need help desiding!

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Hi everyone! I am new here so please bear with me!

Here's my story:

I was planning on attending the LPN program at the vo tech next year which would bring me into 2010 graduation and getting off to work. We found out last month that my husband will be losing his job the end of Aug (I have been a stay at home mom for 7 years). We are getting severance and have a 401k in case of emergency but I have been pounding the pavement looking for a job hopefully something with medical.

I decided that since I definetly want to go into nursing that I should try and focus on something in the medical field and maybe even get something with tuition reimbursment since the LPN program doesnt start till next year anyway. SO i started looking into CNA...I can take the CNA course in Sept and hopefully be working by Dec.

While in my journey of finding a CNA course I stumbled upon these "private schools" that offer these programs(LPN) like every 3 months and are only 12 months compared to 13 or 15 months and no pre-req's. They are EXTREMLY expensive(like $22,000 i am hearing) but I would also benefit from different grants because of my husband being unemployed. I have also been looking for scholarships I maybe entitled to. So with that I was thinking if I could either get into the Sept prgm (LPN) and by nov/dec of 2009 be off and working as an LPN or I could stick it out and become a CNA for now and hopefully there not be a waiting list for the Vo tech LPN prgm but then not be working as an LPN until 2010 which would also be the year my youngest starts kindergarten.(which was my game plan all along until my husband lost his job)

So I guess my question is would it be worth it to wait? I am afraid there will be a waiting list for Vo tech and I dont know how long after you apply do they let you know if you got in. Should I just put out a CRAZY amt of money just to be a year ahead of the game? I know eventually it will pay off and so could me bringing home good money and benefits when we need it the most.

I just need to hear it from a few people... go for it or wait. I am figuring with grants alone I would still be paying at least 15k. If I wait and CAN get into Vo tech thats like 5k. Also I was thinking tuition reimb. but I would NEVER be able to juggle full time work, LPN school, and my kids and house! I am afraid if I dont do it now then it will never happen because I'll get comfortable at a "job" and wouldn't want to give it up to go back to school.

Any information would really help my TWIRLING brain!! :confused:

Thank you all!!

Tara

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Hi Tara,

I would look into the private school to see if you can get scholarship money etc. because that might be a good way to get started early. The down side other than the money of course is that you won't have your pre-reqs done in case you want to go for your RN and will probably end up having to retake classes like A&P that you got in LPN school. Can your husband still work even though he is getting severence pay? That would be my suggestion, get him back to work at something immediately while you get you started on school. :) Good luck!

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Thanks Jules,

My husband has been looking but hasn't gotten hired yet. He is very optimistic that he will find something within the next 2 months. I talked with a friend that has several different degrees and she doesnt think I should go with Lincoln tech for several reasons and she really made alot of sense. One being exactly what you said about pre-req's. I think I am just going to take the CNA course for now and still apply for LPN or maybe even look into pre-req's for RN. Thanks for replying!! :D

Tara

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Specializes in Corrections & Developmental Disabilities.

Go for the private program. It will more than pay for itself within a matter of months. Explore all your financial aid options(grants, loans, vocational rehab$$, etc) to help you get through the school year. There are many opportunities for bridging to RN if you decide to later but you will already be a nurse, gaining experience and earning(good) money. Without a waiting list, you can be finished before you would have even started elsewhere. There is never really a good time to go to school as an adult, so the sooner the better, then on with life.

Just my two cents

I wish you the best on your journey:nuke:

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