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Hello everyone, I have just got a new LPN job which is decent, and pays well - I started my training about a week ago. AND 2 things happened.. 1) I've found out that I'm expecting and due in June (was not planned at all, we want 2nd one, but I wanted it as soon as I'm done with RN), 2) got a call from my college offering me to start RN in January (I've been on the waiting list and was told I would start no earlier than fall 2012). I'm so stressed right now..I want to go back to school, but how will I tell my employer?? I don't want to bring anyone down, what a bad situation. Please help with your advice. Thank you!

To continue with my story, I have completed LPN program and passed NCLEX last summer, got a job immediately, even before I took the test. This is something that never happened to me in teaching before - instead of jumping through every school district's hoops, filling out a ton of paperwork (I won't forget those lovely "Sexual misconduct" forms for every SD you ever worked for) I kept receiving job offers (one place called me three times) for 4 months. As about my current job, I'm working at an Assisted Living 3 days a week (12-hr shifts), I switched from days to nights, because it works better for me, I spend less on babysitters and I can attend college. Yes, the shifts are long and I do get tired at the end, but there's no "homework" - only the college one (I'm taking my last pre-req class for RN). As about pay, I'm only $400 shy of my last teaching paycheck right now, and I'm not even an experienced LPN.. To sum things up I'll say the career change worked for me very well. Good luck to everybody!

Here's my 2 cents...as it was mentioned before, if you want to go right back to work as a nurse, LPN/LVN programs will work great! I live in WA, I was laid off a couple of years ago (I taught Science in high school), and really needed a job (I have a two-year old now, and I was pregnant when I started retraining). I went to a local Worksource office for ideas and they advised me to retrain into something in high demand, plus I always liked medicine anyway. So I took all the necessary pre-reqs at a local tech school (I was lucky many of them were credited to me from my Master's degree) and then got on a waiting list. I wasn't on it for very long, again, the Worksource gave me a priority as a laid-off worker to enroll into the LPN program right away, they also paid for the tuition, books and supplies, which I'm very grateful for. I was also on unemployment while in school, it was called the Commissioner Approved Training so I didn't have to file the claims while attending school. I got hired by an Assisted Living even before I took NCLEX, I was totally surprised, because I thought it would be tough finding a job, but the trend is, around the end of each college 1/4 some nurses become RNs and they leave nursing homes/clinics and such for the new grads! I don't have any regrets whatsoever for not going into the straight RN, you will make more money while working as an LPN while getting RN, and it will be easier to grasp the concepts with your nursing experience. Currently I'm on a waiting list for LPN-RN bridge at the same college I took my LPN. Again, it's just another way "to skin the cat" as my nursing instructor used to say ))) Plus, as an RN student you pay your tuition for the clinical hours while you're getting paid as an LPN for the same thing. Good luck!

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!! I had mine today, and I have no clue how I did((((

Greetings from Washington! I am a laid-off Science teacher from WA, and I'm currently enrolled in the LPN program (will graduate soon, hopefully!). Here's my 2 cents - go for it, especially if you have a heart for nursing, and I wish you good luck!! I hope you're on the way of becoming an RN. Yes, I do believe that teaching is not for everyone, I saw in the schools (American, Russian and Ukrainian) either people who do have a talent/desire to teach and make a difference in kids' lives and many ones that simply cannot cut it anywhere else (you would not believe how many are out there only after a paycheck, unfortunately). After 2 years of teaching in the U.S I was thinking about a career change (no offence but U.S K-12 education is a complete mess to put it in soft words), and an opportunity came in a form of a lay-off (HUGE federal budget cuts)..I was terribly upset at first, and then I realized that it's time to move on! So I went to all local colleges that offered nursing and found a program that worked for me, and a good thing was that I didnt have to spend lots of time on the pre-reqs since I already had a Master's degree in Biology. Also, nursing theory classes were very easy for me. I'm planning on advancing to at least to a BSN after the allowed amount of working hours (my college requires 1000 hrs for an RN program). Yes, as any profession nursing has its ups&downs but as it's been said above it has a wider range of opportunities, and it is IN DEMAND and it always will be. Plus, I won't miss my principal that thought he was second after God and chewed me for every innovative idea and each student office referral (don't read me wrong, I only sent kids when it was absolutely necessary). Oh, don't forget about the lovely seniority in schools - you're stuck with all the classes nobody wants for a few years (I'll never forget ugly scenes during next year assignment discussions). So again, good luck to you!

Yes, till December "the old list people" will have a priviledge and after that the list will be cleared out. I had a letter about a conditional acceptance too, it doesn't mean much. One more thing I need to tell you, as soon as you finish your pre-reqs, print out a completion form and turn it in asap - that way you'll get on the list.

freesia29, I'm finished all my pre-reqs for the LPN program and I'm just waiting to see what happens (while taking classes for RN). They are getting rid of the old waiting list, where anyone who just happened to stop by and fill out an application could get on it, without even completing all the needed pre-reqs. So the people who are still working on their classes have an advantage, which sucks, and they have time till December. After that deadline BTC's clearing the list and making a new one in a more fair fashion. Good luck!

I've looked at the colleges in Seattle area but I can't commute unfortunately (it's hard with a baby on the way), so I'm attending BTC in Bellingham. I have 2 more pre-requisite courses to take and then I'll be able to get into LPN program. BTC also offers LPN-RN bridge, but one must have 1000 hrs worked as an LPN, which is not that great. Is it possible to take some online classes to become an RN?

Hi All, I want to become a nurse and I have recently checked out a PN program at Bellingham Technical College. I already have a MS in Biology but at the college they told me that I can't get any credit for my Bio classes as they were taken over 5 yrs ago:( Are there any schools that don't have this "5 year expiration date"? Is that possible to take Human Anatomy and physiology online? Thank you!