Gin84

I remember needing to learn that, but I don't remember how I learned it. And I took A&P I over 5 years ago, so I get to retake next spring.....yay, not!

I passed my course exam today with a 99! I have my state board exam and skills test Thursday!

I'm doing my LNA course through the American Red Cross, Great Bay Chapter. It is ~9 weeks. After 60 hours of clinicals (which for us was 10 days at 6 hours per day) you'll take your Red Cross LNA final exam. Pass that and a few days later you'll take your state board exam and clinical exam. Pass that and you'll get your license number by e-mail within a month. Work at a LTC facility in NH post graduation and you'll be refunded your tuition. I don't know where you're located, but he's the Great Bay ARC LNA website: http://www.greatbayredcross.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69

Well LNA is a good place to start to see if you'll enjoy nursing. I have two young kids and I went to LNA school for 4 days per week, 5 hours per day. And 11 days of clinicals for a total of 60 clinical hours. I made it work and I can make a job work with my family too. I plan to go on for my LPN next fall. Good luck.

One more hospital got back to me... After working 1 year at 24 + hours/weekly they'll give me $2500 for a two year commitment. Doesn't seem worth it to me...

Ok made some quick phone calls. Seems there's tuition reimbursement based on the amount of hours you work and a possible partial loan forgiveness program. The hospitals also said they don't have LNA positions open and haven't had open positions for months, so it'd be difficult to get into the hospitals with an LNA and get the hours need to get some reimbursement. Basically I'd have to pay for the classwork upfront and it's on my time, not the hospitals. Doesn't help my career choice! Sigh. Why can't the heavens just open and show me what to do!?

My LNA instructor (BSN) has been saying that most hospitals in this area are no longer doing tuition reimbursement due to finances being so tight. But it is worth a phone call I assume. I haven't seen anything on the hospitals career pages. I have a 3 and 4 yr old and a husband who works 2nd shift, so I really need the summers off, I can't swing a full time program. As much as I'd like to cram in a LPN (or RN) program in as little time as possible, I have to be around for my family to a reasonable point. Thanks for the info.

$16,000 is the avg. cost of an LPN program in this area. One school is full till spring 2011 and the other two have spots open. One school starts Jan., no fed. financial aid, straight through 18 months. The second school (where I'm applying now) is 2 years starting fall 2010, summers off, takes fed. financial aid. One hour drive, one way All nursing schools in the area have a 2-3 year wait list. Only one ADN nursing school is within an hour of me. I have a good handle on my pre-reqs also. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I am currently wrapping up my LNA program and hope to officially be licensed mid-November. It feels good to be back in school (SAHM for 4 years, 2 kids). I'm now looking at LPN school because my only ADN nursing school option has a 2-3 year wait for admission. The cons of LPN school are it's a one hour drive. Financially things will be very tight as well. The school, minimum, will be $16,500. I can transfer the LPN coursework to my first year of my ADN. I really want to keep myself in school. I'm in NH, so I don't know what the LPN demand is, but would you go through with this plan if I were you? I can start the basic coursework in Jan (computer class, A&P I, and physc) and complete the LPN in probably less than 18 months. I also have already taken A&P I at the college level, but not within the proper time frame to transfer or the appropriate grade. So hopefully that will give me a boost in re-doing A&P now. So, what are your thoughts? It's such a big step, especially financially, but I feel if I stop my education for now, it'll be very tough to go back. I also don't want to graduate as an LPN and not find a job. I'm banking on a job post-graduation! Please, thoughts! Super confused, torn, and excited all in one! Virginia Future ARC LNA, Nov. 2009

That's the school I'm looking at. Overall, did you enjoy the program?

I'm in So. NH and thinking about LPN schooling. Where did you attend and was it a good program? Try Craigslist for LPN jobs.

Never been to LRCC. I'm taking my Red Cross LNA at GBCC. I'm looking into my LPN at HCTA in Manchester, NH. I too am in the Dover area and I'm not looking forward to a year driving to Manchester 3x/week! But because of the waiting list for ADN at GBCC, it's what I have to do! Right now I'm looking for an online med.terminology class for HCTA. Good luck!

LOVE the Red Cross program in Portsmouth. If you're thinking of going on to your LPN, HCTA would be the place to go. Good luck!

I think there's one in every class! There's one, maybe two, in my LNA course...

Their is an evening LNA course through the Red Cross starting Oct 5th and you can probably still get in. Call them if you're seriously interested. You'll want to talk to Pam or Eileen. http://www.greatbayredcross.org/Default.aspx?tabid=69 I don't know about repeating Nursing 1, but it will definitely give you a leg up because you'll be familiar with working with patients and bedside manner. Good luck! I love my LNA program thus far! :)