My mom is 54, has been in RN and now LPN school for 4 years. Please help.

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I desperately need some advice for my mother because I do not know what is going on or how to solve this huge pickle she's in. She's been in school now for 4 years and she broke down crying today when I asked what is going on and why exactly this is taking so long. It made me so sad and I feel helpless. She was laid off from her job in 2006 (I think) and decided she wanted to completely switch careers and go for her RN. She was a computer programer. She graduated some 30 years ago from Indiana University with a Bachelor's in marketing.

First she had to take a year of pre-reqs, and then she got into the 2 year RN program at a community college in MN, Hennepin Technical College, I believe...After going to school for 1 year she failed out of her clinicals. It's my understanding she was doing great in all of the course work but for one reason or another they failed her out of clinicals. This meant she could reapply to the same school (they would credit her with 6 mon) and she would go another 1.5 years; however, they denied her when she applied again. She said she could have applied to other RN schools but then it would be the whole 2 years over again.

One of her advisers reccomended she apply for the LPN year long program (which makes me sad, because my mom is a very smart competent woman, and I can't really see her settling for LPN when she had her hopes set on RN) So, although it's not what she wanted she decided to do the 1 yr LPN. Turns out there were some pre-reqs for that too. So that took up more time. Now, finally she is doing the LPN program but she has to do it part time because she has 3 kids, and my dad does not make enough money at his job for her not to work (she has worked as a CNA at a nursing home for the past year or so, late shift).

She says it will be 2 more years before she can get her LPN. My family just filed for bankruptcy. I don't see how she can keep going to school for 2 more years with this financial situation. An LPN salary really isn't even close to what she was making as a computer programmer. I feel my mom doesn't have sufficient advice and help at school. I am also worried about job security after she earns her degree...she'll be 57....do you think she'll attain a job easily? I'm so worried about her. Age discrimination has been in the back of my mind since she began school. She is going through so much hard work and I want to know that she'll actually have a secure job.

Also I guess my main question is, are there any part time RN schools? Couldn't she just apply to a different community college for the RN program? If it's already going to take 2 more years for LPN why not go RN? Especially when you're as smart as my mom :) I just feel so bad for her, she is trying so hard and I want her to feel accomplished with her degree. I feel like even when she earns her LPN she will not be happy with it and will see it as what someone else forced her to do, my failing her in clinicals, reccomending it, etc. I'm trying to think of any way she could still go RN...without going full time...because it's just not possible money wise :(

Also, sorry this is a novel. Just a tidbit about me-I'm going to be a senior at St. Olaf College in MN next year majoring in Biology, pre-med. I just took the mcat and I'm getting ready to start applying for medical schools. hurray. lol.

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Two more years for only an LPN license is too much. She needs to speak to a school advisor and find a way to get this over with so she can go to work at higher pay and move on to an RN program. Perhaps she should aggressively seek out private sector loans to finish school. There is no way to guarantee job security. She has to put up with that no matter what she does because she cannot turn back the clock. Best wishes.

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Can she go back to a computer programmer job if she decides to chuck it? That might be her best recourse.

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Why did they deny her after telling her they would credit her with 6 months? I'm sorry she's going through this :( Rather than starting over with the 2-year LPN program, I would suggest looking at another program if she really wants the RN. Surely she could be accepted by another community college. I don't think you'll be able to find a parttime nursing program, unfortunately. Regarding the financial situation, check out this website: http://www.collegescholarships.org/grants/101-grants.htm Maybe there is a grant or scholarship she could apply for. I don't know if it will help but maybe there is something she could use.

Also, don't let her be discouraged by her age :) My class had students in their 50s and even 60s. It may be hard for her to find a job after school but that's something all new grads are facing right now. Who knows, in 2 years the job market could be completely different for us baby nurses :) Good luck to her and to you in medical school!!

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Why does your mom want to be a nurse? Is it possible that her heart just isn't in this? With the way the job market is right now, her age, all of your family's financial difficulties it sounds like a very discouraging scenario for her.

Two years is too long for LPN school, and the market is brutal, so there is no guarantee of a job.

She sounds like she had a successful career in the past and she made it through college the first time so she must be very smart. Not everyone is cut out to be a nurse, not everyone processes information the same way, some people are really good at some things and do terribly with others.

I wouldn't last a second in law school, or med school, or as a computer programmer, a manager, or as a teacher (tried it for a while and hated it)...the list is infinite.

