Input Requested about going for RN ....

If your desire is to become an RN, then, by golly, go for it! Life is short and do what your heart desires! In terms of your hospital paying your tuition to become an RN, it depends. Most of the ones I know want for you to work for them at least a year before applying (if they have such a program), and want an excellent employee review-good attendance, above average in everything. If you find a facility that will sponsor your education, keep it in mind. I'm not sure if they would be willing to pay for on line education-they seem to lean more on the traditional classroom setting. Also, not all states accept on line courses because they are missing the clinical component, so, you have to investigate if your state allows this.

Congrats on obtaining your LPN education, and go for what you want!

Thank you Ms. Deva for your input. I agree with you about the online education. I would prefer the classroom myself.

Nursing is a special profession for sure. :)

Merci for your thoughts!

Also, keep a med-surg pocket guide with you to do a quick review of diseases, and if you can also obtain a pocket guide to diagnostic procedures, that would be helpful, because many times, patients are nervous about going for CAT scans, barium enemas, and the host of other things they have to go through. Most hospitals have resources on their intranet, which information can be printed to give out to patients, but I don't think that nursing homes do. And, if you are working in home care, that is a teaching moment, to be able to ease their fears and it keeps you in the loop of learning/reviewing for yourself. Good luck!

Thank you again Ms. Deva...

A pocket guide to diseases and procedures. I will look for those for sure.

That is what nursing is all about .. teaching and abetting fears.

Would Barnes and Noble be a good place to get these?

Oh Duhh Boy you can tell I am a GPN. :)

I have a PDA loaded with all that stuff on it. And it can give me tests and what the normal ranges are for lab values.

I have not used it for a few months since I have completed school. I need to get back in the swing of things. :)

A PDA is a perfect resource. And, yes, if you needed to go to Barnes and Noble to purchase a med-surg pocket guide, that is the perfect place to go...that is where I got mine from (have a PDA as well).

I find that you have to walk with small, handy resources. I don't carry my palm pilot everywhere, because it depends on what setting I will be in. I carry it to my per diem assignments on the floors, but find I don't need it in the clinic, because we are sitting before computers all day.

I wish you the best of luck in passing your exam and your new career!

Thank you so much Ms. Deva for all your special encouragement! :)

Could you pease explain what per diem assignments are ? And... do they pay as much as a full time job? Or is the only perc missing the benefits such as medical coverage?

Oh, I also carried in my pocket the nurse's prayer. I hope it helps me stay focused to give the best possible care to people in my care.

I found the prayer and started carrying it in my folder when I was doing in home respite care. :) Some of these dear individuals can be so trying at times.