Need some encouragment...

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC, Rehab, Hospice, Endocrine.

Hello everyone. So, brief rundown. I've been trying to finish ANY LPN-RN program since I received my license in 2005. I changed programs, then moved to a different state. Then we moved again. I am now facing the reality that we are in fact going to move back to California in the semi-near future and cannot complete Excelsior's program. Back to square one. I am SO tired of trying and not getting into a program that I can make stick. I feel like I have tried so hard and given up so much time with my family and I am still not anywhere NEAR getting that degree. We want to have a family of our own, and I am so stressed out about that and work, and school. I have the opportunity to apply for a program where I work; it's actually a really good program. They pay tuition/books and your salary. You don't work while you go to school. After the program is done, you have a time commitment to the hospital. Sounds great, but I don't LOVE the hospital system I am in. Once I do that program, I am locked in; I have to go where ever in their system that they need an RN. I would be fine with that if it weren't for the fact that this particular hospital has a HUGE psychiatric population....something I don't ever want to do. I cannot move to a different state while I am in school, so we couldn't move until after the program was done. I can move to a different hospital in the system once I am done with school though. I guess I am just frustrated. If I do this program, I have to have worked here for at least a year. That will be in February. I can apply then, but it will be for the Fall semester since the Spring semester will be starting before I have reached my one year. So another year will go by before I get even an associate's degree.

I just don't know that I want to have to owe my hospital anything when I am done with school. Part of me knows it's not forever, but part of me cringes anyway. I don't like the idea of someone telling me where I can and cannot work. I don't want to wait anymore. I know that sounds bad; people all over the country have waited even longer than I have. It's just that it's that time in life for me. I feel like if we wait any longer to have kids we will be running into potential issues. I was supposed to have my degree by now.

ARGH! I don't know anymore. I am so discouraged and frustrated. With myself and this whole problem of waiting lists, alternate pre-req requirements, petitioning processes.

If you've read all of this, thanks. I just need some encouragement. I know I can do it. It's just a matter of getting it done.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Only got this far but I don't understand why you can't finish Excelsior?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC, Rehab, Hospice, Endocrine.

Excelsior is not recognized by the California Board of Registered Nurses. If I took that program, my license wouldn't transfer. So if we are going back to CA, then it is a waste of time to continue with Excelsior.

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They pay tuition/books and your salary. You don't work while you go to school. After the program is done, you have a time commitment to the hospital. Sounds great, but I don't LOVE the hospital system I am in......I just don't know that I want to have to owe my hospital anything when I am done with school. Part of me knows it's not forever, but part of me cringes anyway. I don't like the idea of someone telling me where I can and cannot work. I don't want to wait anymore.

Oh. My. God. You seriously need to quit complaining. You dont want to owe the hospital anything? Wow, the only offered to pay for your education while you do no work for them. So what if you don't "love" that particular hospital? There are far worse things, in the current economic conditions, than having a guaranteed job for X number of years after you graduate. If you want your education paid for, then you're going to have to suck it up ad put in some time. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

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Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.

I'm just wondering what the length of the contract is to work for that hospital when you are finished with school? It might be a good deal, school is so expensive! JMHO:spbox:

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Kylea- you're going to run into patients w/psych issues, no matter where you work. What area of nursing are you planning on working in after you receive your RN? Does that hospital system offer positions in your area of choice?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC, Rehab, Hospice, Endocrine.
Kylea- you're going to run into patients w/psych issues, no matter where you work. What area of nursing are you planning on working in after you receive your RN? Does that hospital system offer positions in your area of choice?

I understand I will be running into patients with psych issues; that is to be expected. What I do not want,is to work on a psych unit. The occasional pt with psych hx or current dx is fine, I just don't want all of them to by psych. I would prefer a year med/surg for the experience, and then OR or ICU. Of course it is still early for me to decide that. I may stick with med/surg. I worked it right after I got my LPN and liked it. As far as positions of choice; if I do this program through my workplace, it's needs of the facility. If they need someone in psych, then that is where I go. My understanding is that they will try to accommodate me, however if they don't have an opening where I want then I am stuck with what they have.

