I thought there was a shortage!!!!>NOT<

[Cindy/Canada]

Here's a long story in a short way...

I signed up for the LPN course here in Saskatchewan about 2 weeks ago. I was told all I needed was to have my grade twelve transcripts ready for when they send me out the application...so I could send everthing in at the same time.

Yesterday I called them to say I received my marks...and to find out when my application form was coming so I could send everything in.

I found out that I was NOT starting school when I was first told I was. I was told that over 50 people where on this waiting list...and then there was the 75 left over from last years class that didn't get in. They are taking either the top EIGHT or the first EIGHT...I have 3 diffent stories now.

E I G H T ...thats it!!!! EIGHT !!!

I thought there was a shortage....or there is a shortage coming to nursing.

Needlessd to say...It will take me YEARS to be a LPN. Since I am 37 years old....maybe I will be retired by the time I fullfill my dream.

I signed up for the special aid course. It is NOT what I want but I figure it's better than sitting on my fanny waiting for everyone to fix this darn mess.

I cried soooooooo hard. I am sooooooo mad. I wanted to wait until my kids where old enough so I could totally "give it my all" when I returned to school and the work force...and I got my dream slammed. I just don't understand any of this.

I was also told that many people...over 100...have taken 3 large modules of the LPN course through distance training. They are still waiting to get into the course to finish it off....the lab and hands-on stuff...there they sit...after paying out LOTS of money...oh my gawd...how sad is that!!

Soooooo....not sure if I even belong to this board anymore becasue I'm not sure if I will EVER be a nurse.

Warm sad hugs....Cin:o

[nrselisa]

The waiting list will probably get shorter quicker than they said. Our advisor told those that didn't make it this year not to be suprised if they receive a phone call the night before classes started asking them if they would like to come. People may have a family emergancies, unexpected pregnancys, transfers, health problems, or may even change their major. Those that were accepted this year still have to have all pre-req. completed & PASSED. Even not having their immunization records in on time can have them deleted from the list. Many even see have much work goes into nursing classes & change their mind. I would get on the list & begin taking any classes I could. Good luck!

[Paprikat]

It's like this is BC, too, friends have put their names in a few years ago, and are just starting to go now. They started offering it at a private college here also, and apparently they are booked years in advance. It is unfortunate....BC is royally screwed up now with the healthcare system....major cuts announced today.

I would recommend that you take pre-req's or try the long term care aide course, it may give you an edge. I don't know about distance ed, but that may be something to look into. Have you tried the Open Learning Agency (OLA)? I don't remember the website address, but it should work if you type in the keywords. I'm sorry for the situation that you are in. We need more nurses, it is unfortunate that it is so hard to get into.

[misti_z]

hang in there:kiss the whole process is stressful. go ahead and do your special aid classes and learn as much as you can. get all you pre reqs so you will be ready when they call. you will be a before you know it.

do any hospitals near you offer the lpn program? the hospital i work at offers the program with the contract that you work for them after you get your licence.

good luck!!!

[Mkue]

Ohio is no different. Some of the 2 yr. RN community college programs got in trouble a few years back due to their low pass rate, so now they are only taking the cream of the crop. Mostly the 4.0 students, that is sad because many of the 3.0 and 3.5 students are just as qualified.

It is unbeknownst to me why these community colleges try to push students into other majors such as radiology, medical technician, which there is nothing wrong with these programs but they are painting a picture to the would be nursing students, to forget about waiting for the Nursing program and just go into something else, well that is GREAT for the school as they can still make money off of these students.

I agree with the above posters, go ahead and get all the prerequisites that you can. Many schools now are asking for prerequisites to be finished before starting clinicals.

I can understand why there would be a shortage of faculty for these programs as faculty are not paid what they are worth either.

What I don't like is when schools push students to go into another area just so they can keep the $$ at the school. A young student of 18, 19 or 20 may not realize this is done, unlike someone my age.

[Cindy/Canada]

wow...thanks for all the great support. You people are great.

I begin my Special~Aid/Homecare course in June. I will then follow your great advice and start taking classes by distant training provided through the University and get some of the harder classes out of the way "just in case" all this falls together before my retirement....haha!

Anyrooo...thanks again for all the great posts and keep them coming if you have any more ideas!!

Warm hugs...Cin

[Jenny P]

Cindy, you wrote you were interested in the LPN level of nursing; did you look at ADN programs, or do you live where only BSNs can be RNs?

[Q.]

Originally posted by alansmith52

My dear:

the shortage is not about he number of people coming into nursing. It never really has been. schools are full and some have waiting lists; the problem is the faculty.

hy is there a shortage of nursing faculty? Becaue the pay is the worst at the university. you can make about 20000 more working as a nurse than you can by teaching it.

matt

Precisely Matt. That, and once a nurse graduates, he/she quickly leaves the field in about 2-3 years.

Just as there is a shortage of bedside nurses, there is a shortage of nursing EDUCATORS.

[Cindy/Canada]

Jenny P

I believe the course I want to take is the ADN program.

Warm hugs..Cin

[JMP]

Degree as entry to practice is now here. I do not know about your province, but the degree has taken the place of what used to be a three year DIPLOMA RN. (now it is a 4 year degree in Ontario to graduate, but does not change the status of any RN working) If you want to teach, be a clinical instructor etc........ you will need a Masters, as BScN is now entry to practice.

Lots to sort out with this change, but right now, I would advise you to take a hard look at the RN program where you live. Do what you have to do to get into it......many more jobs and opportunites for you, as a RN. Just do it. You can, and it may take longer than you first thought, but it will be worth it.

I had to go back and take math and chemistry....... had to get a tutor for the chemistry........ took me 4 years of hard work, but I did it. It all comes down to how bad you want it.

[Cindy/Canada]

JMP....

Thanks for the advice but schooling for a RN isn't in sight for me. I live 2 hours from the nearest University. I have 4 children, one of them disabled. My husband has a great job....but not great enough to support me in a city 2 hours away. I want to further my education and a 15 month course in my own town is much easier on my family than the RN route. I understand that my career as an RN would be more benificial in many areas...but...my family must come first and my education second.

Have a great week...cin

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Skip the LPN and to straight to the RN, is the only advice I have. I too have a son with a lot of health needs. In some ways, I went back to school so I could take better care of him! I have been an RN ten years now, graduated at 33 yrs old. He is (very fortunately) an adult on his own and doing so very well.

[Cindy/Canada]

Ummm....I can't. I can not move my family because I want to go to school. I willnot do this to my husband or my kids.

I'm getting frustrated. Do you all expect me to uproot my kids...not to mention the hardship it will put on my marrage...and move to another city?....I came here to get a little support because I was angry about the way schooling is handled in my province...I live in a nice city...my kids are very involved in the community as well as myself. We have a nice little house across froma park. My husband has a STABLE job. We are a happy family. I WILLNOT uproot any of this so that I ...at the age of 37 can go back to school.to be a RN. If I lived in a place where they offered the course it would be a different story.