I'm going to try to make this as short and clear as possible. I have a complex situation and can't decide what to do I have talked to so many and everyone gives me wonderful advice (even my boss!) but I figured I could get the best advice from people who have been to nursing school.
Here's my situation in a nutshell:
I work full time in a very well-known medical facility where it's practically IMPOSSIBLE to get hired at (lots of competition) and I have great benefits, pretty much any benefit you can think of! Tuition reimbursement, medical insurance, great hours, great pay, lots of connections, paid leaves. As an administrative assistant.
My goal has been R.N. school for the past 2 years. I already have a B.A., and completed ALL nursing pre-reqs other than physio.
Now my dilemma is that I am so close to being able to apply to nursing school, but I have serious credit card debt (approx $20K). And a huge car payment, so this pretty much means I cannot afford to quit my job just yet. I am estimating if I work full time for another 2 years, I can pay off everything (I JUST started working full time, I got promoted from part time last month), then afford to quit working and my parents and/or bf (possibly husband by then) will help me with living expenses.
Working in a clinic I have seen up front the huge demand for nurses at any level, be it R.N. or L.V.N. I work with many L.V.N.'s and where I work their pay is fairly good ($28/hr +), hours are AMAZING and they can definitely work OT/weekends if they want. So that has started to make me think... what if I try an LVN program first?
That's my dilemma. I'm so close to R.N... But the money issue really sets me back I wish I had been smarter in my first adult years! I'm hesitant to spend $20K on LVN if I'm going to do R.N. in the long run, but really that's not the biggest issue. I am very attracted to doing LVN first because my company will help pay part of the cost, ($2K a year), I can continue working here if I do an 18-mo part time program, and pretty much have a guaranteed job when I finish the program. What I don't like about this route is that I probably won't do RN school for maybe another 5 years I am 25 right now.
I dream about being a nurse. I want it more than anything. I work closely with doctors and nurses and I go to work everyday wishing I was in their place.
My two options are to start LVN, keep my job, get an LVN job when done, then keep saving for when I quit my job for RN school. When I get an LVN job I'll be part of the union and I'll have even more security of a guaranteed job when done. Second option is to just keep saving now until I can go straight into R.N. school. The difference will be I guess time, and less money spent if I don't go the LVN route.
I know this is soooo so complex and probably a pain to read this all... but I would really appreciate your help!!! I have no idea what to do. I wish someone could just decide for me!!! Thank you so much to those who took the time to read this!
My answer is best summed up by a few do's and don'ts:
DO consider LPN school first if you need to. The reason being is that RN school is getting more and more competitive. Each class being accepted for admission is being accepted with higher and higher standards (I know, I just got accepted couple of weeks ago into an RN program). For example, if you're graded as an applicant on a point system, the Fall of 2010 class got in with minimum of a 20, the Fall of 2011 got in with a minimum of 22, who knows how much more the admission bar will be raised for the class of 2012? The nursing schools are being hit with a tidal wave of more and more outstanding applicants (applicants with bachelor's and some with master's degrees already!) that they can afford to raise their admission standards. If you have the chance to go to LPN school, do it, because it's better to get something under your belt than nothing. I don't care if LPN school costs $20,000.00...I am an LPN and I made $81,000.00 last year working part-time (32hrs/week regular + overtime).
DON'T EVEN DARE CONSIDER FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY!!! You would be better off just treading water and maintain the minimum payments on that debt you have as opposed to declaring bankruptcy and absolutely drudging your credit history FOR LIFE. People may tell you "oh, your credit score will come back after 7 years" but what they don't tell you is that some financing sources (I should know being that I'm a real estate broker, used to be a loan officer, and have secured several of my own mortgages on my apartment buildings) and/or employers will ask a question on their application "Have you *ever* had to declare for bankruptcy?" and you'll forever have to answer "yes" if you do declare. $20,000.00 may seem like a lot now, but if you can just make it through and get a nursing license, you can make and repay that just in overtime alone once in the field. And with nursing, if you really want to kncok out that debt fast, you have the option of working any of the three shifts (days, eves, or nights) allowing you tremendous versitility.
DO try to get someone (parent, friend, credit union etc.) to lend you a lower interest loan than you have on your credit cards. Sometimes credit unions run specials and offer debt consolidation loans that have interest rates under 10%, which might be better than the perhaps 24% you might be paying now. A word of caution, although. Only go with the debt consolidation loans from reputable sources like local banks or credit unions..the offers for those advertising on the radio or television often have terms that won't be as advantagous to you in comparison to those offered by local banks and credit unions. If you have a family member that is willing to lend you the money to pay off the credit card in a lump sum you can offer to set up a joint checking account with them to which you have a set monthly amount directly deducted and deposited out of your paycheck that goes to repayment of the loan plus some interest that would probably more than they can get at a bank these days for them but much, much less than the often extremely high credit card rates. Could be a win-win situation.
