TinaCMT

Hi! I had applied for the LPN class in Martinsburg but unfortunately did not pass it (math did me in), so now I'm planning on working until I can get the chance to apply again. Right now I have applied for a couple of positions at the Arc of Washington County for an overnight position. The lady I have talked to has actually checked to make sure I can get the schedule I will need (she called the lady who is needing to work less and asked if she can come in at 5:30 to relieve me because I'm unable to work until 8 am) and it sounds as if she is really wanting to hire me. I have no experience. The only medical type of work I have done is medical transcribing from home. She is also waiting until the week after next to interview me because my kids are on spring break next week and I told her that I couldn't come in until then. So, it seems as though she is very flexible, but I'm wondering why. I wonder if this is a position she just can't seem to fill because no one wants it, and why? The way I understand it is that it is a boy/man with autism who gets confused at night and so he needs someone there to make sure he doesn't hurt himself or try to leave at night. I have many many questions about overnight homecare and would love to talk to some people about this who has done it or is doing it, esp anyone who currently works for the Arc of Washington County. If you do, please reply to this post or email me privately. What's it like working nights by yourself (I'm assuming I'll be by myself)? This is an awake overnight position. Again, this is something I'm assuming because I had originally applied for another homecare location but she said that she couldn't change the schedule on that one, but did have one that she might be able to change, so that is the one I might end up doing. Anyway, any replies would be great!! Thanks! Tina

Hi! I just finished taking my NET last night and I hope to pass and then get through the interview process, although I'm not expecting to (had a lot of trouble with math). I'm currently a medical transcriptionist/editor and I'm ready to move on, whether I get in school or not. There are a couple of positions for the Arc of Washington County (which is in MD) that I'd like to apply for and I'm wondering if there is anyone here who works for them and can give me some insight into what its like. My MIL just started an LPN position with them working in a home with (I believe its 4) other LPNs and she is loving it so far, but she has only just started. (Also, there are only 8 patients in one house, so I think it's 8:4) I only have MT/editing experience but like I said, I want to move on and gain some experience in taking care of patients instead of typing reports about them. What are my chances of getting one of these jobs without any experience? The post in the paper says that two week training is required (my MIL had to do it as well even though she already went to school) and it doesn't say past experience is required. Yesterday I found this ad from the Arc that says: Supports for adults with mild MR, autism or TBI $9.50 to $12 per hour. Open positions are primarily sleepovers, or 2nd & 3rd shifts. I'm wondering if this would be a position where I would have to work alone, or if it would be with another person. Also, I wonder if they do training overnight as well. I can find a care provider for my son, but really can't afford it until I start working, so I'd rather have training at night. Anyway, if there is anyone who works, or has worked, for this company and can answer some of my curious questions I would really appreciate it. I'm also interested in this company once I get through LPN school, so it's not going to be just a temporary thing to get me through school - it would be a long term thing. Thanks!! Tina

I've been going over the LPN review book but a lot of it just seems really really boring and hard. I'm a better learner when it's from a live person and hands on. I've been medical transcribing for four years and have been editing for almost a year now (I edit automatic speech recognition reports typed by the computer) and I feel like I've just been going through the motions. I'm really tired of doing it and find myself doing less and less each day. Smilin, I've been working for Medquist (which I'm sure you've heard of) all these years and they have changed everything, NOT for the better. I have three kids and two of them are in school and my son will hopefully be in school this fall (his birthday falls 7 days after the cut-off date of turning 5, so he'll have to be tested). I am a homebody but I'm also ready to get out there and start interacting with other people and making more money! This test is really important to me. The friend that I have that is in the class now said that when she took the test the whole room was filled. I know there are only 40 openings for the class and I just feel that I have very low odds of actually getting in. When I took my GED I was sure that I failed the math (which BTW, Ranch Girl, my weak parts with Math is EVERYTHING! Lol). When I got my results I was shocked and I cried the whole way to picking up my son from daycare because I knew the first hurtle was over. I'm horrible at test taking. I get nervous having to be around all those people and I go completely blank. I know I need to calm down and just breathe but that just seems to make it worse. Like I said before, the fact that I now know that the course will be paid for just adds more stress to me and makes me even more nervous. I really wasn't all that nervous until he told me that. I kind-of wish that he would have waited to tell me until after the testing! I'm just going to spend the next 6 days studying as much as possible and hope for the best. If I'm supposed to get in I will; if not, then I'll try again next year!! Is there anyone who took the GED and then the NET?? Did you think they were the same as far as being hard?? Was one worse than the other? BTW, if I actually do get into the class I do plan on getting math tutoring when the math portion of the class comes up. Plus, my friend is really good at helping me understand the steps and concepts of math. My biggest problem with math is remembering the steps to get the answer. Once I remember the steps I can usually do it, but remembering those steps is really hard because I find math so intimidating and hard. Thank you all for the support!!! I really do appreciate it very much and I hope to become a long time participating member of this site. Thanks!!! Tina :)

