Home Health Aide to LPN

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I'm in the process of a career change. I will be starting a 15 month LPN program in New Jersey in July. While doing the program I'm going to be working as a home health aide, I thought this might help me to find a LPN job once I'm finished school. Hopefully being a hha with patient care experience will help and maybe even get me an LPN position thru the same home care agency. Do any of you think this is a good move and have any of you had a similar experience? If so I would love to hear the outcome and any advice any of you have to offer. Thanks!

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That is a good idea. You might want to mention your future plans at the agency so that you know ahead of time whether they will be willing to employ you in the LPN role once you get the license.

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Specializes in Rehab.

its a good idea and the healtcare background will give u good insight im a cna in a 12 month lpn progran in pa and i feel more comfortable dealing with my pts than my clasmates that dont have a cna or hha background, just study a lot actually all the time and you will be just fine, manage ur time well and dont get off track cuz its hard to get caught back up, i hope u will b able to get a job at the agency when ur done, good luck

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I was an HHA for 5 years prior to becoming an LPN. I went to school full time and graduated in a year. I did not work while I was in school. The last time I tried that the stress of the always changing schedule of home care did not go well with 4 hours a day of studying. We had a test literally everyday. Your program may be very different from mine and you may require less time to study. I'm just speaking from my pov. I did not return to my agency as an LPN for several reasons, but the main reason was because I have been told by several people that working in home care is the easiest way for a new nurse to lose her license. Now with that being said I will tell you why they told me this. You are given several clients a day and are literally placed in their homes without anyone to help you or to ask questions.If you mess up it is all you! It is not the same as being an HHA. As an HHA I was trained to give insulin shots, assist with trach care,take vitals and hand a pt their pills. This isn't the same once you become a nurse. Now you have to be able to think critically. Which obviously you will learn in nursing school. Patient care experience is very good no matter what. I personally would suggest trying to find employment in a facility, where there are other people to assist if you really come across a challenge. Remember, in home care, there is rarely someone there to assist you and in it is unrealistic to expect to truly know everything when you graduate. Clinicals are great but they don't completely prepare you. CNAs have a little bit more experience in this because they usually work in a facility or hospital so they are exposed to a bit more than an HHA. I was also a CNA for 3 years. Please don't take this in any way as me trying to shoot down your hopes of continuing in home care. I love home care and wish more people would utilize it. If you can work as an HHA while in school then by all means do so! The clients are so happy to have someone there that truly cares and knows what they are talking about and a student nurse is always a plus for them because you can teach them what you are learning as you are learning it!It will definitely help you get a job in the future as well. Good luck in school and as an HHA!

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LuckyLexie1313,

Trust me I have taken everything you've said into consideration. Realistically I'm only going to be able to do hha work on the weekends and I'm don't plan on working every week as I have a family to take care of and I know this LPN Program is going to be very intense. I would love to be in a facility when I become a LPN but I guess I'm just trying to have a back up plan by getting in homecare because I see a lot of people in these forums who are new grad's with no experience and having difficulty finding a job. This is a career change for me and I'm nervous about it but excited at the same time. Thank you so much for your candid insight its very helpful

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It sounds to me you have worked out a very realistic plan and know what you are doing. Good luck on your future! :)

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

Just remember, a lot of agencies require one year clinical experience for nurses. Experience as HHA or CNA usually does not count, no matter if it's the same company.

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Yeah I know most places require 1 year of experience. I did some research on the agency I'm going to be working at and found out they are known for hiring new grad LPN's which is one reason why I selected them.

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So I started the HHA training. I told the director of the agency that I could only work part time because I'll be going to school full time for LPN, she told me as soon as I complete the LPN program and get licensed she will send me to their office where they do LPM training for the agency and get me started working as an LPN for the agency. I was so excited when I heard that! So glad I made the choice to do this :yeah:

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Good for you!

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Specializes in geriatrics, IV, Nurse management.

I was a HCA during my second year of schooling, and it made me so much more confident and comfortable in my nursing role. There is so much that school can never teach us, so I highly recommend this learn experience.

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whats the company called?

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