footprints1973

Thanks everyone for all your replies and advice. I certainly have a lot to think about! Even if I do go back to school, it's going to be awhile anyway....my husband is losing his job at the end of the year . In the meantime, I will be researching all the possible things I can do. Thanks again!:loveya:

Hi there, I am new here and need advice. I hope you will bear with me and my long post. I am considering going to school to become a nurse. I have a bachelors degree in Elementary Ed and psychology. I tried teaching for a little while, but it a horrible, stressful time. It just wasn't for me. So for the past 8 years, I've been working administrative office jobs. Currently I am working as a customer service rep for an insurance company and I really want to get out! I am literally thethered to my desk all day but my headset, saying the same things over and over again. I have always been interested in medicine and health, and I love to help people. I have been trying to research was in the best option for me: LPN or RN? Things I have to keep in mind: I am married and I have 4 year old daughter. We are not in the best finanical situation. We had to file for bankruptcy last year. To pay for tuition, the only type of loan I might be able to get is a fedreal loan. So I need a program that isn't too expensive. Since I would have to give up a full time time job at some point to do clinicals and such, I am looking for program that is 2 years maximum. I live in the St. Petersburg area of Florida. There are 2 schools I have looked into going to: PTEC (a vocational school that offers the LPN program and St. Petersburg College (offers a 2-3 year ASN degree to become an RN, or 4 years for a BSN. I definitely do not want another bachelors degree. I spent tons of money to get the degree I have and am not using it. I realize that RNs have more of an opportunity to advance to supervisory/management type positions. I am not interested in going into management at all. I am interested in patient care. The LPN program is 15-18 months and costs about 5k for tution, books, and supplies. The ASN program takes at least 2 years. Even with all my previous schooling, I have only met about 12 general ed pre-reqs (such as humanities, speech, English, psych.) Nothing else will transfer over because the nursing program pre-reqs are mostly science. So that would shave a little time and money, but it would still cost at least 7k. Also, the ASN program at St. Pete College does not have a wait list but they are VERY selective in their admissions program. From what I read, you have to have high GPA. Also, I've read they currently are flooded with applicants with limited space. So unless my grades are close to perfect, I may have to wait an additional year or more to get into the nursing program. I know being a nursing student does take a lot of commitment time wise, but I don't want my husband and daughter to struggle because of my schooling. So I am leaning toward the LPN program because it's shorter and less expensive, and I have my family to keep in mind. If I get my LPN and like what I am doing, but still want to "advance", I can always go back to school and get an LPN to RN transistion degree. The only thing hindering me on LPN versus RN is the RN's seem to have more job opportunites in a variety of areas. From what I've read, LPNs usually work mainly in ALFs or SNFs, or possible home health care. I'd like to work with a variety of age groups. Another concern of mine is the economy. Currently I make $13.85/hr as a customer service rep. Even though I hate the job field I am in, would it be crazy for me to go back to school and then get out and find no jobs for me? I heard they are LPN jobs out there but they want you to have experience. Do you think places will be hiring LPNs with no experience a couple years from now? Well, thanks for listening to me ramble. Any of your thoughts and advice would be helpful! Footprints1973