Hello, I'm interested in RN/LPN, however I am currently a hairdresser with no experience in nursing. I am tired of the unsure paychecks and no benefits/retirement plan that my job has. I was looking into RN/LPN as an alternative because I know the benefits and job demand that comes with nursing. I guess my question is I am about to enroll in a community college nearby and they offer both programs RN and LPN but the RN program is about a 3 year waiting list. I have thought about getting LPN certifiacte with being done alot sooner. I am just curious what kind of jobs come with LPN's. I know I don't want to work in a nursing home, my husband's job requires long hours so working in a hospital or nursing home would probably not work just because of the 2nd and 3rd shifts and weekend hours, with having small children, I would prefer a doctor's office. Do most doctor's offices hire LPN's or do they just use RN's. Also what kind of money and benefits come with LPN's in doctor offices. Sorry if I have alot of questions just new to all this and want to make sure I pick the right career this time. I know it varies among areas I live in Ohio near the Defiance, Wauseon, Napoleon, Toldeo area. Also I had heard from a few of my friends that are RN's, that they are eventaully going to do away with LPN's? Has anyone else heard this, does tha mean in hospitals or everywhere? Thanks for any help.
Thanks for all of your inputs, I really need to sit and do some thinking and make sure this is the right career path for me! This is a great forum and it helped me to realize how much nursing school requires from one person and that you really need to be in it 100% or not at all, I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of commitment yet. I may stick to hair for now and I always have a business admin. degree to fall back on. Thanks again for your honest opinions!!!!
To answer your LPN vs RN question, I would say...it depends. Going the LPN route first can get you educated and in the job market quicker. You can then go into a LPN-to-RN bridge program. That's what my mother did. She didn't *have* three years to wait for her name to come up to *start* a program. what she had was 5 kids under 14 and an unreliable husband. She was finished in about a year and worked every shift possible. When my father left her 4 years later she was able to support her family(barely) which was good because Dad never paid a dime in child support. She went back to school the year I graduated with my BS and she worked as an RN until she retired at 62.
Nursing is a very difficult profession, but very rewarding. Some people say it is a calling, but I don't agree. I am a very pragmatic person--there's not a romantic bone in my body. I sat down and figured out what kind of life I wanted to live, then what kind of work I could do that would provide me that life. Back in1970s Alabama jobs were sorta limited for women--secretary, hairdresser, teacher, nurse. I couldn't type, I didn't like school, and I'm terrible with hair. Nursing it is. I figured I'd always have a job and I'd be able to support myself. Unlike a lot of my friends(remember, this was 1974) I had no intention of getting my MRS. Fortunately, I fell in love with nursing, but it took well over a year.
It sounds like you might be at a crossroads and looking for something different. I'd say get all the information you can. Find out what it will cost. Play some "what if" games. You may find once you get into the program that the work is not what you thought it was. Either you'll like it or you won't, but you probably don't have enough information right now to form a decision. If you think you really do want to be a nurse, then go for it. If you find you don't like it after all, then you stop. Simple as that. If you love it, then you continue, as far as you want to go. That's the great thing about nursing--you can do a lot of different things.
I also come from the northwest ohio area (Archbold) and I know the school that you are talking about, Northwest State Community College. It is along wait...2 year clinical wait for RN a little shorter for LPN but they are instituting new testing that you have to pass(NLN PAX). Both programs are very hard. Northwest has a very high NCLEX pass rate, because they put their students through the ringer before they graduate.
If you are not interested in nursing because of the work, it will be very hard to complete your classes and be prepared, you will compete for clinical seats with people who have wanted to do this all their lives, myself included. Make sure that this is what you want, because it will consume your life for the next few years. Good Luck
All great advice. I am happy to read posts in refrence to having to work hard and sacrafice while in Nursing school because it isn't easy. My sister is a witness to that becasue she works extremely hard to achieve great grades and works on weekends (not every weekend).
Unfortunate, I know a classmates who believe they can still live an "active" life (yes, going out on weekdays and postphoning studying until Monday for Tuesday exams), work full-time, and be successful in NS. Unbelievable.
I only hope others whom are interested in NS do their research, shadow, become a CNA (if desired), and understand the reality of NS and Nursing itself. This is not to undermine/discredit the reasons stated by the OP who I hope enjoys NS and becomes a successful Nurse. Best wishes.
