I really need advice

elkpark · Jan 22, 2010

Is this one of the private-for-profit tech/voc schools? They often try to steer you into unnecessary additional programs because it puts more $$$ in their pockets, not because it benefits the student. If you want to become a nurse, there is no reason at all to study to be an MA first.

I am not a big fan of the private tech/voc schools in general -- aren't there other options in your area? A community college LPN program?

Sugar-Phosphate · Jan 22, 2010

If it was me, I would straight into nursing. Why waste more time doing something you wont use. Nursing will give you all the information, and experience you need to excel. Sometimes, it pays to think realistically about your own personal situation. If you got your MA, how many more years before you are finished, including LPN, whether full time or part time.

I was in a similar situation, and it was right for ME to go right into nursing. I cannot imagine to be in your shoes, nor am I trying to tell you what to do.

My best advice is to make a pros and Cons list. If going for MA then LPN, then RN has more pros than cons, then go for it. I always recommend making a pros/cons list.

Hope it helps

Niki

jam911 · Jan 22, 2010

Kayla,

do you have any credits at all at a college level? if not, dont worry.

I would not go to school to be a MA or a LPN. i would go to a community college sign up and start taking your classes. if you are a stay at home mom, you may have time to go full time, while the kids are off to school.

if you score high enough on your entry test to the community college, you wont have to take so many prep classes and you will be able to jump right into your regular math and english and electives. if you can handle 3-4 classes a semester u could be finished in 1.5 to 2 years if you dont have lots of prep classes (remedial classes). You can also take classes online.

but i would really go to the college and talk to an advisor and see what he/she tells you in regards to how long it will take before you reach the point of applying for there nursing program.

if you go to school for a MA your looking at 8 months full time 8-3 Monday thru Friday. Then state boards..

I am sure your going to want to work in between (More time wasted)

Now your going to want to start the LPN program,

you will have to go to school for 1 year full time 8-3 Monday thru Friday plus Clinicals for 12 months.

If you decide to work a few hours a day, that means you will be going to school for an LPN part time thats 2 years (24 months) 2-10 pm depending on the school plus clinicals.

after u become a MA your going to want to work for a while before you start the LPN program so your going waste and loose time in that gap as well.

if u do become a MA some schools like Dade have a bridge program where LPN and MA can transfer to the RN program and get credits so you will be done in a year. But getting in Dade is so hard,

plus no matter what route you decide, your going to still need credits towards your AS degree, because you cant graduate from the MA to RN or LPN to RN without your classes and credits toward the RN.

So that means you will still have to find time to go to college and take your classes towards your LPN-RN program or MA to RN thru all of that.

So you see, no matter what route you take, you are going to still have to go to college and get those credits in..if and only you want to be a RN

Your going to have to go thru to many routes and study for to many state boards if u take any other...

MY advise to u is go straight for the RN.

but if u need the money and you want to work asap, i would do the LPN and not the MA.. but remember when its time to do the LPN to RN your going to need college credits to graduate the program to be a RN..

once u start working in field as MA its going to be hard to stop and go..You know how many MA wants to be RN and just cant find the time to go.

I hope this makes since and i broke it down to you...

Nad

jam911 · Jan 22, 2010

Also, i dont have a lick of experience in Nursing my degree is in Business and i am going in ready to learn all that i can and gain my experience during my clincials like everyone else. so dont worry about not having any experience that is what the clinicals are for. I am 33 so i feel you we have no time to waist and i am starting al over to.. this is a great website and they wont lead you wrong we all have good advise just have to pick the one that makes the most since to YOU and which one will work for your home.. Welcome to the board and enjoy your time here.. I love it..

Jam

FLmomof5 · Jan 22, 2010

You said you wanted to be a L&D nurse.....you won't get there with an LPN. You need an RN. LPN's are usually for LTC facilities.

I am 47 (I will be 48 in March). I raised 5 children (actually the youngest is still at home.... a JR in HS). I am in term 3 of NS at FSCJ (Jacksonville).

Skip the private schools. They CAN train you to be a nurse for 10X the money....and when you go to further your education, you find out that you have to repeat ALL those courses because they don't transfer. If you can avoid private schools....do so.

labrador4122, RN · Jan 23, 2010

I have been racking my brain for days now until I found this board & hope to get an clear answer for peace of mind.
My goal is to end up a L&D Nurse. I recently looked into MedVance in WPB & the Administation suggested I get my MA before entering the LPN program (eventually I would branch over from LPN to RN)
Her reason was having the MA experiance under my belt would better my career in the long run & wouldnt be a waste of time.
The thing for me is I am & have been a Stay at home mom for 4yrs now & I dont have time to "waste"
I do not plan on working as an MA, even after graduating so would it really better myself?
Does anybody have any advice, is this the right step? or should I try harder to get directly into the LPN program?
anybody attend MedVance?

I did that before I knew anything about anything in regards to nursing---

to tell you the truth, I became an MA before I knew of LPN and I thought that an RN was a hard to reach goal for me..... so of course when I told the people in the technical school I went to that my goal in the future was RN, they told me that MA was the best choice for me..... and of course, not knowing anything I fell into the trap.... when I could of gone to a public school for LPN for the same amount of money... anyways I was 20 at the time, and I come from a poor family ... no one with a college degree.

so I went to MA, finished that, then soon after I got a job working as a CNA at a hospital............... and I absolutely loved it.

So now when people were telling me about LPN, other places where you get a CNA license without spending $5K like I did for my MA certificate I learned was a "stupid" decision that I made.

So when I was not getting into RN school people told me of LPN... and I had already spent $5K on MA school.... I was not going to spend another $5K on LPN school then another $5k on RN school.

I decided just to keep my job as a CNA, then keep going to school until I reach RN school.... and that's what happened, 4 years after I became a CNA, I became an RN........ and gladly I am happy.

If I would of known of LPN, I would of never gone to get an MA...........

If I would of discovered this site before making my MA decision:uhoh3:

allnurses Guide · Jan 24, 2010

One more. . . you do not need to be an MA before you're an LPN student . What a crock.

jam911 · Jan 24, 2010

One more. . . you do not need to be an MA before you're an LPN student . What a crock.

Those private schools are a mess.. last year when i was undecided on what i wanted to do and was going to to to kieser to question the RN program i was 4 points off on the Nursing program test.. So they were trying for me to get in the Physical Therapist program..They always try to gear u to some other program.. instead of telling me to study and come back.. They automatically came in and was talking bout PT.. I was like what are you talking about.. what about Nursing, then she tells me oh you were a few points off of passing the test.. Geesh.. its like they get a bonus or something when you dont past and if they can get you in another program or something...

as for LPN,

I was ectremely close to going to school for the LPN program at Sheridan. I did everything background check everything. i was on the waiting list but lucikly God lead me to this site... for direction.. that would have been double the money.

Kayla,

Do you have any credits to get you started, or will you have to start from the beginning in regards to getting your AS

however, if you had to make a choice between the LPN and the MA i would say LPN, if you have a choice between the MA LPN and RN I would say RN

but get a piece of paper after meeting with the counselor at the college and write down your dated, tuitions etc pros and cons and see which one will best fit your situation. i did that numerous of time.. Sunny ray and Bumble have good advise tooo..