bgoodman

Oh, I for sure will! Thanks for the tip!

First of all, the legally mandated nurse/patient ratios in California only apply to acute care hospitals, not nursing homes. Yea, I just read that somewhere....How long have you been in acute rehab? Is it "better" in a sense in your opinion? How many patients do you have? Would a new LVN grad be able to get into acute rehab? I read up on SOME people that like working in acute rehab. Whats the stress level like, and what hourly wage would a new LVN grad get? Thanks for "chiming" in btw!!

I am thinking that I should become an LVN. And of course that would put me working in LTC/SNF and such. Which I really do think I would enjoy however. Thats the one of the places where I feel good nurses are much needed. I am however, really nervous about the many topics on this board about LTC's and how many nurses absolutly hate working in those places. I know it has to be different everywhere, and I was wondering if the LTC's are better out here in California? I thought I read somewhere that we have certain laws here that require for LTC's to be run a certain way/better work environnmet and better nurse/patient ratios...but I could be wrong. I live in So Cali, in Bakersfield. I was hoping that some LVN's who work in LTC, who live in Cali, So. Cali, to chime in and give me your experiences in this field. Thanks! P.S. I was also cosidering my want for working in L&D, but I would have to go for the RN program instead, (which I dont know if I want to take on an RN's responsibilities or not. I would think that L&D's are much more laid back work invironment than LTCs are....but again, I dont know! LOL I do know that I think I would get really burnt out if I was working in a very high risk situtation where I would have to think critically fast in helping to save someone's life! Thats why I thought maybe Assisted living and/or LTC/SNF would be a good fit for me. What do you guys think?

Yes, the Lvn-RN bridge at the CC here, is also based on a lottery system! AND the pre-reqs, and general ed classes are all the same, PLUS they will want you to have been working as an LVN for a year! So if someone was going to this CC, and they KNEW that they wanted to be an RN, than it would be stupid to not go straight for it! Its kinda crazy. And my big problem is, that I dont really know if I want to be an RN. But anyways, I thought I seen something here on online bridge programs, but I havent really looked into it too much. I also tryed mapping out the class days and times for both the LVN and RN programs offered at the CC here, and it seems that the RN program is less demanding in that aspect!? But the pre-reqs......UGH!! I think I would really like working in LTC, assisted living.....but the nnurse-patient ratios are scary! But Im sure it cant be like that EVERYWHERE right? I have never looked into these facilities here in my hometown so I dont know. I thought I read on this board somewhere that the LTCs are different in Cali. That theres a law on patient-nurse ratio...But maybe Im wrong, cause I have also heard that Cali was the worst place to be a nurse, especially So Cali. Does anyone have any input on this?

If hospitals dont hire LVN's why do they put this in a job ad for a CNA position. Current California CN Certificate or current enrollment in (having completed the first semester/quarter) of an accredited RN or LVN School of Nursing, or a graduate of an accredited RN or LVN School of Nursing So if your an LVN, you would have a chance at getting this job? I must not be reading this right or something! Cause why would an LVN want to work as a CNA? Theres alot of positions for CNA's here at this particular hospital. What do CNA's at hospitals do? From what I have heard, doing cna work in a hospital is better than in ltc... Im still on the fence on what I should go for LVN-RN... Theres many factors that is making it hard for me to decide. But it doesnt seem like anyone wats to answer my questions...Maybe all you nurses are all working and dont have the time??? That would be good! LOL I still think that I would enjoy working in LTC or something similar. Theres less critical patients, more repitition and routine. In hospital theres more critical thinking, fast paced and seriousness work environment. Am I right in defining these two feilds of nursing? I also am in a pickle on the program at the CC. LVN-1 year long, but 2 yr waitlist. I can get the pre-reqs done pretty fast though. RN-2 yrs long, you have to take a test first to see the probability of being successful in the ADN program. Then if you pass you get put in a lottery. The pre-reqs are a little much though, kinda scared of that so I think those will take me some time. I am confusing myself on this so much, that I have said "screw it" I'll just start taking the pre-reqs, starting with the lvn ones, once I finish, I will apply to the lvn program and wait. While waiting start taking the pre-reqs for the RN program. And if I havnt gotten into the lvn program by the time Im done, then I'll apply for the RN program, and whichever one I get into first is what I'll choose. Does this sound like a good plan. I know some you may say, "well if your goal is to be a RN, just go straight for RN. The problem with that is I dont know if I WANT to be an RN. idk...... Anyways, thanks for listening. LOL

I live in So Cal, (Bakersfield) and theres lots of ads here for nurses. Lots of RN ads in the hospitals. The do say at least 1 year experiece PREFERRED, it doesnt say REQUIRED though. So maybe still apply for them anyways...I think they said acute care experience with that too. I have a question about this. Would one way of getting around this would be to do the LV program, get into an LTC for a year, then take the LVN-RN bridge program, and once thats done, wouldnt it be a little easier for an RN to get a job? Since they have some experience there. I see LVN ad postigs too but of course not in the hospitals. And ALL the ads that say 1 yr experience, it says preferred, not required. I wonder if this makes a difference in your chances if you applyed to them anyways...

I dont think I would want to do home health though...And at the CC here both nursig program are full time. They told me that clinicals are done on thursdays and fridays. And I tryed figuring out the other days , and the class that take up those other days dont seem too bad, time wise. When you did clinicals how many hours a day were you doing it? Cause on the schedule it just says TBD, theres no times for it on thos 2 days.

I also want to add, that I was trying to get an idea of how the different nursing programs at my CC are like. I noticed that the LVN program has like 5-7 courses per semester for a total of 3 semesters. But I cant find all the classes it lists so I dont know what time of day most of them will be held. The RN program has 3 classes per semester for a total of 4 semesters. It looks as though 2 of the classes are held in the morning time on mon-wed, and on th-and fri, it says TBD and it says hospital, so these must be clinicals on thand fri. It looks like the RN program doesnt look as hectic like the LVN does. I just wish I knew what times the th and fri clinicals were. What are some of your thoughts on which program would be less hectic and stressful? But even still, I would need to make my choice on which nursing (LVN or RN) career would be less stressful, routine and flexible, in terms of work schedule.

Ok, I think I have made up my mind, half way anyways... I am not going to go for becoming an MA, which was on another post I made here. For most MA's have 9-5 jobs, and thats not what Im looking for. So I am gonna go for nursing, but ofcourse not sure if I should go for LVN or RN. I have my concerns about both! LVN- Mostly work in LTC's. I have heard some horrer stories, (off of this board) about working in LTC. My main concern about this, is the nurse patient ratio...That most LVNs in LTCs have20-30 patients all for just one nurse, and that RNs have at the most 6 patients in hospital settings. RNs-Work in hospitals, and that scares me too because it seems like RNs do more stressful jobs because its more critical, fast paced. I heard their works schedules werent very flexible either... I just dont know which one Im suited for. I can tell you that I was hoping for a nursing career, that will allow flexible work schedules, (I have 4 kids). I would like to have a career that is routine, not too many surprises. And to me, based on this, I keep telling myself that sounds like I can work in LTC, but again...THOSE HORRER STORIES! I know nobody can TELL me which one I should choose. But, maybe some suggestions??? LOL

I copyed this from the AMT website: The underlined, bold areas, are what I am concerned about. 1. Applicant shall be of good moral character. 2. Applicant shall be a recent graduate of, or scheduled to graduate from: * A. A medical assistant program that holds programmatic accreditation by (or is in a post-secondary school or college that holds institutional accreditation by) the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), or B.A medical assistant program in a post-secondary school or college that has institutional accreditation by a Regional Accrediting Commission or by a national accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education, which program includes a minimum of 720 clock-hours (or equivalent) of training in medical assisting skills (including a clinical externship of no less than 160 hours in duration), or C. A formal medical services training program of the United States Armed Forces. * If you graduated within the last three years, proof of work experience is not required. If you graduated over three years ago, you will be required to show proof of current work experience. 3. Applicant shall have been employed in the profession of medical assisting for a minimum of five (5) years, no more than two (2) years of which may have been as an instructor in the post secondary Medical assistant program (proof of current work experience and high school education or equivalent is needed). Employment dates must be within the last five (5) years. 4. Applicant has passed a generalist medical assistant certification examination offered by another medical assisting certification body (provided that exam has been approved for this purpose by the AMT Board of Directors) and who have been working in the medical assisting field for the past three out of five years and who have met all other AMT training and experience requirements (no further examination required). Having read that would you think I would be ok to go ahead with the MA program I had signed up for? I believe I would only be able to get my RMA, and read something about NCCT too...but the lady at the LVN school said she doesnt think I can get my RMA through AMT withought the work experience. But if Im reading the above correctly, it said work experience is not needed if you have graduated within 3 years from an accredited school, which mine is through the US department of education and DETC. The lady at the LVN school said that their MA program is 950, and the internship will be provided for you. But with the one Im enrolled in, is 1000$ and I have to figure the internship part out on my own I think, they give me a list of places to try out though, not sure yet. But I wondered how hard it would be for someone to let me do the clinnicals/internship... So what do you guys think???

