cduenes41

Sounds about right. Hope you find something you love or at least enjoy doing.

GAREAT article! Thank you.

Update: Merced does have a 1 1/2 to 2 year waiting list for their LVN program, so I was told by one of the counselors to just go for the RN program, since it goes by lottery and merit. I started my prerequisites in September, and I am scheduled to graduate with my RN degree in 2022. At around 5k, Merced has the cheapest nursing programs in the area.

I agree with needlesmcgee. You are, however, wise to go through a registry. They can usually get you more money than being hired on directly by a facility, you can make your own hours, and if you find yourself working in a facility you don't like, you can request a different assignment. I would avoid skilled nursing facilities like the plague, as they ARE indeed the plague of the medical profession.

Very well said, Orion81.

I know this is an older post but one suggestion for new grads is to work the NOC shift initially, if possible. Less cattiness, slower pace, and less chaos. This type of flexibility is one of the main reasons I became a CNA. That, and the demand for hiring CNAs is constant. The program (depending on what school you attend) pays for itself the first month of working. All the bestest!

What an excellent reply, Angelkissed! Loving the positivity and results-based suggestions. I might take a few of them. :-)

No. I'm not. And I know the ramifications of being an RN with the 30 option versus having an ADN through a "traditional" program or BSN or MSN. Your options may be limited, but there's no way you cannot find a job after completing an RN program and obtaining your license. Perhaps the OP has reached decision, perhaps not. Perhaps she put it on hold. Perhaps she abandoned the idea. Some people become nurses and leave the professional altogether after realizing it's not for them, not liking the nursing culture, or burnout.

Pretty big pool out there and there's been a serious nursing shortage for decades. An RN is an RN is an RN...

Thanks for the comment. I'm not one to go into debt, and there are varying opinions on what one considers affordable. For now, my plan remains the same. The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians is very detailed on its criteria no matter which part of California you live in, and the qualifications that are required to challenge the LVN board are quite clear. That is my plan for now. But, as much in life, it is subject to change. My current employer does offer scholarships, and of course, there are grants floating around out there somewhere. But I'm so new to the nursing world that we'll have to see where this road takes me. All the best.

I guess every single person (myself not included) who responded on this thread is a Mormon, because THAT'S to WHOM she was addressing her question.

I'm sorry, but heh?

Give it time?

Congrats!!! Hope it's going well. They should be glad to have you, wherever you are working.

..."I do not know if anyone will hire me as RN if they know I have NP license? How I am going to explain this to them? " Do you have to disclose that you have an NP license?

I would advise calling the school and asking them what kind of supplies you will need as each program has their own setup. We didn't need to purchase a stethoscope. All of that was provided during class. We did cover several forms of dementia, with the main focus on Alzheimer's, and other illnesses associated with the aging patient. Patient care and safety, Resident's Rights, laws regarding Nursing Homes, and basic personal care of the resident was also covered. This isn't and exhaustive list. Just an overview. All the best!

I'm a new CNA with only two weeks at my first job. It is crazy work, I am still working on time- management, and during my last shift I was assigned 13 patients. I'm in the rehab section and it probably would have been 15 if some of the patients hadn't left to go to the hospital, or had checked out. I like my job, but like so many others have stated it's exhausting and the pay could be better. I am on the higher end of the pay spectrum because I work the NOC shift, but the pay differential is not THAT impressive. Pluses: We do get bonuses and incentives each paycheck for perfect attendance, as much overtime as we like, and up to $1,000 for referring a new CNA that gets hired on. My ultimate reason for become a CNA and sticking with it is that in the state of California after you work for 48 months as a CNA, you can challenge the board to become an LVN after devoting 6 weeks to Pediatrics and 6 weeks to Maternity. You also have to take Pharmacology. Working as a CNA and working towards that goal, it's almost like I am receiving paid training. That's the way I choose to look at it. So, I'm determined to hang in there as long as I can so that I can realize the goal becoming an LVN without having to pay thousands of dollars for the program. That said, the choice a person has to make in challenging the Board is that at this time if you challenge the Board in California, your license is only good in the state of California. Of course, if you don't plan to move out of state, it won't be an issue. It baffles me how many CNAs that I work with are not aware of this when they've been working as a CNA for decades. Then again, some CNAs don't want to become nurses. There's always that. I'm going to keep plugging away at it for now. Don't know how I will feel as time goes along.

I would just like to add that if she's verbally abusing residents it should be reported. Hope you can work through this and turn some negatives into positives. That's what much in life is, anyway. All the best to you.

Wow! Impressive! I am a CNA and will be starting my first NOC shift in the Rehab wing of my facility this evening. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Not sure. However, my fellow former CNA classmate and I (we just graduated from our CNA program) are planning to meet with one of the Allied Health Counselors tomorrow at Merced College at 8 am. We are going to ask as many questions as we can about the LVN and RN program. The school doesn't like to give out information about their Nursing programs over the phone. Their suggestion is always going to be to drop by and see one of the counselors during one of their scheduled tours.

Nope. But I can tell you now that at 25k it's way overpriced. Merced's program is just under 5k. All the best!

Awesome! I take the test for my CNA certificate on May 2nd. I've already started applying for jobs and I've gotten offers left and right, but I still have to wait until I I'm certified before I can accept one. My ultimate goal is to become an LVN by challenging the board after 4 years of working as a CNA. After that, I might do the LVN to bridge to RN. All the best and thank you for sharing your experience!