mammaoftwo

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and replies. I plan on going ahed & pursuing a bachelors degree and plan on working in the medical field in one way or another. I am looking at hospital social work and long term care social work. I might as well put my medical classes to work for me. I am speaking with an advisor at school and working on classes to transfer for my bachelors. I am even thinking of going for a masters and doing counseling. I realize I have a lot of options open and have thought about my age, I will turn 56 this year - but realize I am not to old to continue my education and time will pass anyway. What will I be doing in 5 years? I can either have a degree or be sitting here wishing I had one, so I will continue to work towards a goal. Blessings to all of you and prayers for a wonderful life! :nuke:

After much thought as to my physical situation and from what I read about how nursing is, I have decided to forego my lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. I have to have A/C repair as soon as this semester of school is over, I am not able to lift much weight, I have thoracic outlet syndrome (born with extra cervical rib) and fibromyalgia. I have just wanted this for so long, but have to realize my limitations and I have not been willing to do that. I don't want to admit I can't do something and especially nursing. I can't take a chance with my neck, shoulder and back in clinicals. Some days I have extreme fatigue. I do not take meds for the fibro and haven't for years. I live with the pain. I don't like how the meds made me feel and function. So, my hat is off to those of you in the ranks. I truly admire those that are caring and pray that the problems in nursing changes for all of you. A lot of you have given your all and it is greatly appreciated by me. I plan to continue on in school, but will just change directions from nursing. Blessings to all of you!

I really need your input for this. I saw the ortho doc yesterday to get the results of my MRI. I do not have a tear of the rotator cuff at this point (that they can see on the MRI). However, I will have to have AC repair and that will be done in May after this semester is over. We discussed my plans for nursing school. He told me previously to forget nursing. Yesterday after our talk, he stated there are areas I could go into beside bedside nursing that would work for me (he still feels beside nuring will not be an option for me after graduation due to my problems and my age) He stated the hard part would be getting through clinicals in nursing school, but with the surgery and proper care, I could do it. My question is, what would be the least physically demanding job as a new LPN graduate? I am thinking that LTC would be the only option for a new grad. Would going the RN route be more beneficial and open more opportunities for a new grad to do something beside beside nursing? I am so determined to become a nurse, I am trying to think of different areas of nursing that I could still do. Besides the shoulder, I can't lift continuously over 50 pounds. Any suggestions you all can give me is so appreciated. The doc will give me clearance for nursing school, just not to do bedside nursing. Blessings to all!! :wink2:

I would still like to apply to nursing school, however, I saw the orthopaedic doctor last week and this is the report he gave me: I have no cartilage in my right shoulder, it is bone rubbing against bone and a large bone spur, there may be a tear in the rotator cuff. I am having an MRI in the am. Now I am 55 years of age and the doc states this is due to wear and tear. The doc told me it can be repaired with surgery, however, I would be prone to problems with the shoulder and would not be able to be tugging, pulling or lifting in nursing. Anyone have the surgery and still continued on in nursing? Should I just forget nursing completely and consider another field? The doc suggested Occupational Therapy Assistant. Any suggestions and total honesty is greatly appreciated! :)

What is the difference in clinicals for LPN Students and RN Students. Is there any difference? What is a typical day in clinicals? Many thanks for your help! :wink2:

I know how you feel. I have been on disability since 2001. I have tried several jobs in an attempt to return to work and have not been successful todate. I have wanted to be a nurse most of my life. I also wonder if I will be physically able to do the work. I have even thought of doing medical coding, however, I don't believe I can sit at a desk for 8 hours a day, five days a week. I do better being up moving than sitting for some strange reason. I have been taking classes for a year now, and have to make a decision before the summer semester what on earth I am going to do. I have applied again to LPN school and also am thinking of just going ahead and applying in Spring of 2009 for the Rn program for the fall of 2009. I don't know if the "wanting to" can override the "physical ailments" of being a nurse. I would have to look at an area where I would not be doing a lot of heavy lifting, there is no way my back can handle that. I have the compassion to be a wonderful nurse, a lot of people have told me this - it is just the physical aspect that scares me. It is scary and I am 55 now. Best wishes on whatever you decide. :nuke:

