LPN - RN BRIDGE-help plz!

suzanne4, RN · Aug 11, 2005

You usually are still required to work full-time if the hospital is paying your tuition. It is actually quite easy to do. And there is no reason that you couldn't, especially with 12 hour shifts. What the hosital will do is directly up to them, some also require that you have been there for one year before any type of tuition reimbursement will kick in.

Since you have been out of school for so many years, chances are that you are going to have to redo quite a few of your classes, espeically the science classes because they are ususally good for only about ten years or so.

jodyangel, RN · Aug 11, 2005

Well I work 4 12 hour shifts..cause the pay for 3 just doesnt cut it lol. But if I work even three..it only leaves me a few days for taking classes. I can get reinbursement..$2400 a year..but not sure how far that will go.

You usually are still required to work full-time if the hospital is paying your tuition. It is actually quite easy to do. And there is no reason that you couldn't, especially with 12 hour shifts. What the hosital will do is directly up to them, some also require that you have been there for one year before any type of tuition reimbursement will kick in.
Since you have been out of school for so many years, chances are that you are going to have to redo quite a few of your classes, espeically the science classes because they are ususally good for only about ten years or so.

iminmedschl · Aug 14, 2005

HI

Just my two cents: I am not young and I know going back to school for me in the Nursing field and all prereqs were very hard. It took me a lot of time to study (more then most) and a good study group. I do not know how you could possible work FULL time and go to school too. Maybe if you had no other comitments in life but...

Maybe try for an online program that you only have to do one day a week and the rest at your own time. It usually takes one year and one day week plus one day a week for study.

Good Luck..

One thing there are right about is the pay is sooooo much more as an RN .

jodyangel, RN · Aug 14, 2005

My hospital actually wants a years commitment for every $1,000 they give me for tuition LOL. At That rate..seeing how it will probably cost me about $7-8,000 I won't Ever get away from them. So I'm thinking a student loan might work better and not tie me down with them. But Im also going to make appts. with the proper ppl at the hospital to see what else they do to help me. There is such a shortgage..seems to me they should do More to help. There are 3 of us LPN.s who are interested. I heard thru the grapevine that they did pay an ER tech part of her pay so she could work and go to school.

Trust me, tomorrow I'll be asking questions at work!

HI
Just my two cents: I am not young and I know going back to school for me in the Nursing field and all prereqs were very hard. It took me a lot of time to study (more then most) and a good study group. I do not know how you could possible work FULL time and go to school too. Maybe if you had no other comitments in life but...
Maybe try for an online program that you only have to do one day a week and the rest at your own time. It usually takes one year and one day week plus one day a week for study.
Good Luck..
One thing there are right about is the pay is sooooo much more as an RN .

sbic56, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2005

jodyangel

I worked full time with kids and got through the LPN to RN program at the community college here without much trouble. It really is an good investment. In a few years with the increased RN wage you will be able to take care of any debt that you incur, if you can't continue the 4 days a week. I took out a loan for the rest that my employer wouldn't cover (was about the same deal your place offers, but just a year work commitment) and for $50/mo for the past 5-6 years or so, it has been well worth a little loan debt.

jodyangel, RN · Aug 15, 2005

Well my worry is more about the year I have to go Sept thru May, M-F 9-5pm. I need to work and carry my benefits...and I have no idea what I will do at that point! I just set up an appt. with the DON at our hospital with specifice questions..that being the biggest. I make about $42,000 a year as an LPN on the floor..so a loan to cover the year would be too much to take on. Any suggestions?

There Must be other nurses in the same position..working to pay bills And keep the medical insurance going.....how did you do it?

Thanks for your encouragement!!

jodyangel
I worked full time with kids and got through the LPN to RN program at the community college here without much trouble. It really is an good investment. In a few years with the increased RN wage you will be able to take care of any debt that you incur, if you can't continue the 4 days a week. I took out a loan for the rest that my employer wouldn't cover (was about the same deal your place offers, but just a year work commitment) and for $50/mo for the past 5-6 years or so, it has been well worth a little loan debt.

sbic56, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2005

Well my worry is more about the year I have to go Sept thru May, M-F 9-5pm. I need to work and carry my benefits...and I have no idea what I will do at that point! I just set up an appt. with the DON at our hospital with specifice questions..that being the biggest. I make about $42,000 a year as an LPN on the floor..so a loan to cover the year would be too much to take on. Any suggestions?
There Must be other nurses in the same position..working to pay bills And keep the medical insurance going.....how did you do it?
Thanks for your encouragement!!

Geez, M-F, 9-5 is a bit intense. I don't remember having to go to school 40 hours a week straight that first year. It was a full day here and half day there, probably 25 hours or so the first year; it was the second year that was toughest, as there were clinicals and projects, etc. I worked Fri-Sat-Sun 7p-7a, but at least was able to get a little more free time than it looks like you will be able to get in if that's going to be your schedule. Is that time including first year prereqs? Can you clep anything? I clepped Sociology and would have clepped developmental psych, if I had known it was going to be that easy. I did my chemistry and algebra prereqs in HS nightschool classes, as it only had to be high a school level course, but not sure what your CC requires. (Waaay cheaper, too.) Maybe where your employer is encouraging you to go, they can work out some type of flexible/creative work schedule. Seems like a win/win for all concerned if they will. (OOPs...just realized you didn't specify which year was 9-5 days...is that the year the nursing courses/clinicals are happening?)

jodyangel, RN · Aug 16, 2005

Yep that would be the clinical year..or the second year. I have to do all my prereq's first..so that has some flexability built into it. But the year I have to do all the nursing..with a few other classes is the year I'm worried about.

Well yesterday I called the CNO and made an appt. with the 2 other nurses to meet with her this am at 9am. So we will give her our concerns and basically ask her what she can DO to help us make this possible. I'll let you know!

Thanks for your post!

Geez, M-F, 9-5 is a bit intense. I don't remember having to go to school 40 hours a week straight that first year. It was a full day here and half day there, probably 25 hours or so the first year; it was the second year that was toughest, as there were clinicals and projects, etc. I worked Fri-Sat-Sun 7p-7a, but at least was able to get a little more free time than it looks like you will be able to get in if that's going to be your schedule. Is that time including first year prereqs? Can you clep anything? I clepped Sociology and would have clepped developmental psych, if I had known it was going to be that easy. I did my chemistry and algebra prereqs in HS nightschool classes, as it only had to be high a school level course, but not sure what your CC requires. (Waaay cheaper, too.) Maybe where your employer is encouraging you to go, they can work out some type of flexible/creative work schedule. Seems like a win/win for all concerned if they will. (OOPs...just realized you didn't specify which year was 9-5 days...is that the year the nursing courses/clinicals are happening?)

fla orange · Aug 16, 2005

Hey you guys, I transitioned in this year in to the Lpn to Rn bridge program at the CC I attend in NC. I've been working for the last 3 and a half years fulltime and going to school partime. I only to 6-7 credits per semester. But now I'm in the progarm I decided to work just 64 hours per pay period. The hospital I work at offers a "Nursing Stripend program" which is for student nures who are taking the actual nursing classes. In that program you're required to work part time, the hospital will give $1000 a month and pays for the tuition. In return you have to work for the hospital fulltime for a whole year after graduating and passing the board.

Joy, I too was out of school for more than 5 years and I had to take pre-reqs over again. But I did it cause I have a little one and I want a solid future for the both of us. Not going to lie, at times it's been hell but I know its worth it. I, didn't take the hospital up on their offer, I do participate in the tuition rembursement. Good Luck, You can do it!