Thank you both for the replies! Carolinapooh, you actually brought tears to my eyes! Lol. Thank you so much for the vote of confidence!! The part that scares me the most is the math. That was my lowest score on my GED. I got a 420 and I had to have a 410 in order to pass that part. My percentile ranks in social studies, science, and language arts/reading was 58-66, and my percentile rank in math was 21. Thats a huge difference and I'm afraid that the math is what will hold me back from passing. I'm taking the NET on the 23rd and the fact that that is the last month to take it for the next school year, and the fact that you only get one chance at it, scares the crap out of me! I wasn't pressured before, but now that I know I'll actually have the money for the course, I'm really really stressed out over it.

Hi! My LPN pre-admission test is next Thursday and I'm really worried about it. In January I got the results of my GED test and I passed with a 2490. A 2500 would have made me eligible for scholarships, but oh well. Here is my worry..... All through my childhood and teen years I felt like I just couldn't pass no matter what I did, but I also feel now that maybe I didn't put all the effort I could have in to it. I'm worried now that I'm not going to pass this pre-admission test since it is based on a nationwide percentage. I mean, there are many many more people out there that are smarter than me! Who wouldn't be worried right? I'm also worried that if I actually do pass it and get into the class (there are only 40 openings for the year) that I will flunk out like so many other people I have heard of. One of my good friends is in the LPN class right now and passing without a problem but has many friends who have failed out or quit because of the stress or other varies problems. Just two weeks ago I kept telling myself that if I pass I pass, and if I don't I don't. NO big deal since I wasn't totally sure what I was going to do if I don't get the Fafsa grant and maybe a student loan to help with childcare. Then last weekend my FIL told me that him and my MIL are going to give me the money to pay for the full course. So, now I'm thinking, OMG I HAVE to pass!!! I do have the LPN Pre-Entrance Exam book and have looked it over and have done most of the practice tests in it, but I haven't been able to get my score up (I've been averaging half wrong/half right). I'm sort-of starting to freak out a little bit. So, here I am. I just wanted to tell someone how I feel and I'm also hoping to get some advice. How did you do on your exam? What did you do to get ready for it? What part did you have the most trouble with? BTW, I'm currently working as a medical transcriptionist and most people that I tell about me trying for this class says I have a leg up, I know that I don't. I feel like I'm just starting in the medical world with no knowledge at all!!! Although I do know that it might help in some situations, but not much (ex: I do have knowledge on how to break down words and find the meaning, which my friend that is currently in the class says will help greatly). Thanks for reading and for any replies!!! Tina

I don't understand how they would get away with this anyways because don't all nurses get pop drug tested all the time?? BTW, I'm hoping to go to LPN school next year so I try to come here once in a while and just read up on things. My friend is in the LPN program now and she said they have already had 3 pop drug tests (since July), and we assumed they would do that once your working too.

I've never gotten a loan before or even been pulled over for a ticket, let alone convicted of a crime lol. So, I guess I would qualify. If I qualify for the full grant, would I still be able to apply for the Stafford loan? I know that the full grant would pay for the program and books but I will still need help with uniforms, other supplies, food, daycare, etc. Also, do you know if I would happen to be denied for the Stafford loan would it drop my credit score? I worried about that too. The financial aide at the school was gone for a long time (I think he went to Iraq and was just gone for a while) and so he told me he has been out of the loop for a while and things have changed and that he would try and help me but he really didn't seem to know much. I hate waiting until January to find out anything, but I guess that is what I'll have to do (that is when I can finally apply for the Fafsa grant). Thanks for all the encouraging info!! It does make me feel a lot better!

I currently work from home for a medical transcription program and I know they would not help me with any LPN program because they know they will lose me as an MT. I just got off the phone with the education department from a local hospital and she said that I have to be an employee in order to get any assistance. I have applied with several positions at that hospital but haven't heard anything back yet. I've also applied for several positions at two other local hospitals but still haven't heard anything from them either. I will check out the link that you gave (thank you) and hopefully find something. I also called my MIL and asked if she had already mailed out that application and she said no, so I asked her if we could just white-out what she filled in and then copy that application so we'll have several copies. She said we could, and I'm going to be getting the book from her tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to fill out as many applications as my little hands can handle and get something. Thanks for responding!!

