MA to CNA to LVN, or MA to LVN?

[Caselicious]

Hello, my name is Casey, I am 25 years old, and live in San Diego. I have a little more than 2 years as an MA, and am currently working in Medical Records. I was unemployed for a year after the last company I work for downsized considerably, and since then, there hasn't been hardly any openings for my position out here. What is available I either have not heard back from after applying, several times on most occations, or they require someone bilingual, which I am not. I took the Medical Records position out of desperation, and I hate it. Patient care is my passion. Every day I go to work and see so many people in their scrubs, taking care of the patients, or patients who need help that I am not allowed to help, it just aches in me. I've continued to apply for every clinical type job that I can that's anywhere close to MA as I can find, but I have still had no luck. So, right now, I am considering going back to school. There is a program offered locally here for a 12 week CNA program, then, once that is complete, I can enter into their LVN program. It's very very cheap, and at a great local school, only problem is that they do not have very flexible schedules, so in order for me to go to school, I would have to TRY to go to part time, that is if my boss will allow it. I don't know if I can afford to do that, but if I want to get to where I really want to be (eventually an RN) I feel like this is a step I need to take. My fear right now is, would doing the CNA program be worth me dropping to part time and taking that pay cut for three months? Am I really going to get much out of it? I figure once I graduate and get my certificate, I would get a job as a CNA so I can get back to doing the patient care I love so much, but I hear mixed reviews on it. Some say that, as a CNA, the income is far less than MA, but when I research it online, it seems to pay better. I just really don't know what to do, and I need some honest opinions from people who might have been through similar situations as me. Either way, I need to get into an LVN program, so that is another obstacle, lol. I just wish it was all possible! Any advice on this would be an incredible help. Thank you all so much!

[kzens, LPN]

Hi Casey! my name is also Kacie (obviously spelt differently :) lol) and i am also in the san diego area. I graduated from a CNA program in June 2011 and i worked for about 2 months after. I am now enrolled in a LVN program (gonna start in march :)). I would recommend just going into LVN. the CNA pay is not good (definitely not what it says on the internet), and it was kinda difficult finding a job as a new grad CNA. so to cut back on work hours for 3 months, i wouldnt recommend it. But if you need CNA to go into the LVN program, then go for it! but based on what i have gone through, i would say to just get right in to a LVN program. good luck with what ever you plan to do! :yelclap:

[Madras]

How about stick it out at your current job and go the MA straight to RN route. Go to school part time and get your prereqs in so you dont disturb your current schedule, get into RN ASAP cut out the middle man, most hospitals will hire you as a cna when you finish you first semester of nursing school. And you don't even have to pay for a Cna course. Hang in there! Keep us posted on your progress.