Need Help in Deciding Pls?

[NEPhillyMom]

Hi there everyone.. a little about me, Im a currently a sahm of a beautiful 5 yr old little girl.. Im 31, been out of school for a number of years and Im considering going to school to become a LPN.. I would love to go for the RN but since I really dont have the time for the prereq thats not an option for me right now.. I basically want to become an LPN and than go back to school part time when I have some experience.. I live in NE philly as you can tell from my name lol and I REALLY would love to know if anyone knows anything about Prism Career Insitute? what the program is like i.e the hours, days or anything that you would like to share about LPN school? I've been reading up on the forums and I really want to thank all of you for sharing your experiences, reading all of it honestly what has me thinking that this might be for me. I do have to admit that Im scared of getting into this only to find out its too much to handle or to actually graduate and find out its hard to find a good paying job.. ANY help would be so appreciated

[Jules A, MSN]

Hi and welcome,

I don't know that school but I think getting your LPN sounds like a great idea especially since your little one will be going to school full time soon. I'm in the Balto/DC area and around here the jobs are plentiful although to be fair most of the openings are in LTC so I'd make sure you think about that before spending the year in school. I had friends that started out in hospitals but again that isn't the norm. I'm guessing our pay rates would be about the same as your area and a few years ago when I graduated they were paying new grads in the $23 range with benefits and around $28 an hour for per diem. Good luck with whatever you decide. Jules

[NEPhillyMom]

Thanks for the reply Jules :) That pay sounds GREAT!! My daughter is actually in Kindergarten right now, soon to be in 1st (Ohh how the time flies).. I'm new to this whole thing so I'm wondering, what is it about LTC falcilities that people dont like? what are the benefits/differences between hospital and LTC? Thx again!!

[NEPhillyMom]

anyone? :)

[Jules A, MSN]

Heres a little bump for you. :)

There are some great LTC facilities and some pretty bad ones, imo. There are good and bad parts of anything and what suits one person wouldn't make another happy. If you think you would be ok doing LTC even if only as a stepping stone as you work toward becoming a RN I'd say go for it especially because there is such a need for kind, competent nurses in geriatrics.

Did you ever waitress? If you did you will understand this analogy and for those of you who didn't, please don't take this too seriously. To me its like comparing working at the summer crab house vs. working fine dining at a French restaurant. LTC being the crab house, you can make more money, joke around and really get to know your clients, get far dirtier and feel really exhausted when you get home. If hospital nursing is fine dining it might sound more sophisticated when you tell people where you work, most days you won't be running around like an idiot, you will have fewer fewer "tables" and get to do more interesting skills.