Need advice badly.

nursemomruns · Dec 30, 2005

I would have liked to go straight to RN; either ASN or BSN, but due to the need to maintain a fulltime job during school, and the lack of available schools (with room therein) nearby, I had to do a stairstep method.
The school I'm in does a CNA course while in prereqs for LPN clinicals; hence my current CNA status. I worked in a LTC facility while in CNA clinicals - definitely NOT for me.
Once I'm through LPN licensure, I'm going to go straight into a bridge program for RN. My goal is to work in an ED with eventual plans to become a flight nurse or perhaps an NP.
Due to previous experiences, I have a wider skill set than the average person at my level of licensure... I was just considering what would be best for my career at this point.

I agree with daytonite and think you should keep your current job. This job seems to have worked well for you during this phase of your education. I worked as a CNA while I was in nursing school. It is very tiring to go to clinical for 8 hours, which you have been preparing for the night before, then work another 8 hours as a CNA. Also, I don't know if there is such a thing as being "mandated" in your area, but that is always a possiblity as well. You may think you're going home after your shift, but end up having to stay due to a call off, etc. Something else I'd like you to think about: You said you are a type A and can handle a level of stress that would kill most people. I do not doubt that you can handle any amount of stress, but at what cost? Physiological effects, emotional effects, cognitive effects - all are seen with acute stress, but also all are seen with chronic lower levels of stress. You want to do the very best you can while in nursing school. That will help you more in the long run than getting your foot in the door somewhere. If you feel you need to do that, then why not see about volunteering? You could do volunteer work at your discretion. The ERs in my area accept volunteers.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 30, 2005

I am assuming your next phase of school is a year, why make the decision "right now", you have a year. I would stick it out with the current job and see how school goes for you. Only you can decide if working as a CNA or any other type job is going to work for you while you are in school. If you think it will work out, over the summer get a job, you then have 6 months to whoo them and hopefully you get a job as an LPN when you graduate.

Have you thought about being a tech in the ER? I was a CNA (Student Assit) on a Med/Surg floor and freaking hated every min. of it. Now I work in an ER as a tech while I'm in school and I love it. It's hard work and sometimes I work for 12 hours straight but I've learned more in that job in 6 months than I probably will all through school. The place where I got hired is a small town ER and the only requirement was either 1. I be a student or 2. I be an EMT, which I am both. They also hire LPN's as well in the ER (which is almost unheard of anymore). Anyway, it's worth a shot and maybe you can find something along those lines.

Oh and one more thing to add, if you want to work in an ER when it's all said and done, being a CNA on a Med/Surg floor is not a sure thing to get you in the door. From what I've seen and heard from my fellow classmates, if you do a great job for them, they won't let you go. I have a classmate who is in Ortho as a SA and can't get out and has tried for a year now. They like her so much they won't let her transfer out...bad for her because she hates it and wants ICU. Just another thing to think of.

Good luck in whatever you decide!!!

pa*rn · Dec 30, 2005

I can tell you from experience tht mom2michael is absolutely correct. I was a CNA on a med surg floor (and I even floated to the ER when they needed help) and when I graduated and became an RN, then only thing they "had available" for me was a job on the same med surg floor I had worked as a CNA. It was kinda sad, because after I found out that they were interviewing classmates of mine for the position that I really wanted in the ER, I ended up leaving the hospital altogether and starting over fresh at a new place. So, if you really like the hospital that you are considering, just remember that this is always a possibility. Good Luck!!

clee1 · Dec 30, 2005

A word of caution. If you feel very confident in your speed, efficiency, assessment skills and especially IV and splinting and you want to get into a good ER and be respected right off the bat, here is what I would do...
I would keep your current job for school (unless your EMT license is still good in which case I would work as a night EMT). Then, after graduating with your LPN, I would take a tech job in an ER (again, you must
be very confident in your skills to make a bang impression), and work that job part-time through your LPN-BSN process. Then, your ER will be very impressed with you and hire you off the bat.
Also remember that if you go straight to ER, your NP options will be more limited to acute care/ critical care NP instead of CRNA which seems to be the hot (read well payed) ticket right now.
So... my advice is biased to my own experience. Perhaps ER nurses on the board here will chime in and completely disagree with me. You may consider making another post to the ER nurse forum, they may be more responsive there.
Either way, best of luck to you- you've got a long haul but I see you are dedicated and I know you will make it.
Lex

Thanks Lex.... your advice has the smell of sage!

I AM a bit rusty, as it has been a LONG time since my military training and EMT work. However, I was told then, and by my instructors now, that I have a knack for this work and I should be able to get wherever I want to go.

My last year in the service, I was the medic on a dustoff (air evac). I have started hundreds of IVs in a moving helicopter, including peds. My skills at that point I would have rated against anyone and not been worried. After the service, I worked as a phlebotomist at a large hospital while waiting for my EMT ticket to come through. The ER attending was a doc I had served under in the military, and he "spread the word". This hospital had an IV team: the floor nurse got one shot at starting an IV; then the IV team was called. If THEY couldn't start it; I got called from the lab :smokin: . If I couldn't get it, a MD was called to do a cut down. So, at one time my skills were better than average; I feel sure I'll get back up to speed quickly.

Absolute top pay is not my hot spot: I want a good job that is amply compensated, that's all. I definitely prefer emergency work, though.

I appreciate the great advice!

clee1 · Dec 30, 2005

I agree with daytonite and think you should keep your current job.
Something else I'd like you to think about: You said you are a type A and can handle a level of stress that would kill most people. I do not doubt that you can handle any amount of stress, but at what cost? Physiological effects, emotional effects, cognitive effects - all are seen with acute stress, but also all are seen with chronic lower levels of stress. You want to do the very best you can while in nursing school. That will help you more in the long run than getting your foot in the door somewhere.
If you feel you need to do that, then why not see about volunteering? You could do volunteer work at your discretion. The ERs in my area accept volunteers.

That seems to be the consensus.... So I think I'll keep my current non-med job.

Good point about the stress.... I CAN handle incredible amounts, but there IS a price to pay. I don't think I am willing to pay it while in school.

I may see about volunteering; I didn't consider that.

Thanks for the great advice! :chuckle

clee1 · Dec 30, 2005

Thank you everyone, for all the great advice!

You've undoubtedly saved me a tremendous headache and several possible career pitfalls.

Thanks again!

pinefarmgirl · Dec 31, 2005

I agree- keep the job you have. I tried what you were thinking about- work as a cna while in the lpn program. After clinicals started, really the second semester of clinicals, I thought I would lose my mind! Way too much hospital and not enough life. I found myself hating hospitals and nursing, and wanted to quit both. So I figured, better get rid of the job and keep the school, can decide specialty later. Very tough decision. I too want Emergency medicine field, and lpn clinicals do not go near that, neither does a cna on med/surg. So, I quit the job, stayed in nursing program, and joined the volunteer fire dept. as an emt/first responder on medical aid calls- I get paged out to go with the local ambulance on every call they make, but I do not have to go to every one- just when I'm available. Smartest thing I ever did- running with the ambulance reminded me why I was doing all this school stuff, and gave me back my enthusiasm for learning nursing.