Naoko2001

MedSurg32RN, Thanks again with your feedback. Attending LPN classes part-time while working as a CNA sounds like a very good idea. I am glad I found this web forum, and I really appreciate your help.

MedSurg32RN Thank you for your feedback and clarifying the FMLA criteria. I am going to enroll with a CNA program soon, and see if I am fit for the job, I probably will be pursuing to become a LPN. I have talked to a couple of recruiters from nursing homes, and they both said temp assignments are possible with experience (minimum 6 months).

Thank you for reminding me about FMLA. I worked part-time at my last job (not in the health care), and when I asked my union rep. if I could visit my father in Japan since he was terminally ill. The union rep. told me that I could only take some time off to attend his funeral since I was a part-time worker.

Thank you so much for your valuable opinions. Looks like it is going to take a couple of years before I finish my schooling and establishing sufficient work experiences before I maybe able to try agencies for temp assignments. Meanwhile, I will have to ask my sister to continue taking care of my mother back home. She is not very happy that I am hardly sharing the responsibility with her because I live in a foreign country. I have been feeling so guilty about this situation, and hoping to be able to attain my career goal and take care of my family at the same time. Besides, I believe nursing is one of the most rewarding career. I admire you all!!! Thanks again.

I am thinking about enrolling with a LPN program at a local community college. Before I do that, I would like to hear some opinions about how flexible nursing jobs are in general in terms of taking some time off. The reason why I am asking this question is that I am from Japan and might have to go back home and take care of my elderly mother time to time - every few month or so for about a few weeks at a time. I was wondering if it is better to just obtain a CNA license instead of LPN, and apply for temp jobs I will really like to become a LPN nurse, but I need a lot of flexibility with my job to take care of my mother. Also, I am in my 40's, I was wondering if it is difficult to obtain a job with my age in the field of nursing. I would appreciate any feedbacks from you!!!