If I don't get into the RN/LVN Program....

RNHawaii34 · Feb 8, 2007

what pays as good as a nurse.....any other careers? i want to get in so bad, but it takes forever here and i don't want to spend $30,000 plus at a private college. i'm getting discouraged...and maybe thinking about going for another line of work...my job offers tuition reimbursement...any advice would help...

i wonder which state you live in right now? i know there are community colleges around continental us who offers associate degrees in nursing, other than bsn. or, you can go for the lpn route as well...it took me 12 years of thinking about getting my bsn, i try to switch to another profession, but can't shake off the idea of being a nurse..ask yourself too, if you really want to be a nurse? or you just want to get paid? if you like nursing that much, don't stop yourself, just go for it. if you are after the pay, you might wanna reconsider looking for another job, because nursing is hard, it will drain you out mentally, physically if you don't have the patience...i did work as a nurse aide for ten years, just got my bsn in 2005, and i honestly want to tell you? i am so happy that i went for it, now i must be the happiest camper in the this profession!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2007

What pays as good as a nurse.....any other careers?

There are plenty of other career fields that pay a whole lot more money than nursing. Even many police officers earn more money than some RNs without having had to attend any college courses. My hometown's police force starts police officers at a yearly pay rate of $47,000. If you don't want to accrue student loans, that might be the way to go.

I was reading an article that general managers at fast food places earn an average of $53,000 yearly with no college education required. All you need is a couple of years of hands-on experience at the restaurant and some solid knowledge of their policies and procedures.

You can work at a factory and earn decent money, too. From 2001 to 2004 I worked at a paper products factory and earned $42,000 per year. No education was required beyond high school. In addition, unionized grocery stores pay their cashiers up to $17 hourly, which is comparable to LVN pay rates.

My point is there are many entry-level job opportunities with salaries that are comparable to nursing, but without the required college education and training. If money is the sole motivating factor, you can become a cop, fast food manager, factory worker, or supermarket clerk, and earn a decent salary without having to spend one dime on a college education.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2007

i wonder which state you live in right now?

since she is using the term 'lvn', she is most likely in california. only california and texas employ lvns. the rest of the 48 states call their basic nurses 'lpns'.

RNHawaii34 · Feb 8, 2007

since she is using the term 'lvn', she is most likely in california. only california and texas employ lvns. the rest of the 48 states call their basic nurses 'lpns'.

thanks commuter :-)

AfloydRN, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2007

ALOT of other jobs pay better- with better benefits and insurance too. My cousin is a manager of a fast food chain and makes 6 figures. She also gets paid 2 weeks vacation in the winter and 2 weeks paid in the summer. And by paid- they pay for her vacation. They paid all of her relocation expenses to move to another store. She loves it and is a high school grad. There are plenty of options out there.

tiffswan · Feb 8, 2007

I really want to be a nurse...have always wanted to. It's not just the pay that makes me feel that way. I live in Houston...and the competition is so crazy for CC LVN/RN programs. I just sometimes get discouraged because of this. It gets me down sometimes...just want to be a nurse...

nurseangel47 · Feb 9, 2007

choose your passion....whatever your interests may be, therein lies the potential for a world of opportunity to open...if nursing doesn't pan out, school wise. As previous post stated, there are a plethora of careers that do indeed pay much much more than nursing. Keep your options open. Think outside the realm of health care. What are your interests outside of learning to be a nurse? Do you enjoy cooking? Animals? Books? Movies?

What are your strengths in so far as what seems to come natural to you on a daily basis? What speaks to your soul, in other words. Good luck!