lvngrad09

I'm on a tele floor, we used to have 3 aides for 34 patients on day shift, now we have 2, sometimes 1. Noc used to have 3, then 2 and now most of the time they have 1. It's getting really ridiculus, we don't have time for anything but call lights and vitals, the patients aren't getting baths or getting turned like they should. And they RNs are stressed out too, they have 5 patients and usually the lead nurse has to take a group on top of everything else.

Oh my gosh I would be furious and probably no longer a friend to this girl if I were you. First of all, good for you getting in the LPN program and becoming a nurse. LPNs are licensed nurses, what the heck is she talking about when she said they don't learn anything important! Most programs include IV certification which allows you to draw blood (which is not a big deal!) and start IVs, hang blood etc. MAs work under a doctor or nurses license, we are their supervisors. We give meds, perform assessments, listen to heart/ lung sounds, perform wound care, put in catheters etc. They make a measly $10/ hour- same as a cna, and take vitals and do paperwork and set up appointments. LVNs in my area make 18-22/hour, RNs make 34/hour. She probably is just jealous of you or is stupidly mistaken, don't listen to her and don't let her make you doubt becoming a nurse.

Hello I just graduated from my LVN program a couple weeks ago and am applying for bridge programs in January (after I hopefully pass my NCLEX ) anyway I need some opinions please...I'm thinking of going to this private school in my area, San Joaquin Valley College. It's transferable so I'll be able to get my bachelor's after, it's only 11 months long and starts in April of '10 which is the soonest I'll be able to start a program. It's also only 2 days a week so I'll be able to work full time while I do this, which I really have to do. The downside is the cost, the program is around $30k (yikes!) but they have no wait list and I'll graduate sooner than any other school I go to. My alternatives are to apply to 2 other community colleges, one of which doesn't have a required number of applicants they have to take, and you have to have a perfect GPA to get accepted, (which I don't have) and the other one which is an hour away and I wouldn't be able to start either of them til Sept of next year. Just graduating from my lvn program has been such a long road and I'm getting older (almost 30) and really just want to get this outta the way so I can start making real money and be done with school, and have some babies already! So has anyone gone to SJVC or heard how good it is? I searched and couldn't find much. Anyone think it's really stupid of me for paying so much for an RN program? Thanks!