molly9

My mom is an RN at a Hospice facility. She has mentioned that they have at least a couple of LPN's there from Everest. I checked into the program but found out the cost was more than triple of the local community college so I held out and am starting the LPN program this fall at the CC. Good Luck in your career!!

I have a BA in Education, however the teaching jobs in my area are few and far between. My dream has always been to help others and make a difference in others lives, so here I am, going back for the LPN program.

Great post! I will start LPN school this fall. Just curious, how many of you are planning on continuing your education to RN/BSN or something else. Are you using the LPN to open doors or does this fulfill your goal? Also, is this a second degree for anyone else who had a degree in something else and now going back for nursing? Good Luck to everyone! keep your mind set on the goal, believe in yourself and you can do it!!!

When you work for an agency, can you still get benefits? I see the pay is much higher with an agency. Are there drawbacks to working for an agency?

I currently have a BA in education, a field that is literally saturated in Michigan. After not being able to find a job in education and doing some soul searching, I am going back to school for a second degree-nursing (LPN), at the age of 39. Raising children and going to school is not easy. I have lived by your words "I must believe in myself". Though it is HARD to do at times, always look to the future and in achieving that goal. Time goes by fast and before you know it, you'll be graduating and so thankful that you stuck with it. :wink2:

You have much life experience and so much to offer. Your future patients will be lucky to have someone with the compassion and life experiences as you do!

Just curious, I also have a BA in education and going back for nursing. Can I ask what made you switch careers? By the way, good luck to you. As older students, we have the benefit of life experience....

Wow, that is really too bad that you are experiencing conditions such as this. I would not stay at a place that you are not happy with. There are plenty of other jobs out there that will allow appreciate you and your hard work. Just curious, at 4o yrs, did you switch careers for nursing? Keep your chin up and move forward. Things can only get better. Good luck to you.

Hi Emilie, I was just reading through some older threads and came accross yours. Just curious as to how you are doing back in Michigan and if you found a job okay? I hope all is going well for you!

AnnaN5 I was looking into the BSN at GVSU.. Like yourself, the cost of the acellerated BSN program is holding me back, along with the possibility that I would not get in due to the competitiveness. I did contact their acellerated BSN director and was told that last fall 48 2nd degree students applied and 24 were accepted. Normally I would think that 50% chance is pretty good, knowing that I can work hard and have gotten good grades during my BA degree. However, I would now be in a pool with other 2nd degree students who are either as smart as (or smarter) than I. Most of my credits are English related so the idea of taking Inorganic Chemistry as one of my competing classes makes me VERY nervous. I would hate to go through the year of pre-reqs, then not get accepted. What a let down that would be. Can you tell me how you liked the acellerated ADN course you took at LCC? You said you were able to work while taking this? How many days a week did you have to meet? Was the 13 months of classes AFTER you completed your pre-reqs? Are you enjoying your job as an RN? Do you see LPN's being used much at your work? Thanks again...

AnnieMc, Thank you for the information. Do you happen to know (from your friend) how competitive the accellerated BSN is? I thought about this possibility, but the possible wait to get in and cost was kind of holding me back. I really would prefer this option though. If you happen to have any other details from your friend, I would really appreciate hearing anything she/you have to say. Thank you again!!

$21.50 for LTCF is awesome. I am interested in LTCF as an option. Can you tell me any additional details on your job? Do you work weekend options? What are your hours like? Benefits? I am from SW Michigan and cannot wait to get through school and get started.. Thanks in advance..

I currently hold a BA in Education in Michigan. Though I graduated at the top of my class and have additional certifications for reading/writing beyond my degree, I have found in educaiton it is all about "who" you know, and not "what" you know. Therefore, I am going to start college this fall for the LPN program. Though I would love to do the RN program, there is a 2.5-3 year wait in Michigan and with the 2nd degree BSN program, there is at least a year of pre-reqs before I could apply. The BSN admittance is very competitive. That, combined with the fact that it would simply take longer, have made me decide to get through the quickest way possible right now, which is the LPN program at the communitly college, which I can complete in a year. After I graduate, I am hoping that I can continue on for the 2nd degree BSN with some assistance from my employer. Can anyone tell me what the beginning pay (average) is for an LPN, as well as what time of benefits you get (do you have to pay for health insurance? for family to be insured? What type of shifts do you work? Is there flexibility? I know some Grand Rapids hospitals do not use them anymore, but I would be open not just to hospitals, but long term care, hospice, or VA Hospitals. I am very anxious to get started and make a difference in peoples lives :nuke:...

