I Know This Annoying but....

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I would like more insight and opinions. Now the community college in CT is offering a PCT program this fall which I would love to take. The question is, already halfway done my A.S. in liberal studies...would it be a better decision to just get into a LPN program? The reason I ask this is because I'm really tired of working jobs that aren't gearing me towards any kind of goal. I'm 22 and if you are like me my mind want's to make the BEST decision...and apparently life isn't like that all the time. I'm at a point where I want to make enough to live on my own and be independent. Now I'm not saying I want to get involved in nursing for just the pay...that would be defeating the purpose of even considering it. So anyways... a 3 month Patient care tech program or LPN and working towards my BSN?

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BSN while working PCT, CNA. With LPN you have to bridge which to mean adds stress to have to apply again. Good luck!!

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Thank you Carley... I send you a hug for awesomeness!

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

LPN pays more than PCT, but around here the job market is better for PCT.

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Carley, I was thinking about this for some time but now I'm thinking...

CNA programs cost between $600-$1300 down here and take 2 weeks or 8 weeks.

Now taking the extra time to get my lpn, pay is better and I feel the extra time would be worth while. I don't know, what do you think? Also, considering I could get a lot of aide I could use that money towards class instead of cna class.

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I would go straight for the RN :) But that is me. Depending where you want to work. LPN's are generally only in LTC settings and the pay there is low. I work as a PCT at Baystate Medical in Springfield, Ma and I make 16.50 an hour. That is not including my differentials though. I was just a CNA, got experience at a LTC then after one year applied to hospitals. Good luck. The LPNs at the LTC where I worked only made between 21-25 (I make about the same in differentials as a CNA in a hospital).

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Carley, I was thinking about this for some time but now I'm thinking...

CNA programs cost between $600-$1300 down here and take 2 weeks or 8 weeks.

Now taking the extra time to get my lpn, pay is better and I feel the extra time would be worth while. I don't know, what do you think? Also, considering I could get a lot of aide I could use that money towards class instead of cna class.

I was stuck on this for a long time and have had a couple moments where I questioned why I wasn't going LPN. Since I'm not 18 but 24 now time is of essence and I just really want to get the show on the road. However the chance of not getting into a bridge program as there are far less and it's competitive isn't one I'm willing to risk. Moreover the cost of all the bridging and time is just not efficient in my view. However if your area has many job openings for lpn's and you know you'll get into a bridge program then that's a whole different ball game.

It's really about what you like and how you want to get to your end goal. LPN work is much different than RN. Make sure it's what you want to do. That's great you're starting class registration and figuring it all out. Let me know if you have any other questions!

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Go straight for RN. More pay, more jobs available to you, and more variety in settings to suit what YOU want to do.

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Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

even though there are classes for PCT, you really don't need it to work as a PCT. Im in Connecticut myself, none of the hospitals near me (Saint Vincents, Bridgeport Hospital, Griffin, Stamford, Norwalk, Danbury) require it to be a PCT, they just want equal experience as a PCT (emt, cna, etc). So in short, dont waste your time or money.

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Thank you, I actually have a 50/50 chance of getting in anyways. I'm going to get my CNA, in my current situation I need to start my career and take small steps to lead me to the success I aspire towards. There's a 2 week class coming up and as I see it the work I'm doing now is very temporary. I want to thank all of you for your input, I'm over analyzing myself too much! Grrr

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I was stuck on this for a long time and have had a couple moments where I questioned why I wasn't going LPN. Since I'm not 18 but 24 now time is of essence and I just really want to get the show on the road. However the chance of not getting into a bridge program as there are far less and it's competitive isn't one I'm willing to risk. Moreover the cost of all the bridging and time is just not efficient in my view. However if your area has many job openings for lpn's and you know you'll get into a bridge program then that's a whole different ball game.

It's really about what you like and how you want to get to your end goal. LPN work is much different than RN. Make sure it's what you want to do. That's great you're starting class registration and figuring it all out. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Being 22 myself, time is of the essence, so true! Ok, I'm going to enroll into a 2 week CNA course for this fall. I have to be smart and realize I don't have a stable job at least until it snows again. I need to take small steps and get many pre-req's out of the way. I'm anxious to get somewhere and I need to relax and realize It's going to take time. I thank you for your help and support!

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That's great! I too have to tell myself to be patient. What gives me some hope and settles me down is that the average age nurses is 44 years old! We got time ;)

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