Lpn Student Seeking Wisdom

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Hey guys!

I will be starting the LPN program Sept 2006 at Orlando Tech. I'm a nervous wreck! I will be taking the program full-time (it's a 52-week program) and also working at a clinic (doing administrative work not clinical) also full-time. I was wondering if any of you have any words of wisdom! What can I expect out of the program? How did you survive the boards? What is the starting salary for an LPN newly graduated? I intend on staying in Orlando after I graduate so that I can do the transtion program at Valencia. ALSO, if anyone out there is an ORL TECh alum, if you guys can help me out by letting me know what books I'll need? Again, any soothing advice and sound wisdom will help!

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I would see if they have a part time schedule in school if possible. It is true, nursing school on any level is grueling, and they require many tasks that just can't be done at home, such as performance evaluations for practice skills, such as catheterization, IV set ups, medication passes, etc; and the equipment is not at home. I know what it is like to pay bills, and those things cannot be ignored for the average adult. But, to further your education means blood, sweat and sacrifice on some level. I know you are ready to do it, but you may see that there are not enough hours in a day.

The LPN program is compressed will all of the nursing skills you will need and they usually cram things up within anywhere from 9 to 18 months in most schools, and you have to learn medications, skills, go to clinicals, and give it your total attention. Being tired at school or clinicals can easily point to failure, and being inattentive at work can lead to unemployment. If there is a part time LPN program offered, that may be a consideration. If not, then prepare yourself for a ride. I don't think that any of us want to discourage you, it is just a reality. I was fortunate enough to have completed LPN school under a sponsorship from the hospital I work for, where they gave me a year of absence with pay and paid my tuition. My total focus was school. My son is 18, and my husband worked evenings, so, I had no distractions. And I was STILL tired!! There were not enough hours in a day for me. I just don't want to see you tire yourself out and get disgusted out of fatigue. But, either way, determination is the key and if you want anything bad enough, you will make a way! Good luck!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
You guys are making me nervous! Let me know how you're boards go!! Good luck!

We don't want to discourage you; just being real about the deal once the courses start. No matter what, it calls for dedication. Let us know how things progress.:caduceus:

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hey guys!

i will be starting the lpn program sept 2006 at orlando tech. i'm a nervous wreck! i will be taking the program full-time (it's a 52-week program) and also working at a clinic (doing administrative work not clinical) also full-time. i was wondering if any of you have any words of wisdom! what can i expect out of the program? how did you survive the boards? what is the starting salary for an lpn newly graduated? i intend on staying in orlando after i graduate so that i can do the transtion program at valencia. also, if anyone out there is an orl tech alum, if you guys can help me out by letting me know what books i'll need? again, any soothing advice and sound wisdom will help!

hey fresh,

how is the program at orlando tech so far? i too plan on starting on jan or may...i am also in the same boat i have to work full-time also...i will be working 12hr night shifts...and i have been doing that and taking 3 pre-req classes at a time for the rn program at vcc and my grades are stellar...if you have to work you just have to i totally understand. i also know nurses that worked full-time and went to school full-time it was grueling but they had to do it because of obligations! i am preparing for the net test any advice? also what are the pros and cons to the orlando tech program?

all the best

coco:mad:

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I totally agree with all these posts!!! LPN is very demanding, working

full time esp if you have kids, etc is way too much. It takes alot to succeed in this program> i will be in PN102 in the fall and in PN101 we

have already lost quite a few students. If you REALLY want this, please

make a diffrent schedule, I have been there also and had to readjust.

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Be careful because when i was in LVN school it was Mon-Friday 7-3 and then u need time to study. I was exhausted and I didnt have any kids. Talk with your instructors when u meet and ask them the cirriculum and see what they say. Although it was a demanding program-it was worth it. You will have days when u are fed up and sick of studying, but just stay focused and think about the day you become a nurse. Best of luck!

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

Even though our program was considered full time, it really wasn't. We had alot of people in my class that worked 30+ hours a week and went to school and passed and passed boards. Most of them worked evenings or night shift. We had a single lady with no kids, or husband who worked 32 hours a week 3rd shift. She would come to school after getting off work in the morning. She did fine and her body somehow adapted. She also had to pay her rent, utilities, etc. I only worked 8-16 hours a week with 2 kids and a husband. I wouldn't do it again anytime soon, but it can be done. When I think about going back for my RN, I want to vomit when thinking of all the hard work, not just with school but life in general. Maybe someday, but I'm not as motivated now as I was before. Anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it, but be ready to function at a capacity you have never functioned at before. Good Luck in whatever you choose. As far as nursing, yes LPN's are limited, but not obsolete by any means. Rn's are in a high demand and can write their own ticket, but all the nursing in general is a hit and miss because there are so many areas you can work in and if you don't like one you can just keep searching until you find the job you love. I'm still looking for my niche, which is limited by being a LPN in the state of Illinois, but I know I'll find my dream job eventually, if not it's fun learning all kinds of different things along the way.

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you can do it

coz everyone have their goal

i believe u can!

cheer up~

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Specializes in CNA/LPN.

I think it all depends on how well you handle your work/school loads when it comes down to it all. Some may have a hard time while working full-time and going to school full-time, by finding out that they begin lacking in one or the other, causing more and more stress to exceed in excellence in both. If you want to work full-time and go to school full-time, make sure it's something you can handle before getting yourself into a mess. Everyone is different and I'm sure if this is what you want to truly do, you'll be able to!

I'm currently working 32-hour weeks and am about to be going to Nursing School Mon-Fri 7-3. I already am not too happy with my current job, but am keeping it because jobs are so hard to come by right now...so I know for a fact if I continued working there 4 days a week and going to school full-time, I'd snap...not because of school, but because of my job getting in my way! :p Therefore, I'm giving them a copy of my schedule and am going to ask for a cut in hours because of the major demand of focus and studying that LPN Program requires. I'm actually currently saving every piece of my paychecks aside from gas and needs, just in case I find that I have to leave my work behind, or if they have a problem with my schooling hours and kick me aside. I'm still living at home and pay very little for my cellphone bill and other things to help my parents out, so if I DID end up just being a full-time student and not working, it wouldn't be hard for me to survive, I'd just need to find a way to supply my own gas money by doing odd jobs here and there once my savings ran out.

So in the end, it all depends on what you know YOU can handle, but think realistically about it all. :redpinkhe

-Mindy

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I know how you feel. I have a young son to take care of along with rent & other pills to pay. So I plan on over borrowing on my school loans to have some extra money. Also, if I get accepted into the LPN program it's m-fri. so I was thinking I could maybe work 5 hrs on fri & 8 on sat & sun. good luck...you may find that you won't be able to work as much as you would have liked but you can still work...esp on the weekends!

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Hi there,

I am in the same boat as you. I'm going to a full time LPN program in the fall and yes I will be working full time as well. (morning hours) It will be hard but don't let people get you down about it. Yes you will have to study every free chance you get but it will be worth it. Unfortunately I am one of those unlucky people with lots of bills too, lol. Not much to be done about it but I am very determined, if I want something bad enough I make time for it. Plus you can use a vaca/sick day every now and then if you have a big test coming up.

Best of luck to you.

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Hey fresh31 I was just reading ur post bcuz I'm new to the site and I was wondering if you completed the Lpn program?

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