??? for all nurses

in the past couple of days i've read a lot of different threads/comments from you all. i'm seriously considering a major career change (single mom, little college, looking at becoming a lpn). i've heard a lot of positive and negative responses about nursing in general. my question for you is: is it worth it. is it worth the time, frustration, emotional stress, time away from family/kids, financial contraints of college, etc. i'm presently working as a temp in the business field (have been an office manager, secretary, property manager, etc.) and am looking to do something that is worthwhile but that also pays decent (i'm working two jobs now just to make ends meet). i also realize that nursing school is very time consuming and it will be difficult. once i'm done with college, will the work be exhausting or will my life get back to normal (be able to have quiet evening at home, spend time with my family/kids)? lastly, i have an appointment with a nursing counselor at an area medical college to discuss everything on thursday but if any of you could answer this i'd greatly appreciate it. this is my understanding, please correct me if i'm wrong, to become a lpn you go through 2 years of college (associate degree) and then once that is done you take the rn test and if passed become an rn????

thanks in advance to all who respond!!!

god bless

2 years for rn. lpn is different than rn. pm me (private message). i am in dayton, too.

if it wasnt worth it........... then why would we do it?? nurses are people, ok we are people people and some say we are nurses because we have a deep need to be be needed.. does that make sense? But for me the bottom line is that I really cant imagine doing anything else. nothing comes close to providing the joy, frustration, anger and yes stress that being a nurse does... but there nothing else I would do!!

good luck in joining us in the frustrating world of nurses!!

Karen

in the past couple of days i've read a lot of different threads/comments from you all. i'm seriously considering a major career change (single mom, little college, looking at becoming a lpn). i've heard a lot of positive and negative responses about nursing in general. my question for you is: is it worth it. is it worth the time, frustration, emotional stress, time away from family/kids, financial contraints of college, etc. i'm presently working as a temp in the business field (have been an office manager, secretary, property manager, etc.) and am looking to do something that is worthwhile but that also pays decent (i'm working two jobs now just to make ends meet). i also realize that nursing school is very time consuming and it will be difficult. once i'm done with college, will the work be exhausting or will my life get back to normal (be able to have quiet evening at home, spend time with my family/kids)? lastly, i have an appointment with a nursing counselor at an area medical college to discuss everything on thursday but if any of you could answer this i'd greatly appreciate it. this is my understanding, please correct me if i'm wrong, to become a lpn you go through 2 years of college (associate degree) and then once that is done you take the rn test and if passed become an rn????

thanks in advance to all who respond!!!

god bless

yes, it is worth it! been doing this for many years and am also a single parent. it was a sacrifice for me and the kids when i went back to school, but i have never regretted my decision and life is much better today for me and the kids because of the sacrifice. just do it!

Debbie,

I have three young children, went through an associate's degree program for my RN. It was difficult but now that I am a nurse it is so worth it. I was an office manager before and was away from my kids 5 days a week, now I work 3 twelve hour shifts and spend the rest of the time with my kids. My only advise is to get your RN not your LPN. LPN's work their buts off for way less the pay.

Thanks for your replies. They are very encouraging!!! I'm really starting to get excited. I hope everything work out for me. If it does I'll be starting in the fall, do any of you have any suggestions for me to get better prepared to start college again??? I thought I might go ahead and start learning the bones and muscles of the body, just to get a jump on some of the learning.

Deb, go for it!

You will not find another job field that is as friendly to families as nursing is. There is a huge variety of shifts available and you will always be able to find something to match what you need in your life.

The pay is decent, not as much as some jobs but certainly enough to make a living and have some extras.

If you get bored in one area, you simply find something else to do within the field of nursing...and you get to keep the benefit of your years of experience towards your salary.

I love nursing and I'm glad I have been able to spend my career doing a job that makes a difference in this world...small tho it may be...it is a difference.

I can't think of anything that I would rather do than be a nurse...I love what I do and taking care of people. I have been doing this for over 25 years and wouldn't do anything else. I was an LPN for 8 years before I went back to school but I don't regret my decision in any way. Good luck with your endeavor