Happy2bLPN

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I am planning a trip out in mid May - thanks again :)

Hi Everyone, I am an LPN with 6 months sub acute experience planning to relocate to the East Bay area of Ca to be with my family while I pursue my RN degree. Any advice on the job market and school options there for RN - ADN and BSN programs - salary info etc. I am IV, PICC line & Phlebotomy certified. Thanks so much for any and all replies. :) Happy2bLPN

I have found more luck after getting IV certified. Certifications are key I think - IV / Phlebotomy and Pharmacy. Go to Napnes.org. That might will help. I agree that your resume should be skilled based. License and Certs up top - plus any foreign language skills - i.e Spanish for Healthcare Providers - community colleges usually have classes. I would only list a 10 yr employment history. I also agree with posters that you should remove any references to your age such as grad dates etc - except for your nursing school. Good Luck and hang in there :)

This may sound odd, but ask your instructors from school which hospital system handles the prisons. They are usually big hirers, the pay is very good, and the job not as "scary" as it sounds. I believe its largely medication dispension driven - i.e a med nurse. Might be worth a shot and if you can find one and get some experience you will be much closer to getting a job that you prefer. Hope this helps!

I am in the exact situation and I agree with all the posters, become a CNA first. I did my nursing pre-reqs, was waitlisted and then enrolled in LPN school. I decided to take the CNA course before I began LPN classes and it has helped me tremedously in clinicals. Plus you can earn income (a little - it is low paid), obtain experience and make contacts and referneces. Its win win.

Hi Lauren, Thank you so much for your candid reply. That is scary and I will definitely look into it. I appreciate the feedback very much.

I currently attend Dover for the LPN program. It is very expensive - 25,000 for the sequence. I have just started, but have mixed reviews. First, they are accredited and apparently awaiting associate degree granting authority which would enable them to morph into an LPN - RN bridge track additional to the LPN track. However, pretty much no school will take any LPN classes as a transfer credit, unless they are in a degree program, and their currently (to my knowledge) - is not a degree program for LPN in NJ. Having said the above, the fact remains that if you want to enroll in a LPN to RN track program, they schools are truly interested in the fact that you have a LPN license and of course nothing less than a C on your transcript. So accreditation wise - all should be well. At this early stage, I would say the teachers are excellent, but the deans and the academic policy seem a bit skewed - and not in the interest of the students. I was told of the previous class to my own, that 30 started and only 13 passed to the next semester. I would wager a guess that the school is deliberately failing out potential "nclex non passers" early, to keep their pass rate high so they can acquire degree granting authority. Which leads me to say - Hmmmm. Anyway, its very new in the game and I will say that the teachers seem excellent. I'll keep you posted! :)

I work full time as a CNA and attend an LPN program full time days - M-F. It can be done, but it is exhausting. My best advice is to try to work in a position where you can study sometimes. For example nights at my hospital can include periods where it is quiet and you can study. Always travel with your books - so you can read on break etc. Take lots of vitamins as I find myself always running a cold from the schedule that I keep. You need to be really disciplined and forget about having a life for the next 12 months or so. I am in a 15 month program - which seems really long. I am also a single mom, but luckily my daughter is a teenager who can microwave - that in itself is a major hurdle overcome! Good luck and monitor yourself - If you see your grades dropping, cut back at work. I've had to do that a few times. Best wishes! Oh one last tip - if you work per diem or thru an agency you can have more control over your schedule if you need to take a lesser work load during exam times for example.

Hi everyone, Hi Sernedipity- Welcome Starbite:) I am doing well. The class is going well. We had our second day of clinicals this past Tuesday. I have not yet had direct patient contact. This past clinical was bedmaking only - non occupied beds. Next week we have our clinical where we begin to provide patient care. My clinicals seem to be different from everyone else - I have them porificed within my program and then a full week at the end. My program will end on March 25 and we have our exam shortly after that. Serendipity - do you have any job prospects lined up - or an area you wish to work in?

I am only a CNA student but from what I have heard is that if you work in a hospital, you will be taugh these skills on the job and I believe for free. So, it may not be worth the money - maybe try to first work as a CNA and on your interviews, ask if they will provide this training.

Hi RockinCNA8705, Thanks for the info on nights - I appreciate it. I am not interested in nights because I think it will be easier. It is the only shift that will work for me as I have someone to watch my daughter who is handicapped and I am in school during the day - just to that clarify point. But thank you for your info - it was very helpful.

