New grad (Aug 09) working 2 jobs, keep both, keep 1 and back to school for RN??

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Hello,

I am retired military, working 2 jobs, I'm doing this until after christmas holidays are gone, then I need to decide to keep working both jobs, keep one job fulltime or work one job PT and go back to get my RN?

The first job I work as a LPN on med/surg floor civilian medical center as a primary nurse (pass meds, daily assessments, 6-7 patient load) very, very fast paced, hard to keep up, but challenging and rewarding, pays just over $20 with night diff, very flexible hours (PRN) with the possibility of a FT posn. I like working there, but I have no benefits or retirement (get those from being retired military).

My other job is at the VA as an LPN on a medical floor, I can pass meds, but more often than not work as a CNA doing patient care. LPN's are not on the same pay scale, benefit plan as Nurses, we are on the related medical fields GS pay scale, RT, CNA, etc. I'm not liking the VA, it is easy work, sometimes I'm challenged passing meds to 24 patients, when I'm med nurse, otherwise I'm bored out of my mind as a CNA/LPN. LPN's are basically aides that can pass meds here. My night shift pay comes out to about $2 an hour less than my civilian job, but I get retirement with the VA and guaranteed raises.

What I'm thinking right now is quit the VA, go back to school and get my RN, keep working PRN at the civilian hospital. I could stay at the VA instead, but 5 eight hour days doesn't leave alot of room to go to school and they are not very flexible at the VA. I missed an EKG class that my other hospital was going to pay for due to inflexibility in my schedule, as I was told by my VA boss, "an LPN at the VA I didn't need to know how to read an EKG, that was for nurses therefore we won't allow your day off to fall the night before your class" :angryfire

What do you all think? Keep both jobs, one for the experience, one for the retirement or quit one and go back to school for my RN? I like the vets (I am one), but hate the management at the VA.

Tony in TN

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

If your going back for your RN I'd ditch the full time job unless they pay for schooling, I'd heard the VA is good about that but I don't know it to be true. Investigate before you leave.

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If your going back for your RN I'd ditch the full time job unless they pay for schooling, I'd heard the VA is good about that but I don't know it to be true. Investigate before you leave.

Yes, once you have a year with the VA, you apply for it and if you are accepted, not only is there a program that pays for your school costs, but there is a program that will pay your salary as well. That is a very attractive feature of employment here, future advancement. Acceptance into the program is not guaranteed. And I still need to complete 3 - 5 prerequisite classes (depending on school applying for), and I need to finish 3 classes to get my BA in History (qualifies me to apply for 2nd degree BSN program). So I have minimum 3 classes and possibly 8 classes to finish, don't know if I can get those done while working so many hours.

I do have the remaining 3 years of my GI bill & Army college fund, to go to school full time, which will pay me approx $1600 monthly tax free. I could go to school full time, work PRN (may get hours, may not....got put on call last night). Part of me doesn't want to give up the guaranteed hours and paycheck of the VA, but I don't want to stay at the LPN level, I need to move up the ladder (getting old, 43 yo).

Thanks for the input. Most everyone that I've ever heard from wants to work at the VA, mainly due to the benefits, etc. I like the vets, but the particular manager I have is a real butt and I'm not learning a whole lot working as a CNA/LPN on the night shift.

Tony

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Well you talked me out of working at the VA as an LPN like I had thought about! LOL But then again its like in the militery the LPN's are enlisted personel and the RNs are Officers!

I say its hard to say what you should do. Only you know what will fit into your lifestyle and choices. Good luck on whatever you decide! But if an RN is what you desire than go for it!

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