With a background as a programmer and her knowledge so far of health care she might tranisition well into a health informatics program or something of that nature.

But I think that she might want to consider going in another direction, it sounds like she just feels so bad about herself. Nothing is worth that. Hopefully she can find something that makes her remember all the things she likes about herself.

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Age?? I heard of a gentleman that just graduated nursing school and He was the first hired out of his class ..He is 65yrs

Just brainstorming here..

Perhaps another route for her would be Ultrasound ,Radiology or Respiratory??

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I can only hope my daughter grows up to be as lovely as you.

I desperately need some advice for my mother because I do not know what is going on or how to solve this huge pickle she's in. She's been in school now for 4 years and she broke down crying today when I asked what is going on and why exactly this is taking so long. It made me so sad and I feel helpless. She was laid off from her job in 2006 (I think) and decided she wanted to completely switch careers and go for her RN. She was a computer programer. She graduated some 30 years ago from Indiana University with a Bachelor's in marketing.

First she had to take a year of pre-reqs, and then she got into the 2 year RN program at a community college in MN, Hennepin Technical College, I believe...After going to school for 1 year she failed out of her clinicals. It's my understanding she was doing great in all of the course work but for one reason or another they failed her out of clinicals. This meant she could reapply to the same school (they would credit her with 6 mon) and she would go another 1.5 years; however, they denied her when she applied again. She said she could have applied to other RN schools but then it would be the whole 2 years over again.

One of her advisers reccomended she apply for the LPN year long program (which makes me sad, because my mom is a very smart competent woman, and I can't really see her settling for LPN when she had her hopes set on RN) So, although it's not what she wanted she decided to do the 1 yr LPN. Turns out there were some pre-reqs for that too. So that took up more time. Now, finally she is doing the LPN program but she has to do it part time because she has 3 kids, and my dad does not make enough money at his job for her not to work (she has worked as a CNA at a nursing home for the past year or so, late shift).

She says it will be 2 more years before she can get her LPN. My family just filed for bankruptcy. I don't see how she can keep going to school for 2 more years with this financial situation. An LPN salary really isn't even close to what she was making as a computer programmer. I feel my mom doesn't have sufficient advice and help at school. I am also worried about job security after she earns her degree...she'll be 57....do you think she'll attain a job easily? I'm so worried about her. Age discrimination has been in the back of my mind since she began school. She is going through so much hard work and I want to know that she'll actually have a secure job.

Also I guess my main question is, are there any part time RN schools? Couldn't she just apply to a different community college for the RN program? If it's already going to take 2 more years for LPN why not go RN? Especially when you're as smart as my mom :) I just feel so bad for her, she is trying so hard and I want her to feel accomplished with her degree. I feel like even when she earns her LPN she will not be happy with it and will see it as what someone else forced her to do, my failing her in clinicals, reccomending it, etc. I'm trying to think of any way she could still go RN...without going full time...because it's just not possible money wise :(

Also, sorry this is a novel. Just a tidbit about me-I'm going to be a senior at St. Olaf College in MN next year majoring in Biology, pre-med. I just took the mcat and I'm getting ready to start applying for medical schools. hurray. lol.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis.
I desperately need some advice for my mother because I do not know what is going on or how to solve this huge pickle she's in. She's been in school now for 4 years and she broke down crying today when I asked what is going on and why exactly this is taking so long. It made me so sad and I feel helpless. She was laid off from her job in 2006 (I think) and decided she wanted to completely switch careers and go for her RN. She was a computer programer. She graduated some 30 years ago from Indiana University with a Bachelor's in marketing.

First she had to take a year of pre-reqs, and then she got into the 2 year RN program at a community college in MN, Hennepin Technical College, I believe...After going to school for 1 year she failed out of her clinicals. It's my understanding she was doing great in all of the course work but for one reason or another they failed her out of clinicals. This meant she could reapply to the same school (they would credit her with 6 mon) and she would go another 1.5 years; however, they denied her when she applied again. She said she could have applied to other RN schools but then it would be the whole 2 years over again.

One of her advisers reccomended she apply for the LPN year long program (which makes me sad, because my mom is a very smart competent woman, and I can't really see her settling for LPN when she had her hopes set on RN) So, although it's not what she wanted she decided to do the 1 yr LPN. Turns out there were some pre-reqs for that too. So that took up more time. Now, finally she is doing the LPN program but she has to do it part time because she has 3 kids, and my dad does not make enough money at his job for her not to work (she has worked as a CNA at a nursing home for the past year or so, late shift).