Update - the link I posted did not work - sorry! Try this one http://nursingassistantcentral.homestead.com/

Hi littlenursingmommy, I know how you feel - I only had my first day of clinicals and was totally freaked out just by the enviorment. I spoke with my professor about it and she relayed that it is completely normal! Just hang in there - there are also some great threads that helped me a lot - with members explaining how almost all of them were scared and freaked at one time or another. Completely Normal and not an indicator of your suitability for the profession. All sources say - hang in there and it will get easier! It helped me a lot to know others felt the way I did at first! - Including you! lol

Sorry - I meant care_baer! See - the night is playing tricks on my eyes - lol :)

Hi Carebear, I am sorry for your creepy experience. She probably just thought she heard something - the dark can play tricks on the best of us at different times! I am a CNA student and intrested in nights 11-7 - can you tell what a typical night is like for you? Thanks so much!

hello everyone :) just wanted to post an update. i am gearing up for my second day of clinical tomorrow and am hoping for a better experience than my first! i wanted to share this link i found on a different thread that has info for cna's http://nursingassistantcentral.homestead.com/index.html aside from this, i wanted to share some tips i have received from my instructor, some different threads and a few rn friends on their opinion about cna work. 1. be very careful on patient transfers - my instructor said that back injury is rampant among cna's and nurses and cna's often perform the most back breaking work, so focus on your body position - back straight - use the legs- and ask the pt on site for instruction and tips once you start a job. also, she said that you should always ask for help if needed- do not be heroic and use the available equipment - apparently its widely under used! 2. use the ppe liberally - a lot of minor infections can be avoided and don't let a facility dissuade you from using it. 3. a few of my rn friends say that being a cna at a ltc is much more demanding and a heavier patient load than a hospital or al - so snuff out the hospital jobs if you can! 4. ask about tuition assistance for those continuing on to adn or bsn - but check contract carefully and request a buy-out clause - may be cheaper than staying if offered a better job elsewhere. 5. carry vicks for bad smells - a few dots under nostrils should help a lot with foul odors. that's is so far - will post more as i learn/hear them! questions for everyone - what made you deicide to become a cna - anyone going on to rn - anyone have any tips? look forward to hearing from all of you and good luck to all on the exams!

HI Shanti, Welcome - what is a Multi-Skilled Medical Technician course?

Thanks for the good experience summary Dee! I am hoping that once I am able to perform skills, I will have a better outlook.

Hi Everyone, I had my first clinical today and i have to admit - it was shocking! It was only a tour of the facility - we did not do anything except the tour and informally meet some of the residents - but it was just such a sad place. The residents seemed so lost and displaced. I am sure I will get used to it, but it was much different than I expected. I think that I had expected a more "clinical" hospital-like enviorment, and this seemed more along the lines of hospice like care. I hope that once we get into the swing of things and actually preform skills, I will acclimate - so we will see! Anyone else experience a similar sentiment on their first clinical?

The advice I recieved from the nursing coordinator was simply to wait a few weeks after you have been hired, about 3, and simply ask for the form to fill out for tuition reimbursement. She advised they may putter around about it, but by asking for a form you eliminate any stressful dialogue - Hope this helps! And definitley ask - its a lot of money! :)

How was perineal care - I am afraid of that!

I mean "link" - hit caps by accident!

PS - to Serendipity - Thanks again for the lINK / List of Nursing Homes - I forgot to thank you - so Thanks! :) I will be looking in NJ though - but thanks again.

Oh just a quick note on the cost of the CNA class - I don't know if this pertains to all states, but apparently in NJ, if you are hired at a LTC / Nursing / Assist Liv Facility, they must reimburse you the full cost of your course within 1 year. Hospitals do not have this legal obligation - not in NJ at least - Just a FYI for everyone :)

Hello Everyone, I have finally had my first CNA class today. We went over the first 2 chapters in the text book and watched a movie on the aging process. The instructor is nice and seems well versed in the collateral. My clinicals are not at the end, but rather interspersed within the program - about 3 times per week , 3 hours each time. Our clinicals are held at a private LTC facility. I am taking my CNA class in NJ - I will keep everyone posted on my first clinical which is this Wednesday. Good Luck to everyone :)