Starting LPN school in July... need help!

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been accepted into a local LPN nursing program for July 2009. I was actually accepted a few years ago, but went for medical assisting instead due to classtime schedules and some personal issues at home.

Now, I see that I made a big mistake and am trying to fix it by going to this 1year vo-tech style program that has a very good reputation.

The problem is that I cannot afford to quit my job. I was hoping to drop down to part time on the weekends in the medical group/ hospital system that I am currently with, so I can go to school thru the week.

The only way I can see to offset that income loss is to borrow money to live off of through one of those private student loan companies you see on tv. You know, borrow up to $40k a year for school expenses and tuition. I certainly wouldnt borrow that much. Just enough to get by.

My husband is not supportive and neither are any of my other family members. My kids are all for it.

Actually, one of the reasons I want to go to school is so that I can support myself and my 2 teenagers and get a divorce. I cannot do that on a medical assistant income.

I have not found any information on grants or other monies to help pay for the program itself which is only $9500. I qualify for stafford subsidized and unsub. loans. We make too much money for pell grants, however, my teenage daughter will be starting cosmetology school in fall 09 after she graduates high school. We may get some sort of assistance there with 2 of us in school at the same time.

Does anyone have any advice or help that they can offer to help get me around this problem? Anyone in similar situations?

There are no part-time LPN programs in my area. They are all 1 year, full-time M-F classes. The community college... well... that's a disaster in itself. I've already thought of that and I think it's a waste taking all the BS classes and it would take me over 2.5 years to complete. LPNs going thru the comm college are having just as much trouble getting into clinicals as the RN's in the RN program. It's a mess!

Please help if you can! I am desperate to do this. I HAVE to do this!

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

My advice is to get your RN 1st. THere are more opportunities now for an RN student and I belive more scholarships as well.

I managed to go to full time RN school and still work and raise a family (although I am pretty sure all 3~suffered in thier own way: work /school/family) it was doable.

Contact your local community foundation, unemployment office (even though your employeed they still have schlorships for in demand professions) and hosptials to inquire about scholarships.

Go to the schools that offer the RN program and inquire about grants/scholarships. The money is out there, you just need to work to get it, but it can be done!!

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I have looked into RN.

There are (2) 4-year private colleges that offer RN in my area. I dont have time for that now and they are pretty expensive!

The community college, where most of our community goes, offers a 2- yr RN program, but they have a 4+ year waiting list on clinicals. One of my co-workers has gone to school now for 7+ years part-time, she still cant get into her clinicals and she's a straight 'A' student.

I figured going for LPN would allow me to get my license and then I can do RN via the web at my own pace. I dont have that kind of time right now to do RN right off the bat.

I need the quickest fix possible to make decent money in order to support my kids and move out on my own. I cannot even afford an apartment on my income as a Medical Assistant with 2 teenagers and I want a divorce from my husband.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

My thought is this---if you are only staying married to your husband so he can support you through nursing school and then you graduate and divorce him, well thats crappy. If the roles were reveresed and you supported him throuhg school and then he divorced you we would be saying the same thing. Thats crappy.

So if you want to leave him, do it, get a govt subsid apt and go to school, you would probably get more financial aid being a single mom than a married mom anyways.

if you cant affored it on your MA job, then get another job. There is no rule that states you must work in a health care field while going to school. I attended school with students who worked at pretty high paying factory jobs.

Best of luck!!

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Specializes in EMS~ ALS.../...Bartending ~ Psych :).

Do the LPN first...... Look into WIA at the employment office, and the other poster is probally right, you may get more help being divorced then married... Also, don't file this years taxes together. That may help you get a pell grant.

Good Luck to you

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

I stayed with my idiot ex-husband until I got through LPN school. He was as difficult and unsupportive the whole way through as he could be but in the end I got through it, divorced him, and was able to support myself and my son in the end. Yes, you would get more money if you divorced him now but I do not think you are selfish or wrong to stay with him until it is over. Good luck and the money is there but you have to look for it.

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Thanks Luvbug!

I have supported him through alot with his truck driving activities and competitions, I think it is only fair for the same in return. Regardless, we'd have to deal with being married and living together until our house sells. Which in this market could take awhile. Realtor said up to 2 years for a selling in our price range. We're basically roommates anyway. It's not like we hate each other. Just grown apart and have different goals.

I've attended and graduated from 2 schools and he feels that is enough. Both were tech schools, one for massage therapy and the other for medical assisting. I should have just gone for the nursing like I wanted to in the first place. Circumstances beyond my control stopped that.

He makes good money as a truck driver and as for changing jobs myself... if I could, I would. I make $14.39 an hour at my job. Most jobs around here only start at $9 or $10 an hour IF THAT, so it would be wise for me to keep it for the time being.

Houses to rent are too expensive and because I have a boy and girl ages 16 and 17, we'd have to rent a 3 brm apt where we live. There are waiting lists for housing assistance and with foreclosures on the rise, the line is even longer. They are just as much as renting a house if I'd be able to find one. Trust me, I have already looked into that. He is not their biological father and therefore not responsible for child support and their sperm donor hasnt been around for 13 years and his rights were terminated by the court.

Economically, it is best that we stay together until I am finished with school.

Harley Davidson, one of our area's biggest employers just laid off a ton of people, so did QVC. Factory jobs may pay good, but they are few and far between. We've lost Boscovs, Linens and Things, Pfaltzgraff, and Value City Dept Store in the past few weeks. :crying2:

I am sorry if I offended anyone by sounding like I am using my husband, but I have done ALOT for him. Fair turnaround if you ask me.:typing

Any help regarding grants, places to look for financial resources is helpful if anyone knows where to look. Thanks

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
There are no part-time LPN programs in my area. They are all 1 year, full-time M-F classes. The community college... well... that's a disaster in itself. I've already thought of that and I think it's a waste taking all the BS classes and it would take me over 2.5 years to complete. LPNs going thru the comm college are having just as much trouble getting into clinicals as the RN's in the RN program. It's a mess!

Please help if you can! I am desperate to do this. I HAVE to do this!

Thanks in advance!

I think getting your LPN first is a good idea and many of my classmates worked more than part time while in LPN school so that is an option. Will your employer kick in any money toward tuition? I don't know your local community colleges but in my area they have great programs and absolutely made it easier to get into a RN bridge program. Keep in mind that without all those "BS classes" you definitely won't get in a RN bridge program. I'm sorry your husband isn't supportive and I have no problem with someone finding a way to better themself and get out of a bad marriage but do kind of see his point of view since you have gone through two other programs already...and he doesn't know your real goal. Good luck.

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Specializes in EMS~ ALS.../...Bartending ~ Psych :).

Sweety I would never ever judge you for "using" him to better yourself! That certainly doesn't make you a bad person, in my eyes. I say keep your eye on the prize and do whatever it takes. You know your situation best, and if thats what you need to do, then do it. There is nothing wrong with you wanting a career that you can actually support yourself with.

Good Luck

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