LPN sounds tempting! Especially because I can get started right away, and I have seen a demand for them where I work. I feel that I am safe to say that my current boss will even create an extra LVN position at my clinic to hire me. And I do feel like the experience would be in my benefit since I have very little direct patient experience (I do have patient contact now but not enough to, say, put it on a resume and have it mean something significant). Most of the time the cost of school doesn't even concern me... I feel as though debt is only temporary and with hard work I can get through it. But then again, that mentality is probably what got me in the mess I'm already in in the first place. I'm really thinking it through and giving it time. I don't want to act impulsively on this important decision!
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
20K is about average for private for profit LVN school. I went to one years ago and paid off the loan with no problem, not all of them are the kiss of death so the take-home lesson is do your research!! Fun!! :)
The only thing I would add is that there really is not a huge demand for nurses in Southern California right now, and your options working as an LVN are narrower.
Maybe you are in an area that is bucking the trend. I only mention this because it would be awful to make plans based on an inaccurate estimation of the job market!
You've got great food for thought in the prior responses. Best wishes to you!!
In your area, the likelyhood of you getting into RN school for next semester is slim to none no matter what your GPA.. If you can get into LVN school this year at a NON profit school for wayy less than $20K do that. if not, continue working, paying off the debt and wait to see which school you get into first. I heard people in SO cal are on 2-3 year waitlists for RN school...
That is true! We have some great ADN schools in my area but they are competitive. Most are through lottery systems, some do it with point systems. It would be naive for me to say that I am starting RN next semester because I haven't even been accepted.
There are also several non-profits for LVN, but they are full time. For example, Long Beach City College has an 8 month LVN program (although my friend who goes there is taking about a year, I guess it includes a couple breaks), you're in school from 8-3 on a daily basis. It's only $5K but it's also pretty competitive and has some college level pre-reqs (not the same ones as nursing!!! I know one of them is Bio... among several others).
The way I see it is I can quit working, go the full time route, pay $5K and miss out on $30K a year from work (what I make now)... Or pay $20K for a 16 month LVN program while working at my medical facility, keeping my pay, benefits, seniority, etc. Also, the community college route would still set me back some time so that I can complete pre-reqs and get accepted. All in all, I think it would take me about the same time for me to complete either or. The difference is of course the money and keeping my sanity knowing that I can already get started!
Another option is for me to transfer to a night-time position at my job, which I have considered but haven't looked into. It's definetly doable for me!
I am 1 year away from being an FNP and started out as an LVN. I got into an LVN-RN program and then an ADN-MSN program. It did take longer this way but I was able to work as an LVN (3-11) while going to school for my RN. Its not easy but it is doable.
I am with the gal that said get rid on your car. If you are up to date on your payments I believe you can turn it in to the lien holder as long as you are not "upside down" with the car. I did this before graduate school with GM and they did not ding my credit.
You can pick up reliable used cars for cheap now, that would save you money on your insurance too. Also there are lots of options for credit card debt consolidation out there. To solve you immediate financial problems while in school you can get a PELL grant and also get a student loan. If you get the maximum student loan your residual will be about $1300 per month. You do not have to pay this back until after you graduate, it is guaranteed (no matter what your credit status) and the interest is low and does not start accruing until after graduation.
Good luck..I say go for it!
I truly wish I could turn in my car But I have done some research and I believe that would be considered a "voluntary repossession" and would appear on my credit as such. It has the same value as a regular repossession. Then there is also the possibility of me having to pay any difference of my loan of what the car is worth and what I still owe. Doesn't seem worth it!!! I'm going to try to see if someone in my family is willing to keep it and take over payments. It's really not an expensive car ($269 a month, I know people who pay soooooo much more) but my total car expenses take up about 25% of my monthly salary, and such a payment while I'm trying to pay off debt is really big to me. I could be making some serious contributions to my credit cards with an extra $500 a month.
I want to encourage you to follow your heart... :hug: I raised a family and had an entirely separate career before I decided to go back to school to become a nurse. What inspired me to make the career change was surviving cancer... I felt so driven. Ultimately, what makes you 'too old for change' is the individual's lack of desire to learn. I am 45 and feel like the same goof ball I've always been... I loved nursing school. It was hard, but SO worth it! I chose to get my LVN/LPN first because through the CCs around me, you end up with a lot more clinical time than those students who went straight for their RN...and that really interested me. I am now working as an LVN/LPN, and acquiring my BSN RN on-line (at my own pace) while my employer foots the bill. I'm really happy with my decision. Take a deep breath, start your schooling and see how everything falls into place... It'll be okay. Best wishes to you!!!
