Help getting started

[tdale4]

Recently I have decided that I want to pursue a career in nursing. I have no idea where to start. I have almost no experience in the medical field (except a week long school I went to while in the Army). I live in the DFW area and was hoping for some help on where to start. Are there nursing programs available? A BSN seems like a good choice....but I cant wait 4 years to be employabe. Are there any on the job training possibilities? I guess my ultimate goal is to be a RN. But right now I would be happy with a shorter program to "get my foot in the door" so to speak. Any ideas or susgestions would be greatly appriciated.

Tim

[mattsmom81]

Tim, you might consider a LVN program to get you working sooner...most programs run a year or 15 months. Once you have that, go to work for a hospital and consider using their tuition reimbursement to help get your RN. There are online and distance ed programs for LVN's to get their RN...not just classroom methods....so you can do it in your own spare time. I know lots of LVN's who do it this way. Good luck to you! :)

[tdale4]

Are there any LVN programs you could recommend in the DFW area? I was hoping that there might be an on the job training type of program. I've herd that some nursing homes offer such a program. I will call some tomorrow to see if this is true.

Thanks

Tim

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

Our facility no longer hires LVN's. You might call Human Resources of various facilities, ask for the nurse recruiter, and learn if they are hiring LVN's. You might be better off as an aide or unit clerk or tech while you attend school. The recruiter would be able to tell you about pay and other benefits (tuition reimbursement). The main problem I have seen with people going the LVN route first is that they are too tempted to stop at that level and regret it down the road (due to low pay). But if you are self-motivated you can do it! You will certainly learn a lot as an LVN.