I want to be an RN, but I am getting divorced, single mom and need to work right away.HELP

[annaliz04]

Hello nurses and nursing students! I was hoping you could please help me out.

About me: I am in Atlanta, Georgia. I am about to finalize my divorce, and I will be a single mom of one. I have no degree and no career training.

My goal is to become an RN, but I also need to start bringing in income as soon as possible. What is the smartest way to do this? Become a medical assistant or something similar, start working, and take courses slowly to progress to LPN or LVN, work at that level, while I continue to hack away at the courses to become an RN? Please forgive my ignorance, I really have no understanding of this process. What is the fastest certification or training I can do (nursing assistant? medical assistant? I really have no idea!) that is on the track to getting my RN, but I can start working quickly?

Sorry for the ignorance again, I know I want to be a nurse for the job security, it matches my personality and personal strengths, I just don't know the best way to go about this.

Thank you SO much in advance!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

CNA would be the fastest training you could do and there are always jobs for them or for home health aides around.

[Shjnsn]

Don't stress! You CAN do this if it's what you truly want! I was a single mom of two working full time and going to school full time. You will need your CNA in most places before you can get your RN. I believe it's a course that can be taken over a few months. Working as a CNA will allow you to have some flexibility on shifts so you can work around your school schedule. Many employers are wonderful at helping you this way in the health care field.

As far as school full time or part you will have to decide for yourself. Will you have family or friends that can help with childcare so you can attend class and study? If not it can still be done, but takes a bit more creativity and dedication on your part.

Also get in touch with your schools financial aid department to talk about options that may be available to you for finding school.

Good of luck and remember..it may not be easy, but if you want it badly enough, it can be done!!

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I have a little one & getting divorced as well. I am going back to school in the fall to school in the fall to redo my sciences the I will apply to LVN-RN bridge programs. To say I am nervous is an understatement.

I haven't been in school in years! I really want to do well. On top of that I don't have an income to pay for school, I quit everything to be a SAHM.

But if I can do it, you can do it. Good luck!!

[Farawyn]

Do you have any non healthcare qualifications? You can at least work in a hospital or doctor's office as an operator, unit secretary, biller, data entry, etc? Then take it from there.

Best of luck to you.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Some nursing homes offer free CNA training. Some even offer help with tuition.

[Raviepoo]

There was a single mother of 5 in my LPN program. It took her years to get through, but she stuck with it and succeeded.

I became an LPN before RN school because I needed an income. I learned a ton as an LPN and landed my dream job a few weeks after passing the NCLEX-RN. If I had known then what I know now I might have gotten my CNA certificate first and gone to work at a hospital as an aid. Voila - instant nursing job when you finish your RN degree.

You can do this.

[DisneyLoveRN]

I would probably do LPN school. Look around. There are lots of technical schools with flexible schedules. Then bridge into an LPN-RN program. It takes dedication but you can do it. Good luck.

[caliotter3]

Start out with a CNA and HHA certificate. You can work as a CNA while you are going to school. Look around at the various programs available to you. Also look at the employment picture for LPNs in your area before you decide to go the LPN to RN route, if you want to work as an LPN while going to RN school. You will have a better position from which to decide which path to take once you have explored the programs in your area. And do not discount finding financial aid in the form of grants or scholarships to help out. Single mothers usually have avenues open to them. Check with your employment department. You could even qualify for unemployment benefits while in school. Look at all possibilities. Good luck.

[JMCP]

I really hope you make it. It is an inspiration! Stay strong! (:

[Nola009]

As already mentioned, CNA is usually a two week course and a quick way for you to (maybe) make a living wage. If you don't see yourself going that route, I'd pick an affordable LPN program over an MA program any day because you will have more places of employment available to you with an LPN license than MA. They say an ASN degree takes two years, but with prerequisites, it will likely take closer to three. If you're in a time crunch, I think LPN will be your best bet. You can always bridge to RN later on, when 'the dust settles'.

[Libby1987]

Is the over supply of nursing not concerning? It's a lot of time and money for a single mom to not have high likelihood of employment upon graduation. Is the job market different in GA?