MA to LPN vs Business

U.S.A. Oklahoma

Published

I am a credentialed medical assistant with many years of family medicine experience (some OBGYN). I have an AS in business, and I'm working on a Bachelor's in Finance. Right now I'm a SAHM to my homeschooled elementary-aged kid and two little kids under two.

I'm torn. I always really wanted this finance degree, but it has become too much. I'm afraid I've lost interest in the field, and I find the work tedious and mind-numbing. I loved clinic work. I loved the science behind it and the medical techniques I learned. I also enjoyed developing relationships with my patients. It was incredibly stressful at times, and I quit to raise my small children.

I'm seriously considering dropping the whole finance thing altogether and applying to an LPN program once my smallest is nearing school age. When I worked in the clinic, I was told by management that at that organization, MA's and LPN's were on the same pay scale. That doesn't seem accurate. Does becoming an LPN in Oklahoma give you a jump in pay from being an MA? Is there a lot of clinic work vs nursing home opportunities? Or would I end up as a tech in an ED somewhere?

Part time MA work is difficult to find outside of an urgent care, and when I go back to work someday I'd like to just start PT or PRN. Is any of this a good idea? I don't think I want to end up doing 3-11's in a nursing home after spending the time/money in practical nursing program.

Anyone have any similar experiences? Thank you!

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