She says it will be 2 more years before she can get her LPN. My family just filed for bankruptcy. I don't see how she can keep going to school for 2 more years with this financial situation. An LPN salary really isn't even close to what she was making as a computer programmer. I feel my mom doesn't have sufficient advice and help at school. I am also worried about job security after she earns her degree...she'll be 57....do you think she'll attain a job easily? I'm so worried about her. Age discrimination has been in the back of my mind since she began school. She is going through so much hard work and I want to know that she'll actually have a secure job.

Also I guess my main question is, are there any part time RN schools? Couldn't she just apply to a different community college for the RN program? If it's already going to take 2 more years for LPN why not go RN? Especially when you're as smart as my mom :) I just feel so bad for her, she is trying so hard and I want her to feel accomplished with her degree. I feel like even when she earns her LPN she will not be happy with it and will see it as what someone else forced her to do, my failing her in clinicals, reccomending it, etc. I'm trying to think of any way she could still go RN...without going full time...because it's just not possible money wise :(

Also, sorry this is a novel. Just a tidbit about me-I'm going to be a senior at St. Olaf College in MN next year majoring in Biology, pre-med. I just took the mcat and I'm getting ready to start applying for medical schools. hurray. lol.

There are part time RN programs. My school offers one that's 7 semesters total (but you're off in summer and they count that as a semester, so it's actually 5 going to classes), nights and weekends. Unfortunately I'm clear across the country from you. You may have her call around to the ADN programs around and see if they have a night/weekend option. Or you could call for her :) Good luck to her. I can't believe they would fail her out and discuss rejoining and then deny admission. Some nursing schools are really harsh and set you up for failure. I did two semesters in an ADN program before leaving on my own free will after having some complicated family issues. I was so stressed out in that program. In my current program, I'm a final semester student about to graduate, I haven't had nearly the stress that I had in the other, even though I had to start over at the beginning. I've maintained a good GPA and we boast a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX. I think one year in the last 5 it's dropped to 98% and we graduate 3 classes per year. I am the poster child for advertisement for my nursing program. The faculty is dedicated to their students and vested in their educational experiences. She needs to find a program that will guide and mentor her, not try to weed her out. If she's having trouble clinically speaking but not academically speaking, her clinical instructor should point out what she's doing that's wrong and help her to get it right. They say you can teach anyone to do the skills portion of it, but the academics requires the critical thinking needed to carry out those interventions. Our tests are all critical thinking, NCLEX type questions based, with multiple multiples, implementation and analysis questions out the wazoo, so you could have the skills down pat but wouldn't pass the academic portion of it. There's a balance there, and that's what the faculty is there for. Just my :twocents:

Oh, and congrats on Med School!

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Personally, I think this is much deeper than attaining a LPN or an RN for that matter. Your mom is in a position of incredible stress, where most of us would have given up long ago. However, this speaks volumes regarding your mom's perseverance and tenacity. Since she has a previous degree and a year's worth of prereqs, another viable option is an immersion program (e.g., 2nd bachelors, Bacc2, etc). This will take a year to 15 mos at most schools and not as competitive as generic routes. Additionally, there are many schools that have weekend programs and online options.

After reading this post, I immediately prayed for your family. Character is something that can't be bought, learned or mimicked. Your parents have done an impeccable job at rearing you. God bless you in your journey to becoming an M.D.!

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just an FYI obtaining your LPN isn't for someone less intellegent. LPN is hard so I wouldn't say "just her LPN" that is one of my biggest pet peeves!

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My school does a part time RN program as well, but I'm in PA. I love my program and I'm going into my 3rd semester. We do 8 semesters usually two to three nights a week and i'm loving it. Usually the LPN program here is only like 11 months long. Your mother needs to find a place that will help her thru these struggles. My teachers are all very passionate about teaching and will help you out when you are in need instead of just failing you out. I think your mother shows great determination and if her heart is in it then she will do just fine...

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Specializes in Substance Abuse, Mental Health.
I'm going to be a senior at St. Olaf College in MN next year

I'm sorry, I don't have any real words of wisdom for you or your mom's situation. I wish you all the best. I just wanted to say that I love watching The Golden Girls and didn't realize that St. Olaf is an actual place :D

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