My Journey

[AZNurse13]

I'm an LPN with 8 years experience currently working in Home Health field  with critical care patient. I took this year off from school due to COVID but I have a few more prerequisites before applying to the RN program in my state. Now at 52 years of age and a teenage daughter with 2 more years of high school left before scooting off to a university I'm in this dilemma whether to wait until she is off to college or proceed forward with my goal. I think maybe I will be too old when I finally start my RN program. Many of my cohorts that graduated in my class have since become RN's and a few even received their BSN. My wife retired in October with 26 years in same company with a solid pension and now is working for herself in her own business and seems to be doing well. I feel that as an LPN there is nothing else for me to accomplish I want more responsibilities and to learn more skill sets.  

[Jade Nicole, LPN]

I wouldn't wait until your daughter finishes highschool...go after your goal now. Try not to compare and worry about what others are doing...if you don't become an RN you may feel regret in your later years. If you become an RN in your early-mid 50s, you could work as an RN for a good 15-20 years as long as you stay healthy and motivated!

[Binh Ton-That]

Amazing!

I just started on the same journey. I am 53, male and have been in IT since I came to California and plan to retired from IT a few years from now. Triplets kids are also in high school sophomore years!

I found a part-time evening program that I can get the LVN in 16 months, then probably bridge to RN and further. It's not so much for a career for me, but more of a goal in retirement.

The concern is more with the teenager kids. They say they don't need you no more and often ignore you, decline your plan for weekend camping, hiking ... but they actually need you home. I was deployed with the military for Covid for 8 months this years and the kids seemingly lost motivation and direction with all the online school and shelter-in-place. I got home last month and they are more happy and focus now even though I do not do much with their routines, just make sure they go to bed, sleep, wake-up, study, eat with a so so schedule.

So, maybe find a part-time program or some online classes that you don't disappear on the kid for now.

 

[AZNurse13]

Hey, Binh.

Thanks for the advice. I already enrolled in one of the two prerequisites required for RN program. I can than apply and submit my application. I also graduated from a local college that offered an LPN to RN bridge program. I remember our instructors reminding us not to wait after graduating before applying to RN program. Now almost 8 years later I'm almost there. The one thing that is outstanding in this journey is the great opportunities I have experience working within different fields as an LPN. Good success in whatever you decide.