Need some advice please! New to this forum

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Hello everyone. A little background information about me. I'm 26 years old, living in California, currently attending a community college to eventually work my way towards becoming certified as a Registered Nurse. I currently work as a CNA 16 hours a week, usually my Saturdays and Sundays. While going to school Monday-Friday. I have been with my SO for 5 years now, we are not married, nor do we have kids and she's already working in her career field.

The pay that I receive now at my current Job is 13$/Hr. Which is essentially nothing, better than some, but not a lot at all. I don't want to live under my parents anymore, I love them, but I just need my own space. I'm struggling with money since I'm working only 16 hours a week and I haven't even transferred to a university or an RN program yet. I'm feeling very down and deterred to continue my path, but I'm not giving up and I know anything worth fighting for is worth it. What I'm currently thinking about is getting enrolled into a Vocational Nursing program and to become an LVN, this way at least, I'm making more money and feel like i can support myself without always having to rely on my parents and sometimes even my SO.

I've asked opinions from others LVN's and RN's and they say just rough it out and don't bother with the LVN just shoot straight to RN. I just feel so useless, not being able to support myself financially other than being able to pay for gas, food, my phone bill and half a car payment. Maybe some of you have been in a similar situation as I have and am asking for some advice or life advice, anything at this point. I just don't want to be stuck working as a CNA for 3 years, nothing wrong with the JOB, just the pay for me isn't enough to support myself long term.

I hope some can shed light on my dilemma right now, I want to be successful and I feel like I'm just stuck at a crossroads right now :(

Thank you

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I've asked opinions from others LVN's and RN's and they say just rough it out and don't bother with the LVN just shoot straight to RN.

Thank you

I agree with them 100% ...especially considering that you're in California. I'm in the south and know a few LVNs who work as unit clerks. They graduated some time ago, but haven't been able to find actual nursing jobs. LVNs are too restricted here and there are an abundance of new grad RNs happy to take what would have traditionally been their jobs.

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

They are correct...shoot straight for the RN.Use all your resources on that goal.If you go the LVN route you may find only 9 to 5 type jobs in offices and clinics whereas now you have a job that has 24 hrs per day to choose from. You need to pull in some night shifts and work every holiday and on every break you can.Is it hard.....YES it is but you can do it if you have the will. By the way you do not become a certified nurse...you become a registered nurse.

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invest your time in becoming an RN. Don't think only about the next 3 years, think long term, it will be well worth it.

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

There are other options available to you.

One would be to switch to part-time school so you could pick up additional hours at your job. This would lengthen the time until you could obtain your ultimate degree, but would allow you to be more financially independent right now.

Another option would be to pick up one additional shift per week, which would give you 50% more income per month. Since you're currently working 16 hrs/week, I'm guessing that your facility only does 8-hour shifts. Could you do a 1500-2300 shift on Friday after classes, then your regular Saturday/Sunday shift? Another option would be to work a double on Saturday, then a single on Sunday and still be able to get caught up on your sleep for classes on Monday.

Another option would be to schedule your classes so that you have one or two days off from school during the week, and you could pick up a shift in the middle of the week. Or schedule your classes to be done early enough in the day so that you could pick up one or two 1500-2300 shifts during the week.

You could also look for a job in a facility that offers 12-hour shifts instead of 8-hr shifts. You could still only work on Saturdays and Sundays, but you'd be getting 24 hours of pay a week instead of only 16 hours of pay.

There are very few things in life that are all-or-nothing. Try to think outside the box...

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