I already have my CNA certification and have tried the CNA work and was unable to do the lifting. Guess I should have put this in my op. I also have my CPR certification. I have already taken 5 of my classes towards the RN program, plus getting the CNA certification and CPR which are requirements before starting the program. Some of these also count towards the LPN program. I have already talked to my doctor and she seems to think I could do nursing in some aspect, probably not strenous bedside nursing, at least not a lot of heavy lifting. I believe there is some area I could work in in nursing. I just don't know all the areas available in nursing. Thanks to all of you for your replies. And yes, I do want you to be honest.

So sorry about the loss of your father. I am happy for you to come to this realization at this time in your life to become a nurse. You are never to old and you sound like you will make a wonderful nurse. Best wishes.

I know that no one can make this decision for me. I have to make it myself, however, I need your input for those who are nurses. I have always wanted to be a nurse. I took care of my son until his death at the age of 9 1/2 years and cared for my dad the last three months of his life. My 9 1/2 year son had multiple medical problems (I adopted him and had him since he was 8 weeks old). He had hydrocephalus, chronic lung disease, cerebral palsy, seizure disorder and legally blind. I did his trach care, changed his g-tubes and all types of care. I am 55 and will be 56 in October of this year. I have a chance to get into the LPN program this fall or apply to the RN (ADN) program in September 2009. I can't lift heavy weights ( I would say over 50 pounds frequently). I have helped lift with a draw sheet and can do that with another's assistance. I've tried desk jobs and I can't sit continously, it is actually better for me to be up and moving around. I have thought about psych nursing. Is there still a chance for me to go into nursing? I have to make a decision for classes by the middle of March. Someone please advise about the pros and cons of nursing with back problems - I have lost 81 pounds since September due to gastric bypass surgery and I have a lot more energy. I also have (and please no insults on this) fibromyalgia (I do not take meds for this as I use to be so over medicated I hated it and have refused to take meds for the pain for years now). I cannot work a regular 9:00 to 5:00 job sitting at a desk. I am thinking of WOW (two 12 hour shifts I believe it is) and thinking that would be easier on me somehow. I just really need advice before I sign up for these classes and then find out I can't do nursing. Do you think it is doable?(sp??) Many many thanks for your input.

U of L is doing away with the CNA requirement. As far as I know, JCC still requires it though.

Can anyone who has graduated from Jefferson Community & Technical College RN or LPN program advise me what it was like? How were the teachers and the courses? What are the tests like? I've applied to the LPN program for the fall, however, I already have taken some of the pre-reqs for the RN program. I am 55 and this will probably be a one time shot for me - the earliest semester I could apply to get into the RN program would be for the fall of 2009 and I could be finishing up the LPN program at that time - and if I got into the Rn program in Fall 2009, I would plan on finishing up Spring 2011. In the plan for RN, I don't have to take but two courses a semester due to the ones I have already taken and could just concentrate on the Nursing courses (other than Micro 252 and would have to get that out of the way along with the first nursing course) Thanks so much for your replies and help!

Do RN's have more responsibility than LPN's? I have read from the posts here, that some LPN's don't want the responsibility that the RN's have. Everytime I mention to someone I am thinking of LPN school, they say, oh forget that, go on for your RN, you will be doing the same thing for a lot less money, you might as well make the money. I have no desire for management positions, I just want to be a nurse and help people. For those of you in long term care, do you like it? Many many thanks for your replies.

Would hospitals be the only choice for a new grad with a ADN for employment? Also, is hospital nursing the hardest physically for a nurse? Thank you for your replies.:)

Your still a baby! I am 55 and doing pre-reqs for the nursing program and I have two young sons, ages 7 & 9 (they are adopted) and I am a single mom. In my view, you are one of the young'uns. You will do fine.

I may have asked this in a previous post a long time ago, however, would like to ask this again. What is it like being an LPN? What area do you work in and what do you do? What do you like about being an LPN? What is a typical day or night like in a long term care center or nursing home? Many many thanks for your replies.:nuke: