Donna2care

Good day all......... Does anyone know if there are any more spots open in the sept 2011 class?

Thanks Mike............ I have been reaching out to a lot of Nurses, M/F, Young and Old, RN's LPN's ......... Reached out to school counselors etc....... My heart says LPN field is for me BUT Head is now not so sure..... Lpn's in NJ are being weeded out big time....... Long waiting list for RN schools... Economic and Health Care as we know it I think is changing.......... I have a little bit of time before I jump in (although very little). I am going to research this to make sure I make the best choices all around.....However, If I go forward I will swim like the salmon upstream as that is me..... Thanks Brother......

Just found this post Awesome and good luck to all! I just past LPN entrance exam to school in NJ but not starting until 2011. Going to take some classes at local community college for prep. 48yr old man here. Huge career change but lifelong dream. I will be using the "all nurse" sight often. Any Lic. LPN's or LPN students from NJ here? Just curious... If you are a current lic. lpn or student from ANY STATE please reach out as I believe communication is one of the "best medicines".

Mike, I do not want to get ahead of myself. I am not always going to state facts but I am going to discuss some of my own personal experiences and thoughts. I had been married to a woman whom I had been with from the time she started Med School (RN) up to employment and eventual a position into PACU in a regional medical center. I also was privy to living in a neighborhood to which was largely populated by Doctors and Administrative staff of a multitude of medical centers in my local. My prior profession was not in the medical field directly but I was a contractor (Sometimes supported by the medical personel). I had the opportunity also to share many personal events, parties and vacations with them (Medical personel) as well. Why the introduction? Because I do not want anyone to think I am currently in the Med field (Will be soon with the grace of G_d and hard work). I unfortunately saw/heard many instances of discrimination. Sure nobody stood on a table and shouted it out but it is definately there. Is it Dr. to Nurse . M/rn to F/ rn, Nurse to support staff? I witnessed it all ! I also will tell you I strongly assisted my F partner in school and all her career choices. I was there for the first rotations, the making sure she was healthy and safe at her first job in a psyche center, making sure she was well fed and rested. Yes we shared in the rearing of the babies (3) often which I had to take the lead role in that as well (and proud of it, another story in itself from a fathers stand point). Being a nurse is TOUGH! It is a difficult job VERY(mentally and physically). Yes there are many skill sets needed (Yeah maybe even more than a painter). If you are Male or Female ALL nurses share many commonalities. I am hoping I will be able to look beyond the discriminations and road blocks that may be in front of me. There are road blocks in many careers and in Life in general. Are we as a society getting better? Yes! I hope so. Is there more that can be done? Yes! I will say in the NY metro area my X was well compensated for her work (pay, benefits, vac and additional services offered by her employee) Including additional free education . All that said another reality....... The economy.... the schools cannot keep up with the amount of qualified students whom want to get into the health care fields. Years backlogs, WHY? Not enough PROFESSORS Again another issue. Maybe? Yikes! I might dare say the upper crust of health care (administration) doesn't want competition?(It is a great conspiracy theory)(Why so many foreign nurses and Doctors?) I will say unfortuneatly if my x did not know all the persons she and her family new who knows if she would have gotten into school or even landed her positions she obtained (YES she is smart I do not want to take anything a way from her). Is our whole health care system failing or in need of a make over? Do we need more Techs? Again I know many RN's that have specialties. What about Technologies WOWWWWW. Another question I ask myself Job Security? I have accepted that unfortunately or fortuantely my studies will never end and future learned and schoolastic skill sets and experiences will never end! M/F does not matter. The careers in Health care are challenging and I do not think the end is in sight. I have prepared myself and made the choice this is what I want to do (even after I typed this.. lol). Nobody is putting a gun to my head. This is (for now) still America. I will do my best to work with all others for the betterment of the patient, community and myself. It may or may not be the perfect career for many reasons but here I come and I look forward to working with all. Lastly, I am very interested In some of the facts? Can someone send me resources on Males in the Nursing Fields.... Why are not only men leaving why woman..... Are they leaving all together from the field, taking a break or moving sideways... I have a feeling trends have changed recently because of economic conditions.... I hope all a safe and uneventfull day, "Ray"

Got nervous .......... Thought it was directed at me......

Wowwww Great comments, thoughts and dialogue. Personally I cannot wait to get into the nursing field. At 48 yrs of age and yes a Male and previous "Macho" lol contractor and business owner I am looking forward to a career where I might make a real contribution to our society. As far as m/f, e/o/e and marketing for males in the work place..... I am hoping no matter what road blocks that may be placed in front of me I will confront and conquer them as I then will persevere no matter what. So what! Life is not perfect and neither are we as humans. I can fill 50 pages on how I have been discriminated against and witnessed others being as well. We are all human being. I will not reach to define "discrimination" but overcome real life challenges.... All that I ask of anyone "respect me and I will respect you" and we all will get along. Smile it really is contagious No matter whom you are...... Ray

Hey Dspevak55, I have lived in NJ all my life and can't wait for a change. I was a contractor but have decided to make a career change for a number of reasons. I have vacationed and visited PA many times. May I ask what county you live in and what do you think about the job outlook in your area as a LPN. I am enrolled in the LPN course here in NJ and should be Licensed with in a year. There are many reasons I can see Pa being one of the places I would like to settle. I do see moving forward with a lpn to rn as well but first I need to concentrate on the LPN venue.I am a workaholic enjoy to work nites. weekends and holidays so I am hoping that will be an advantage as well.... Do you know the real $ rate for a lpn in your general location (Medical center, LTC facility or eventual home care) Thanks and good luck in RN program