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. I have a BA in education and, like you, have student loans on a degree that I am not using. When I started my BA in education, I wanted a career where I could help people, make decent money, and interact with others. My mother is a nurse so I have talked with her quite a bit before deciding to switch careers. I am in SW Michigan so just across the state from you.. I just read an article in the GR Press that stated, "31,300 new nurses will be needed by 2012, a recent state task force found." So, with that said, we should both be in a pretty decent position when we graduate.

Congratulations on your job! I am just in the beginning steps of becoming an LPN. I currently hold a BA in education and as you know (being from MI), education jobs are nearly impossible to get (at least in SW Michigan. I was wondering, was your LPN program a laddered program? Although I have checked into some accellerated BSN programs for 2nd degree students, I believe I am going for the LPN to obtain a job that will hopefully help cover some of the costs of the BSN program. I am not sure what part of MI you are from, but how were the jobs out there for LPN's when you went looking? Did you find as many jobs for LPN's as there are for RN's?

What exactly is the "nitty gritty" work? Can you explain what a typical day is for you? I would like to obtain my LPN, then go on for my BSN through the second degree program (I have a BA in Education now). The RN waitlist is 2.5-3 years here so can get through the LPN program in a year, then continue on for my BSN and (hopefully) get some tuition reimbursement from my employer at that time.

When I took the HESI, there was Reading, Vocab, and Math. I hear that as of July 1st they are adding Grammar. For the Reading section, make sure to read the questions VERY carefully. I have a BA in Language Arts/Education and still found the questions to be challenging. For Math, know fractions (adding, subtracting, dividing, multiplying), know how to convert fractions to percents, kilograms to grams, kilometers to meters, basic household measurements (ounces, cups, pints, liters), and for the vocab, there were some medical terms on there as well as words with more than one meaning (similies) and you had to choose which way it was intended within the sentence they gave. There is a study guide available, which I did not use. I have heard it is downloadable online if you think you want to use it. Otherwise, take the test and see how you do. If you fail a section, you can always go back and take that one over (double check with your colleges rules on this). Good Luck!!!

Just curious (as a soon to be nursing student), why would an RN wish that they were an LPN?

My husband is also debating a career change. In the spring, summer, and fall he works 6 days a week. After talking to my mom (who is an RN in Hospice) and dealing with many nurses during our grandparents stays in hospitals, he is looking at beginning an LPN program, (then possibly going farther once he has a job). (I have a BA in Education and starting the nursing school process as we speak...in my late thirties!) You mentioned the very long hours that go with being an attorney. My thoughts are, if you love your job, then you wouldn't mind. However, it sounds like when you originally decided to be an attorney your thought process was much different than it is now. Now, being married and having a family sounds like it takes priority. We have such little time in this world already and to work, work, work at a job just to make big money doesn't sound very fulfilling in the end. It sounds like you want to do something challenging that you get satisfaction in. I think you could find this in nursing (maybe not every day, but overall). There is so much flexibility offered for scheduling that would allow you so much more time to enjoy your family. Can you imagine working 3 twelve hour shifts while getting paid well compared to working 80 hours a week as an attorney? Think about it, and follow your instincts......then don't look back, just move forward..

Faeriewand- That is terrific that you are now an LVN and going on for your BSN! This is definately something I will look into as well. I am somewhat anxious about the science classes since it has been so long since I have had any science, but believe it would be well worth it in the end. Thank you very much for your advice. I will be looking more into this option (BSN) for 2nd degree students.

I truly appreciate all of your replies. I am new to this forum and it already has proven to be such a great asset in talking to others who have faced similar cicumstances...

Thank you all so much for the replies! I appreciate your time in letting me know your thoughts and suggestions. I was thinking about the LPN program simply because the wait list is only a year compared to the RN program, which is 2.5-3 years. The second degree BSN program very much interests me, however I am nervous about the classes (i.e. inorganic & biochemistry). I graduated in 2004 with a BA in Education with a major in Language Arts and Speech. My entire 6 years in college was all focused on English/Reading/Language Arts. I did very well and graduated with honors, but again, all classes emphasized in English (no advanced science whatsoever). I am close to 40 years old and it's been a while since I have had science classes.. So, either I can take the LPN in one year, or complete the 8 prerequisites for the accelerated BSN (which would then be 3 full time semesters). If anyone has any advice on anything like this, please feel free to pass it along...

I currently have a BA in education and am thinking about switching careers to nursing. The job outlook in education (in Michigan) is not very promising with so many job seekers and not enough retirees to say the least. After holding down some unbenifitted jobs in education since my degree a few years back, I am talking to a local college about pursuing an LPN degree. I love to interact with and help others and feel that the health field would be a good opportunity for me (not to mention there is no job shortage there). I was wondering if there is anyone else out there who may have had a degree in old field, then went back for a second degree in nursing and what your thoughts are and if you are happy you made the change. Thank you in advance!