mom2many07

Thanks for the advice. I honestly don't know why he pushed the MA program so much, considering the 2 programs I was really interested in cost twice as much. I know that he said that he used to teach the MA program so I suspect that he is just very loyal to the program? I am starting to lean towards the LPN program, but now i'm just worried about the number of hours i'll be in school during the day and how we're going to pay for that much daycare. I know it's a small price to pay for being able to get a job with good pay after i'm finished, but I can't help but worry. I will have to commute to this school everyday so our gas bill is also going to increase greatly (gas is $4.30 here).

Hi everyone! I recently visited a tech school because I was interested in their Surgical Technologist and LPN programs. Both programs are about a year long and the cost is over $20,000. I've taken some pre-reqs at local community colleges in the past and it was a nightmare! The waiting lists just to get into the science classes are insane and the waiting list for the nursing program is over 3 years long at this point. I need to get some training and start work as quickly as possible so that is why the technical school appeals to me even though it is much more expensive than a community college. Anyways, while I was talking to the counselor he ended up talking me into the Medical Assisting W/Limited X-Ray program. I've worked in healthcare before as a nurse's assistant for developmentally disabled adults, as well as mentally disabled adults. I don't mean any offense at all but for me personally I really do not want to do in home care or nursing home care again. The counselor told me that if I did the LPN program I would be working terrible hours and I would most likely be working in a nursing home setting. I would much rather work in a doctor's office or hospital. I guess what is bothering me the most is that everything i've read about CMA's seems to be fairly negative. I keep hearing that I wont be able to find a job and that the pay stinks. My husband will be out of town a lot and we have 4 children (ages 11, 9, 3, and 8 months). The younger kids will be in daycare a lot during the day and i'm concerned that I wont be able to afford daycare on a CMA's salary. The counselor told me that most CMA's start out around $12-13 an hour in our area (not even sure if that's true). Even so that would barely cover daycare expenses. It would be difficult for me to do the LPN program right now because we would have to put the kids in full time daycare since the LPN program classes run from about 8 am to 4 or 5 pm and the MA classes are from 1 to 5 pm. Again though, I will try to figure out a way to pay the extra daycare costs if the LPN program is the better way to go. I am just really torn right now. My husband and I will be moving to either Hawaii or Southern California in the next 2 years so I need to finish school as soon as possible so I can start work and get some experience before we move. The MA program is 10 months and does include a 4 1/2 week externship. The LPN program would be about 13 months and also includes an externship. My husband thinks the MA program would be the best for our situation since it's a few months shorter, costs less, and I only go to school a few hours a day versus all day. I agree, but in the back of my mind I keep thinking about the fact that I wont really be able to advance into anything else like I could as an LPN. I just keep going back and forth and I can't seem to make up my mind. I like the job duties that would come with being an MA (lab work, limited x-rays, some office work, taking vital signs, etc), but I am very concerned with what I've read online. I have to make a decision quickly because the MA program starts on Aug 11th and they are basically holding a spot for me. I can still swich to the LPN program at this point but if i'm going to do that then I need to do it now. I think the soonest I would be able to get into the LPN program is November so that will delay school a few extra months. I just don't know what to do