I'm really glad I found this site, I knew that nursing would be hard and that NWSCC is a tough college but I always thought as long as I put my mind to it and really really want it, it's within my reach. However I just don't know if I really really want it. Like the above poster said I will be competing with others for clinicals that have been waiting a long time and wanting it really bad! I just don't think I'm one of those people. I give all you nurses and student nurses kuddos it sounds like a extremely hard and devoting career and I know not everyone could do what you guys do, you probably don't get the credit you deserve! If it weren't for this site, I probably would have went into the nursing program without fully understanding what's expected out of me and would probably have ended up not liking it. Nursing sounds very rewarding I just don't know if I could do what you guys do. I have decided to stick to what I know, doing hair and after my kids are in school all day I will pick up a few more days and go from there. Good luck to all you nurses and student nurses out there...keep doing what you do best:yeah:!
I hope my post did not discourage you because I would love for you to at least give it a try via actually speaking with CNA's (just to get the basics), shawdowing an RN or NP. I have NO, and I mean NO health care experience. I decided to try CNA and I actually enjoyed clinicals. Yes, clinical is totally different from actual nursing however, it provided me an opportunity to gain a tad bit of health care experience.
Presently, I'm in A & P 1 and applied to the CC nursing program. I'm praying I get in. So, just physically give it a try because with that, no one can say you didn't try. Always, remember, those who are not vested in your best interest (or just cantankerous) will be discouraging.
No you didn't discourage me, I was really on the fence with this nursing thing to begin with and after doing alot of research and talking with people, some my RN friends, I just came to the conclusion that it's really not what I want to do. I think with me, I just get bored very easily and start thinking of new careers after 5 years and I really just need to focus on what I love doing and even with all the bulls****, it is hair. I guess I just needed to hear and see from others that every career path has BS and in the end if you like getting up every morning to go to work than the money isn't always the top priority. There is some bad that comes with my job but there is also alot of good, the flexability with having 2 young children and a husband with long hours really can't be iqnored, I can pretty much come and go as I please, with nursing I don't think I could do that. You nurses probably feel the same way with your job, there is bad, but also alot of good and as long as the good outweighs the bad, than your lucky! I just don't think I can give up what I :redbeathe doing, even for more money. Hearing all you nurses talk about the stuff you get excited about made me realize what I get excited about. Thanks again.
Thanks for posting again. I wish you all the best and most importanly, continue to exlpore and enjoy what you love doing. My family too owned a hair salon....so, I do understand. :)
1. you work in a profession that provides no benefits and an unstead income based on the number of clients you book
2. you want to change to a stable profession
3. you have a husband who works long hours and have a need for regular hours
4. you are frustrated with the need to be overly client-friendly to maintain your clients and income
5. you have heard that nursing is a stable, well paid profession.
What I did not hear was an interest in nursing. I dispute the statement by another that it is just a job. Given the fact we have a higher on the job injury rate, are exposed to disease, must clean up the most basic of our patient's bodily functions, are on our feet for 8-12 hrs a day, must work odd shifts, and must work with other hospital employees and physicians, one must enjoy the work or you will not be a nurse for long.
Another thing to consider: nursing is a science, requires a science background, and an ability to critically think. Many enter nursing school but not all graduate.
There are many other jobs and training programs that could provide similar benefits and a steady paycheck--many of which can be located at a trade or adult school. You may want to talk to a employment counselor; someone who has no hidden agenda and does not receive a commission when you sign up for their program.
Some look at nursing as a quick fix to their employment and income issues. However, they may not understand the rigors of nursing school and the demands of the profession.
Wanting job security (though it's dwindling), decent pay, benefits, and set hours are all fine reasons to go into nursing. I went into nursing because I realized that in only a year (Acc BSN) I would have all of these things as I support myself through grad school in clinical psychology. I am very satisfied with my job, and my manager is beyond satisfied with my performance.. I am the only part time employee who she is nagging to go FT. OP don't let anyone else scrutinize your intentions..best of luck..oh but fair warning in nursing you will still have to kiss ass! Nursing is all about ass..either you are kissing someone's, saving someone's, or covering your own!
sasha0820
6 Posts
Thanks for all of your inputs, I really need to sit and do some thinking and make sure this is the right career path for me! This is a great forum and it helped me to realize how much nursing school requires from one person and that you really need to be in it 100% or not at all, I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of commitment yet. I may stick to hair for now and I always have a business admin. degree to fall back on. Thanks again for your honest opinions!!!!