I need opinions about my plans for school.

catzy5 · Nov 28, 2007

First let me start by saying I live in a kind of small town with only one college which is a Community College. I have decided to switch into health careers from business which I found an absolute waste of time and was fairly forced into by a counselor based on test scores. I have taken a couple health careers classes now and absolutely love and have decided to eventually go on to get my BSN someday when we move to a bigger area.
However until then, I though that I would go ahead and get as much experience and education in the field as possible. Our school offers the following programs...
Administrative Medical Assisting
Clinical Medical Assisting
Certified Nurses Aid
Home Health Aid
LVN/LPN
Since I need to complete certain things to get into the CNA program (fingerprints, TB tests, etc..) I will do those during the spring 08 semester and enroll in the program in fall 09. However I of course want to take some classes in the mean time. So heres what I'm thinking
Spring 08 (starts in January)
Clinical Medical Assisting
Administrative Medical Assisting (this one is in Medical Billing, Insurance, Finance, Etc...)
Medical Terminology ( this will be my second course in medical terminology)
Fall 08(starts august 08)
CNA program
HHA program
Administrative Medical assisting (this one is in reception)
Starting Spring 09
LVN/LPN program
I plan on doing all tests and certifications for the Medical Assisting and of course passing all the tests and certifications for CNA/HHA
I'm just wondering if having done all this stuff, taking all these certifications until I can get to a place with an RN program will help me, especially if I use it to get a job as either an CNA or LVN/LPN prior to my husband and I being able to move.

Personally I think if your ultimate goal is to be an RN of some degree, then I would skip the medical assisting programs and go straight for the CNA or even the LVN program. You could potentiall get the things done for CNA now before the spring 08 semester, call the department and find out where you would need to go and who they accept. I did mine on line (we didn't finger print, we did back ground check). Took 60 seconds and got my certificate in 2 days.

Medical assisting is a great field to get into but it is quite different from direct nursing, and if that is your ultimate goal then the CNA/ LVN path would be your best choice.

Good luck!

catzy5 · Nov 28, 2007

I just finished posting and thought of something new to add heheehe.

if you can't do the CNA course right a way in the spring, you might be better off taking pre reqs for nursing if you haven't gotten them out of the way yet. Most colleges want some sort of higher level Anatomy physiology, either as a unit two semesters or seperate, with a lab though. Most also want a Microbiology with lab. look around to potential schools you might take, talk to a councelor at your school and see what courses generally transfer and what you need. You will need them regardless of when you get your RN so to take them now might be more productive in the long run then the medical assisting course, unless that is a proffesion you are looking to work in for a while before starting the RN program.

once again good luck.

Cebs · Nov 28, 2007

Personally I think if your ultimate goal is to be an RN of some degree, then I would skip the medical assisting programs and go straight for the CNA or even the LVN program. You could potentiall get the things done for CNA now before the spring 08 semester, call the department and find out where you would need to go and who they accept. I did mine on line (we didn't finger print, we did back ground check). Took 60 seconds and got my certificate in 2 days.
Medical assisting is a great field to get into but it is quite different from direct nursing, and if that is your ultimate goal then the CNA/ LVN path would be your best choice.
Good luck!

I have spoken with the program director at our school there is just no way right now i could get everything done by january, again, small town issues. So thats why i figured even though i will probably not use the MA stuff in a real world situation it would at least provide with some extra educational experience.

I just finished posting and thought of something new to add heheehe.
if you can't do the CNA course right a way in the spring, you might be better off taking pre reqs for nursing if you haven't gotten them out of the way yet. Most colleges want some sort of higher level Anatomy physiology, either as a unit two semesters or seperate, with a lab though. Most also want a Microbiology with lab. look around to potential schools you might take, talk to a councelor at your school and see what courses generally transfer and what you need. You will need them regardless of when you get your RN so to take them now might be more productive in the long run then the medical assisting course, unless that is a proffesion you are looking to work in for a while before starting the RN program.
once again good luck.

Gotta love small schools, anatomy and physiology when they are offered a few and far between, i may be able to take them in 2 semesters or so when there is enough demand for them again. It will be about 5-6 years minimum before we can move to a bigger town with a RN program, so i plan on using the CNA or LVN to get a job until t hat point.

catzy5 · Nov 28, 2007

I have spoken with the program director at our school there is just no way right now i could get everything done by january, again, small town issues. So thats why i figured even though i will probably not use the MA stuff in a real world situation it would at least provide with some extra educational experience.

I totally understand the small town issue, I face similar.

I still say do pre reqs or something more toward the actual RN as the final goal, it takes a long time in some cases to get those out of the way and most programs won't even look at you until your done, so the sooner the better. Medical assisting program IMO is only good if your going to actually do that for your career.

Cebs · Nov 28, 2007

I also plan on taking a science or something towards the RN each term, when they are at least available. Unfortunately school cancels a lot of classes because of lack of interest. So it ends up being hit or miss on whats available. I will do a quick look though at what sciences will be available next term that haven't been can canceled yet.

jla623 · Nov 28, 2007

I would go straight for the LVN/LPN. I think the others would be a waste of time personally. I would try to get into that program and take basic pre-reqs for an RN program. My view might be kind of biased though because I have no desire to be a CNA. If that interests you, then go for it.

catzy5 · Nov 28, 2007

I also plan on taking a science or something towards the RN each term, when they are at least available. Unfortunately school cancels a lot of classes because of lack of interest. So it ends up being hit or miss on whats available. I will do a quick look though at what sciences will be available next term that haven't been can canceled yet.

Also look into online programs, I have heard of a couple of schools that will offer these sciences online, I am not sure how they work and how the transfer, but I have heard them talked about on here many times, do a search, I think one inparticular is in Colorado, but you can take it anywhere you live.

Cebs · Nov 28, 2007

I should also mention that right now my tuition is being paid for, thats why i want to do something this semester. No anatomy of physiology classes this semester. so i want to take something until i can get my information packet completed for cna while someone else is paying for it.

i am enrolled both online and on campus, i just checked since its spring most of the classes are level two as far as math, science, etc...and the require you have taken level one of course, which are only offered in fall.

catzy5 · Nov 28, 2007

I should also mention that right now my tuition is being paid for, thats why i want to do something this semester. No anatomy of physiology classes this semester. so i want to take something until i can get my information packet completed for cna while someone else is paying for it.
i am enrolled both online and on campus, i just checked since its spring most of the classes are level two as far as math, science, etc...and the require you have taken level one of course, which are only offered in fall.

oh yes lovely isn't it? I ran into those issues myself, I started my pre reqs for the RN program back in fall of 2004, I am just now going to be starting the RN program this spring 08. Just stick with it, and you will see you will get to your goal sooner or later.

good luck.

modelmama07 · Nov 28, 2007

I agree. I would go straight for the LVN/LPN program. If your want to be an RN, there are some programs avaliable for you to go from LPN to RN. Plus, being an LVN would give you closer experience to being an RN rather than a CNA would. Most of the time, plus the pay would be slightly better being an LPN/LVN. It would seem like a waste of time to do Medical Assisting. Like other posts have said, try to take sciences, or other classes that will go towards your BSN, while doing that be working on your LVN/LPN.

xNursePinkx2b · Nov 29, 2007

I agree with going straight to LPN. A lot of RN schools give credit to LPN's and it will make your RN schooling shorter. Like here, when I get my LPN the college that I plan to attend for RN will only be 1 year opposed to 2 years because I'll already be an LPN.