I am currently trying to get as much info as I can about grants and loans. I'm pretty sure that I will not be able to get a loan due to credit problems and not having a co-signer. I will be applying for the Fafsa grant in Jan. so that I can hopefully go to LPN school but will need more help for other expenses such as supplies, books, daycare, food, etc. I know that when you apply for the Fafsa grant it automatically applies for two other federal grants and also for federal student loans. What I'm wondering about is other federal grants that don't have anything to do with school. When I do a search online about grants all I get are the crap sites that want you to pay for books or ebooks. I do not have 1 cent extra to be able to buy info on grants. My mother-in-law bought a book on grants but only received one application and I haven't gotten a chance to look at this book. She also did not have the sense to copy the application before she filled it out and applied for one of the loans in the book. Does anyone know or has anyone applied for a grant? Is there somewhere that I can go or call to get free applications or free info about where to apply? I figure if I can't get a student loan I will just apply for as many grants as possible until I get one (they say your bound to get approval for at least one if applying for several).

Hi! I'm also hoping to go to LPN school in July and I have all these questions in my mind also. I'm hoping to get a Fafsa grant but I'm also hoping to get a student loan or something to get me through the year. The program is 12 months long and I need to be able to pay for daycare for one child and before and after care for two children. I figure if I can't get a loan or something I'll just wait for the school year 2006/2007 to go to the program because my son will start kindergarden that year and I won't have to worry about daycare, just before and after care. I'm not willing to ask anyone to co-sign for me and my husband is not willing to take the risk of helping with me getting a loan. He knows he will have to help me with taking care of the kids in the morning and evening, but he can't help me with my money woes. We keep our finances separate and he's a tight a**. I know it's weird, and sounds bad to some people, but I actually like it better that way. I figure he'll regret it when I'm making $5 to $10 more than he does an hour!! Lol. Anyway, can anyone tell me how hard it is to get a student loan? My credit is not the best either but with my Tech school I am able to double enroll with another college that is near by that does school loans. I'm wondering how hard it will be to get a student loan from them. Also, what effect does it have on my credit to apply for these student loans? Do they make the credit score decrease like when you apply for a regular credit card or a store credit card and get denied???

Oh no, I won't be buying anything. Freecycle.com is a yahoo message group where you can choose your area and people on the board post stuff they want to give away and you can also ask for something that someone might want to give away, so I'm hoping someone will just have the book and will want to donate it to me. There was a reply to my request saying she had a NET testing guide which is what she used last year for her preparation and I'm probably going to get that. I'll probably do fine but considering that I have to pay for this test I want to make sure I'm going to pass. I'm not the best in math either and I haven't been in school since I took my course for MT. Thanks! T

Thank you all for your great replies. I really appreciate them. Matt, I'll definitely check out that link. I'm also looking for a book that is called "Review Guide for Lpn/Lvn Pre-Entrance Exam". I posted a request for this book on my local Freecycle.com boards and I'm hoping someone there will have one that their done with and will want to pass on. I figure I have at least a few months just to review so that I will feel better about it. I'm actually taking my GED test in Dec and should pass with no problem (I passed the practice test in the high percentage range) and then in Jan they begin testing for the nursing class of 2006/2007. They told me I can take it anywhere from Jan to March but March will be the last test available. Thanks again!

Hi! My name is Tina and I just found this great forum this morning. I am currently working at home as a Medical Transcriptionist. I recently got promoted and am now editing voice recognition dictations, which essentially just means that the computer types the report and I edit it. Anyway, I've been an MT for almost five years now and now that my kids are all going to be in school and with all the changes in the MT business I have decided to finally go to LPN school. I've been thinking about it for a very long time now and I know its going to be extremely hard. I'm wondering if there is anything that I can do to get a head start. I won't even be able to test to see if I qualify for the class until March of 2006 and then if I get in, the class does not start until July of 2006. Everyone that I talk to keeps telling me that I will be fine, that I already have a head start because of my MT background, but I don't feel that. I feel like I really have not learned much over the past five years. Yes, I know what bid, prn, qhs, gerd, etc, etc, etc, means, but that does not mean that I will be a good student. I would really like to spend these next few months studying and getting ahead in my LPN studies. I'm also scared to death. I'm scared that I won't even pass the pre-admissions test. Does anyone know what this test is like? Can you give me an idea of what all it entails? I'm also scared that if I am actually lucky enough to get into the class what if I have trouble remembering everything, or what if I do fine on written studies but crash on the clinicals or vice versa?? I'm scared to death of failing and having to take the class all over again. Everyone that I talk to says "oh, you'll do great. You already have medical terminology experience. You'll pass without a hitch!!" Well, what are they going to say if I fail. Are they going to look at me like I'm stupid?? Anyway, the point of this post was to introduce myself and to get some advice. Do you think it would be a good idea for me to review papers that my friend who is currently in the LPN course has? Would that help me or hurt me? Either way, thank you for taking the time to read this and please don't think I'm crazy, I just have a lot of stuff running through my mind right now and I'm very excited about possibly starting the second part of my life! T