Honestly, it's just a matter of weighing the pro's and con's. The decision I make will end up being the right one for me; no matter what. It might take a while to realize it once the decision is made, but it will be.

I asked for some encouragement because I have been very down on myself lately. I feel like it's taking me forever to get where I want to go. Just needed a word or two from someone who understands; telling me I can get this done and move on to bigger and better things.

Thanks for the help from all. I was very stressed out when I started the OP and I feel much better now.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC, Rehab, Hospice, Endocrine.
I'm just wondering what the length of the contract is to work for that hospital when you are finished with school? It might be a good deal, school is so expensive! JMHO:spbox:

The length of the contract depends entirely upon what the facility spends to send me to school. If I qualify for the program (it's a long drawn out application process) then they pay for tuition, books, and my salary. I only have to work during 'significant breaks' during the school year. The school I am looking at would have my RN done in a full year (including the upcoming summer). I know someone who went for a BSN from her LPN with this program and she has a three year commitment. Not bad, but she didn't get the unit she wanted, in part because there were multiple new grads at the time she came back, so positions were limited.

I will probably be doing this program despite my reservations regarding placement after graduation. I have a meeting scheduled with the director of education at work next week to discuss the program and my choice of school in detail. I will make a decision after that.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC, Rehab, Hospice, Endocrine.
Oh. My. God. You seriously need to quit complaining. You dont want to owe the hospital anything? Wow, the only offered to pay for your education while you do no work for them. So what if you don't "love" that particular hospital? There are far worse things, in the current economic conditions, than having a guaranteed job for X number of years after you graduate. If you want your education paid for, then you're going to have to suck it up ad put in some time. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Okay, so first of all, thanks for the encouragement. I explained the situation as best I could without going into detail as far as exactly where I work. Yes, it's a good deal. My issue isn't what they pay for, or the fact that I 'owe' the hospital anything. I am even grateful for the guaranteed job after the fact. I understand that if they pay for my education I owe them something; I agree with it. (On a side note, I can pay for my education myself with student loans. I'm not scared of that. This program would be a very good one, but it's not my only option) My request centered around the fact that I was very down on myself because I have worked very hard to get my degree, and I haven't gotten that far.

No, I do not 'love' the unit I work on. We all know that the number one reason nurses burn out is that they don't like what they are doing and resent having to go to work. I have enough compassion for my patients that I don't want to subject them to that. If I do not like where I work now, how will I feel knowing that I have NO OPTION to go anywhere else for X number of years? Yeah, I might be able to suck it up and deal with it, but what if I don't? I do not want to be one of those nurses that hates her job and therefore the patients under her care.

With all that being said, I appreciate the fact that you felt the need to tell me to quit complaining. I was merely explaining the situation and my frustration with being so undecided on my future. Do I owe my hospital my time when I am unsure I like the job I have well enough to stay there, or do I pay for my education myself and take longer and more stressful, with no commitment? Not 'I have this great offer and I don't think I want to take it because I'm ungrateful'.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

Kylea- as long as you're moving to an area where there is a shortage of nurses, you have a huge chance of getting your pick- especially since you want to do med/surg. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Excelsior is not recognized by the California Board of Registered Nurses. If I took that program, my license wouldn't transfer. So if we are going back to CA, then it is a waste of time to continue with Excelsior.

Hi,

I'd snoop around in the distance learning section here because I thought people are getting licensed through an approved state with Excelsior and then transfer to a compact state. Could be wrong though but thought it might be an option. Good luck.

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Okay, so first of all, thanks for the encouragement. I explained the situation as best I could without going into detail as far as exactly where I work. Yes, it's a good deal. My issue isn't what they pay for, or the fact that I 'owe' the hospital anything. I am even grateful for the guaranteed job after the fact. I understand that if they pay for my education I owe them something; I agree with it.

Well, I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, then. You have to admit, though, that when you read your OP, it does kind of sound like the exact opposite of what you're saying here. If the issue is more that you're worried about not liking your job afterward, getting burnt out, and taking it out on your patients, well....Thats such an individual thing, that I don't really see how any of us can give you solid, informed advice, as your feelings when you go to work are something that only you can truly know and understand. Either way, I hope you make the decision thats best for you.

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