LPN Questions, Help! Need Advice

I'm 25 years old with a 2 year old son. I'm currently working a full time job as an admin assistant. My hours are 8am - 4:30 pm Monday-Thursday. I'm a single mom that desperately wants to go back and pursue my career in the LPN field. I feel that I am too old to go back. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

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LPN Questions, Help! Need Advice

I don't care if I have to go to school at night. I just really want to go back.

I live in New Orleans, Louisiana, they don't have a lot of options to chose form down here. Plus I heard the waiting list are so long to get in, but that's not going to stop me. I do feel that I am to old to go back but at this point it don't matter. My question is was LPN school hard? Was it worth it ? Pay? How many hours do LPN's really work? How did you juggle school with a full time job and kids. Should i give it a try? Just really need some advice.

I've been in the same spot for three years. Feels like my life is at a stand still. I also do EVERYTHING on my own. Its like every year I say i"m going back to school but its so hard without any support. Now that I'm 25 i feel its time to start making moves. Just dont know how I'm going to go to school, work, and take care of my toddler. I believe in myself. I just wanted to get some insight before I actually go into the field just to make sure im doing the right thing. I choose LPN because I don't want to be in school that long. Just want to do something I know I will enjoy. I enjoy making people happy. When i do graduate from LPN school I see myself making good money, finally being able to move and spending more time with my son.

I graduated High School and went to college for two years, I was young so I wasn't serious about it. I was going for registered Nursing. But then life happened. Bills and a child. I know they are plenty of people out there who have accomplished a lot with kids. I just want to know how did you guys do it. That will help me with my journey to success. I want to go back to school while my son is young. So when he starts school I will be able to be there for him and participate in his school activities. I want to set an example for him. I want to make my family proud. My younger cousins used to look up to me, so I want to show them that you can do whatever if you put your mind to it. I really see myself already with my caption gown on, walking across the stage. This will be the best day of my life. Finally I can say I accomplished something in this lifetime. I always say I'm to old to go back to school my now I realize that was just an excuse. I'm finally ready. I know because I'm sitting here writing this.

Hopefully everything works out in my favor. One day I'll be able to tell my story to other young women like me. I'm a believer of anything is possible. I just need a little guidance to push through. The only thing I know about LPN is what I see on the internet. I"m excited because I think this website will help me get the answers I need to pursue my dream.

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Monteee

About Monteee

25 years old. Want to pursue my dream of becoming a LPN.

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Specializes in CNA 8 yrs LPN 6 geri, chemical dependency.

You're so young, I think you're kind of beating yourself for life happening. Please don't start school with that mindset. Life experience really benefited most of the people I went to school with. It's a hard program, I failed one and finished another with flying colors. Worked full time during both. The night program had about 50 people, 45 of who worked full time. If it's at a community college, I'd really urge you to take support classes while on a waiting list. Some of the classes you took toward the RN program may meet those. Good luck, please don't feel old, cuz then I feel even older lol.

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Are there any certifications for LPN's in the field of Case Management.

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Hi Monteee,

I went to LPN school after 3 years of University & not getting into a BSN program. My program was based in a health system nursing school & was 13 months full-time. This was back in 2006 in Philadelphia, PA. I'm not sure how my program compared to for-profit programs at trade schools, but it was no joke! I didn't have children when I went through school, but still found it challanging. My program had very high standards. Clinicals started at 6:45am, as in you have to be prepared & on the floor, ready for your assignment at 6:45am, not walking through the door.

You mentined that you do everything on your own. Do you have a strong support system? You'll need it, for sure. If the program you get into is part-time, then your clinicals will probably be on the weekends. You'll need reliable child care. You'll have to study study STUDY, which means you'll need someone to watch your child so you can focus. If you miss too many clinicals or classes, you can be failed or dismissed from the program.

While in school, I had some personal struggles at home, which was very difficult, but my professors were very suppportive because I was upfront with them & was a good student. I ended up having to take 2 part-time jobs to help make ends meet & take out loans to finish paying for school (my tuition was previously paid for by my fiance up until that point). Many people did not finish the program & were dismissed for poor grades or simply because the professors & director felt the person wouldn't make it. 100% pass rate for NCLEX is EVERYTHING to schools.

Some how, I managed to pass the NCLEX on the first try in October 2007, but didn't find my first job until December 2007. I think I started out at $22/hr working in a nursing home on the 3-11pm shift. Full time was 4 8-hour shifts & every other weekend for all of my jobs except for the VA Medical Center. I'm not sure about the level of professionalism of nursing in NOLA, but in Philadelphia, standards are high & LPNs are not hired to work in most hospitals. Most hospitals in this area only hire BSNs. This means that jobs and salary are limited for LPNs. LPNs may be more utilized in your area, but do your research.

Becoming an LPN is a great way to enter the field of nursing, but not the best place to stay. Nursing is moving towards BSN minimum. You are young & school isn't going anywhere. If you choose to enter as an LPN, then go back to school to get your BSN, at the very least. It offers more versatility, higher pay & better jobs. The good thing about entering the nursing field as an LPN is that once you become licensed & find a job, your employer will probably pay for you to go back to school to get a BSN. Since LPN school doesn't cost as much as BSN programs, you'll save money in thr long run, it'll just take you a little longer to climb the ladder.

I highly recommend getting a good mentor. Talk to lots of people in nursing, people who started out as LPNs and went on to get their BSN & beyond. Shadow nurses & conduct informational interviews with them. I can't stress this enough. Reading about nursing is different from learning about it in school. Being a nursing student is MUCH different from being a licensed nurse. I didn't have a mentor & I no longer work as a nurse. I did go back to school to finish my bachelors degree, but I kicked nursing to the curb. If I had a mentor, I would probably be a nurse practitioner by now... but I'm happy that my journey led me to where I am today. I don't regret anything.

Aim high, don't limit yourself to LPN. All the hardwork you put in will pay off one day. Make sacrifices now so you won't have to later.

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