I'm glad you found something that worked for you! :)
I guess I'm reaching a stage where I am realizing that my goals wouldn't be as quickly attainable as I thought. I decided to become a nurse at 21, and now I'm 25 and have only gotten pre-reqs out of the way. I thought I would for sure be in nursing school by now (keep in mind, when I decided to switch careers to nursing, I was only a year away from completing a bachelor's in English so I decided to finish that first!) My debt situation has really set me back... I've worked part time at my clinic (very recently became full time) and most of the time held a second part time job as a tutor so that I could pay even the minimums , I also started a tiny photography business on the side to bring in more money, & for the past 4 years I have been very actively volunteering at my church, something that with all the pain in my heart I have decided to drop as soon as the year ends so I can focus on my career. I'm pretty much an "all over the place" person, and many times think with my heart and not my head.
It's crazy how writing it all down makes me think "wow, I worked that much and I'm still in debt!"... Debt is really hard to get out of. It's easier said than done. I have only recently been able to apply more of my money to my debt... By the end of this year I will have paid off 3 of my 8 cards... By mid-late next year, another 4!!! Then I'll be left only with my biggest credit card (which is at about $12K right now) and my car. Makes me regret my financial choices when I was younger verrrrrrrrrryyyy much
All I can say to myself is to focus... I know how much I want this and am willing to do whatever it takes!
Hey if you're in LA you can check out North Orange County ROP and Downey Adult School they both have LVN programs for under $10k. One is about $3k I think. Also doesn't Long Beach City College have an LVN program? If you are going to do LVN choose a school that is cheap. I've been thinking a lot about going to get my LVN first, Im in Orange County. However, in CA in general there aren't a lot of places hiring LVN's or ADN's. So, its a difficult decision. If you already had Physio done I would say apply to both LVN and RN programs and see what you get into.
Applying to both is a great idea. I guess i'm trying to get ahead of myself and i want to start LVN NOW lol... It's really tough to feel like i'm just waiting and waiting. I just have to really sit still and make sure I am making the best decision for me!
There never seems to be a "right time" to do anything. We can plan things, but things very rarely go according to plan.
Story of my life!!! Seriously!!!
Thanks for the advice. :) It's great!!!
Yes, the reason I considered LVN first is because my original plan was to pay off all my debt BEFORE I started an RN, BSN or MSN program (whichever I can get into). So I thought, why not work on my LVN as I pay off debt? I do expect to be done with my debt in about 2 years! So my idea is, by the time I'm done with my original plan of paying off debt, I'll have a head start and have my LVN. I'll still have my current job if worse comes to worse, but I'll also have my "foot in the door" at my medical facility to take up an LVN position when it became available.
Then, having an LVN would give me an advantage to RN program because I'll have experience & a better understanding of nursing and I'll have the option to work as a night/weekend/PT or FT nurse.... An option I don't really have as an administrative assistant, which is the only experience I have other than teaching/daycare, which limits my work hour options as well!
Before I considered LVN, my plan was to wait until 2013 to apply for RN school. :) I figured I could get something done in the meantime. I don't expect it to be easy. It's just that the school schedule that I looked into seems so perfect and it just feels like I should really take advantage of it.
I am also in a similar situation w/debt.. I have $17K in cc debt... total monthly for me to live is $1200. I just got accepted to RN school in Jan and I AM going! I can afford the minimums to keep my cc's at bay until Im done with school. I also have summers off from school so I am able to put a lil extra into the debt payment during those months. If I were to wipe my debt clean before I started school id be 3-4 years and I'm already 26...
Congrats on getting into RN school! I would do the same thing!
I have talked to so many and everyone gives me wonderful advice (even my boss!) but I figured I could get the best advice from people who have been to nursing school. 
claudia1986
38 Posts
LPN sounds tempting! Especially because I can get started right away, and I have seen a demand for them where I work. I feel that I am safe to say that my current boss will even create an extra LVN position at my clinic to hire me. And I do feel like the experience would be in my benefit since I have very little direct patient experience (I do have patient contact now but not enough to, say, put it on a resume and have it mean something significant). Most of the time the cost of school doesn't even concern me... I feel as though debt is only temporary and with hard work I can get through it. But then again, that mentality is probably what got me in the mess I'm already in in the first place. I'm really thinking it through and giving it time. I don't want to act impulsively on this important decision!