN. What should I do? Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

[plaza]

so the hospital is offering tuition reimbursement, a job?

are they willing to work with your school schedule? sounds like an opportunity to me.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I would take the LVN position at the senior nursing facility or psych ward. This might burst some people's bubbles, but I could not survive on the salaries paid to CNAs and hospital techs. In addition, the work is backbreaking, physically difficult, and might be socially hard.

[Thornbird]

I see the pros and cons to each situation. But, do keep in mind that besides the physical demands of being a CNA, which are often the same for hospital LPN's, that it can be hard to work in a job below your normal scope of practice without accidentally exceeding it. If you take work as a CNA, you're only covered for work in the CNA job description.