I will be acquiring my LPN licensure in 1 yr and I am Looking forward to moving to the state of Florida. Could recent LPN grads reach out to me and offer me there approx hourly salary rates, general location and facility type in Florida to which you are employed. I will be enjoying working nights/weekends and holidays (I really will). I hope to take advantage of the LPN-RN-=BSN programs as quickly as possible as well. I am concerned more with rates of pay and benefits than to the type of facility until I get my feet wet and can define my finite career path specialty. Thanks in advance to all whom care to respond and continued success in all your endeavors

Awesome guys........ Heading off to become LPN here in NJ at 48yrs. young..... after 11 months and License acquisition heading south. Then I am going 4 the LPN-RN-BSN program. I have been told LPN class of app 30 only 3 males and I will be the oldest student....... Looking forward to move out of NJ and heading south.... Fla or Tx.

Hello Gentleman... I am going to enter a LPN program here in NJ. I was told there are at least 3 other Males in a class of 28. I was also told I am the oldest student at age 48. I am very excited and being that I was married at the time my x went through her RN program (I should say we lol) I am somewhat prepared to make this happen. Once I complete the LPN program (11 months) and License obtained I look forward to a move from NJ to FLA or TX. Then LPN-RN-BSN. BTW Does any one know If there are any posts in this web site I may communicate with other LPN'S or RN's M/F from Fla. or Tx. to discuss opportunities in those states? Ray

Hey Guys.. Great comments on this post. As a 48 yr old male (future nursing student) and x spouse of a Nurse (BSN) I believe that there are opportunities out there for M nurses. I had the opportunity to live in a very medically professional neighborhood (Dr, Nurse and administrative) besides just having a spouse in the health career field. I had been privy to many off the record conversations re: Male nurses at private parties we hosted or we attended. The following is my opinion for what it is worth...... Doctors/ don't really care...... a plus Administratively/ Numbers and demographics matter....... a plus F-Nurses/ BE CAREFULL of them. Even here in NJ where there are still jobs available the nurses still Kat-fight between themselves like you would not believe so if a nurse of the opposite persuasion entered the picture Yikes!!!. Yep "X" used to get the c-phone calls from fellow F-co workers while they were supposedly on the floor or in specialized units just to spread the gossip about every and any little discrepency that could hang the Male nurse. And Texting... some private eye/lawyer/Insurance company/disgruntled fellow employee is gonna learn how to get those texts and the lawsuits are gonna fly! And the males in health care that used to come over to our home for parties wowwww when they left the girls tore them apart especially if the male nurse was in any way a threat to there future career plans ......And because the M nurses were a minority let me tell you I never saw one that stood a chance. Oh and lastly, never talk about a Dr. EVER you would be surprised at the # of "relationships" between F nurses and Dr's...... professionally or otherwise. Yeh I was at those holiday unit parties as well....... Me keeping out of the Hospital/Medical Center settings. Going private or smaller facility setting..... Hope this helps....... In the real world!~

Advice from the other side. My now "X" experienced some of the issues you describe about worrying and making mistakes. I strongly suggest you reach out to your significant other and hopefully partner first. Discuss all the issues all of them with him/her. Then I would go to a very trusted friend and confidant to make sure all the isssues are true and real. Then absolutely I would seek out your floor/unit director and again in confidence desribe your issues and of course offer some of your own solutions. I hope nursing is for you after all the hard work you put into it. I know there are many options for you as a RN. You may just need to find your niche. My "X" (Hate to keep saying X) experienced many things you described but I always tried to be there for her (and was as that was the only thing I did right lol) We were together "through" the whole school process and career choice thing. WE went from psyche to PACU in just a few years. I say we because I always supported. She made mistakes even was written up once even made huge mistake once that could have been career ending but she was and is determined. I know you have a very dificult job all you nurses do. If you are truly not happy where you are and focused you need to re-direct for your well being and your patients. Future nurse.. "Ray"

Hello Everyone! Just accepted into program (LPN) waiting on start date, Book list, supplies needed etc. Very excited! I will be revisiting this post often. I do have lot's of questions so please be patient. My X went through the RN program at a local community college and had just started her BSN during our time together and prior to our Divorce. Hence that said I am somewhat familiar with the rigors and the challenges that may be ahead of me. I observed one of the greatest assets was the "Teamwork" and the resources of family, fellow students, instructors and the mentors that assisted in her sucess. Ok fellow students her we go! Little bit about me so if you can offer suggestions that may be more specific to my demographics, needs and desires. I am a 48 yr old single male (very very young at heart and health), prior self employed contractor whom is making this excitting career change as I would like to use my prior lifes experiences and combine them with new learned skills and cutting edge technologies to help provide the high quality health care to those in need. I would like to complete my training here in NJ, obtain my Lic. then move to either Fla or Tx to continue my career and education as to aquire my RN. I am a workaholic and can't wait to work nights and holidays in a career I might actually have the ability to make a "real" difference in. (Yes the work schedule is true and concise). I want to be in a career that offers not only stability but will allow me to challenge myself academically to become the best I can be. As a student yet to step in the class room is there any advice you may offer me prior to me getting there? How about things you know now you wished you new when you started. Anything and everything. The good, bad and ugly. (Honesty is the best policy). Thanks again to all that reply. I truly wish nothing but continued success to all the fellow students and graduates of the LPN (and beyond) programs... "Ray"