Gothique

Hello Everyone! I have always wanted to go into nursing but just kept being self depreciating by telling myself that I wasn't smart enough in math or science, I would screw something up and get sued or worse yet kill someone. So I just stayed inside my comfort zone for a long, long time. Well recently I had a lot of life changing events (one of which is losing my job after 5 years) and I have decided enough is enough and I'm going to grab the bull by the horns. I went onto Lehigh Valley Hospital's website and discovered that they have a Technical Partner Trainee program and after reading the description I knew immediately that it was something I would love to do. They teach you to take blood, read EKG's, monitor glucose and perform other diagnostics as well as basic patient care. I applied online and sent in my resume and cover letter and within one day they sent me an E-Mail back saying the following: Your enrollment for the "Information Session" indicates that you meet the minimum requirements. If you should attend the "Information Session" and be determined to not meet the minimum requirements for the position, you will be disqualified from further consideration for this role and any type of employment in the Network. Hence, it is important that you take a moment to review these requirements again. If you do not meet the qualifications, please return to our on-line employment section and apply for a position for which you do qualify. Thank you. Now here is were it gets confusing. When I went to reselect my position there was nothing listed for Tech Partner Trainee. I saw Tech Partner but , you needed 6 months experience in a health care setting and I don't have that. Then I saw the CNA Trainee program at the bottom were it stated that you attend a program for 5 weeks to get your certification to work as a CNA/Tech Partner. I was beyond confused so I called up their hot-line and they said that you go through the CNA class but at LVH they call them Tech Partners instead of CNA's. So that is the position I selected. Now it gets even worse! I then went searching through their website and they have two different training programs. One for a CNA and one for the TP. The TP one states that you go to a local community college for 12 weeks and the program starts in June, July and August. The CNA program had two different things going on. One page said that the program was a 4 week program from 8am -2:30pm and an additional 4-6 weeks after for clinical and it starts in April, July and October. The description that was sent in the E-Mail said that it is a 5 week program that is from 8am-4:30pm and starts in the same months. So *** is it?!?! I already tried calling HR and they are never there and when I they do return my calls they just keep saying that all the information I need is on the website and one of the HR reps will be at the seminar to answer your questions. It makes me mad because if the position is one and the same then why have two different classes and time schedules for it? Also in that E-Mail statement I posted above it states that I have met the minimum requirements but, if I attend the information seminar and they find that I don't they will disqualify me. So my guess is if you sound good on paper they send you an E-Mail and when you select your date they actually check out your references and education history and if it's found to be BS they let you know at the seminar? Sorry this is so long and a little scatter brained. I have just been off the job market for 5 years and this is a career change for me and I would like some advice. I just don't understand why some places make things so convoluted for people looking to better themselves and get an education.

Well I called around to some schools and they are sending me information on both their LPN and RN programs. The one at my local community college is the cheapest so far with it just being $4,300 for an LPN and $7,000 for an RN. Plus they offer evening and weekend courses for people who work as well. I also figure that I'm 26 years old. If I love being an LPN I can easily go and get my RN degree and move on from there. I also looked at a lot of LPN jobs in my area and they pay really good with the average starting at $22/hr and that's a fine salary for me considering I'm only making $12 bucks an hour now.

Hello Again! I posted a thread before regarding if I should go to school to be a medical assistant before I went to RN school and decided that becoming an LPN would be a better option for me. I have several schools available to me in the area that I can complete in one year and they are thousands of dollars cheaper than RN school. I think this would be beneficial to me because it would put me in a nurse like environment and the bigger thing is if I don't like it I didn't just waste 2 years of hell and am 20 grand in debt. So here are several questions for you guys. 1. The main one being what should I look for in a school? I have a lot of LPN programs available to me, but some of them ask that you take pointless classes like anthropology and history. Should I look for school focused more on academics or clinical? 2. My friend said that if I'm going to be an LPN I should just be an RN because there's not that much difference and you get paid a lot more. Is this true? What is the average salary an LPN makes? I have read on Google it's anywhere from $14 - $29 per hour! 3. FINALLY are the schedules as crazy as an RN's? Are you guys working 16 hour shifts on no sleep and running on empty. I heard both yes and no. Thanks for all your help and career advice. I'm going on my 2nd one so I have to make sure it's done right!

I have a lot more to write but have to get ready for work so I just have two more quick questions: 1. I plan on studying A LOT before I even hit school so I can give myself a little advantage. Are there any books you recommend for me? Especially for the math because I am dumb as a shoe when it comes to math. 2. What should I look for in a school? I have two my way. One is at the community college and focuses more on academics and the other is run by a local hospital and they focus heavily on the clinical aspect. So much so that you are assigned a patient the very first day of school.

Hi Guys! This post is going to be a bit long so please bear with me because I really need some good advice. I am 26 years old and I work as a supervisor at a Pharmaceutical company. I only make 12 bucks an hour and that's not going to get me anywhere in life. I went to cosmetology school, but dropped out in order to do massage therapy instead. This is when I became fascinated with the human body and medicine. I studied medical terminology for fun and constantly watch medical shows online and on TV. Eventually I began to look into becoming an RN and was attracted by the vast job opportunities and of course the money as well as helping people. I decided to research more into the job and went on various nursing forums to read real accounts from people in the field rather than hearing a school tell me how glamorous the job is when all they want is my money. I must admit though after reading tons of high stress horror stories of RN's hating their jobs and feeling lost and confused and working horrendous hours really intimidated me. I then figured maybe I should start out slow and try to be a medical assistant and see how I do there. I've never worked in a hospital before so to just jump in seems too much of a risk. Then again it I also feel it could be my nerves talking me out of it and going for something more safe. Anyways here are my questions: 1. Should I start out as a med assistant before nursing school? Do any of you know how much a med asst makes per hour? 2. I always see nursing jobs around my way that advertise things like "Make your own hours" and "Work no nights, weekends or Holidays". Do hours exist like this or is the ad just a lure to get you in there and then 'whoops' those hours suddenly disappear and you're working crazy shifts. 3. Do you have to work in a hospital right out of RN school? I see jobs for RN's in Dr's offices a lot. Can I work there instead? Hmmm I guess that's all my brain can think of for now. Any other things or advice I should know would be greatly appreciated! Sorry I'm so full of questions it's just that this is going to be my second career choice and my fiance is going to be working full time so I can quit my job and attend school full time as well. I don't want to put him through that stress and then fail out or graduate and then hate my job and quit. Lord I'm not even in ANY school and I'm already stressed out!