thanks newrn1975 for your advice and support!! well, i figured that an ma job would fit my schedule better than an lvn or rn. but i hear that ma's normally work 9-5. is this true in most cases? what i really need is something flexable, where i can still continue to get my kids off to school and pick them up. i really have no body else that will do this for me, or will be able to for that matter... which career seems the most flexable? im worried about the programs too though...would i get out in enough time to pick the kidos up, monday-friday...i'm just finding it really hard to choose because of my lifestyle. and if anyone here has worked in a ltc (which is where most lvn's work at here), is it really typical for them to be the ones doing the bathing and diaper changing, or do the cna's mainly do that? i dont think i would like doing those things on a constant basis! thats why ma appealed to me so much. oh, and i also just recieved my first course material from usci. a couple days ago i signed up for their ma course, its online. i guess at the end you have to find a place to do you internship/clinicals. for so many hours and then i would be able to become certified through amt, i think i will recieve rma if i do that. and i just called one of the lvn schools here, and she said that i have to either have my cna or cma, i asked if i could have a rma and she said she didnt know if amt will accept me for certification off of the internship, that i would have to have 5 yrs of work experience in or to become certified. is this true, cause i read the amt website, and didnt see this. the course is u.s. career institute if anyones heard about it, let me know! but i have 7 days to withdrawl from it. so, im just trying to make a decision...

I have some questions, concerns and second thoughts here, and I am tired of going over it and over it and over it in my head!!! I am so confused with what I want to do, Iv been going over it with myself for over a year and have gotten nowhere! I know, that is sad! But I sooo need to vent! I am 32, married, and have 4 kids-15.12.10.8 years old. I have always been a stay at home mom. I have never had a J.O.B. Besides trying to run an AVON business! A while back, I started taking the pre-reqs at bakersfiled college for the rn program. There are so many pre-reqs and it scares the crap outa me. Anyways, I started with the required biology class, and dropped out the next day! The instructor was saying stuff like how hard the rn program is, and you basically have to learn just as much as a doctor does. Thats scared me big time! I started feeling like theres now way I can can do this RN thing. Plus, at the time, the selection process for the rn program was based on a lottery system. I didnt want to go through all that and not get into the program. Then I thought of the LVN side of it, less pre-reqs, doesnt seem as hard to me like the rn ones did. BUT, I really dont know if I want to work at an LTC facility. I dont want to spend my days changing adult diapers, and being hit and spit on. (So I'v heard happens from other LVN's) And I believe for here in Bakersfield, Ca. that LVNs are working in LTC and not hospitals. I have also heard that MA's are replacing LVN's. Iv read this everywhere. But I dont know if thats really true or not. So here I am now, just signed up for and MA program that is online, they help me find internship at the last part of the course. It costs 1000$ and they let me pay interest free 49$ a month payments for it. But I have seen around that MA's cant find jobs, and the pay is just over minimum wage. Which at first I thought would be fine, cause my husband has a good job and makes good money. He works from 5:30am, to 6-7pm Monday-Fri. Now, MA work seems fun and enjoyable to me, much more so than LTC work. (Although Iv never done either, so I dont really know what I would think of it, I am just trying to imagine working in both) LVN program here is a 2 year waiting list. I hear about alot of people complaining about their MA training, And I think its because of how much they had to pay for it. I just dont know if I should just continue with the MA training, since the price isnt so bad, or if I should go for LVN or RN. I did a job search in my area, and I didnt find very many MA jobs. But I did find some LVN and RN jobs. LOTS of RN jobs though!! But I dont know if I can do the serious stuff an RN does. Inserting catheters, sticking tubes down peoples throat, have someones life in MY hands!! I dont know about that for me! But it would be nice to have the different job opps that I see, and the money they make. AND, its security too! What if my husband lost his oil field job, I would be able to take care of us on an RN salary! That would be great security. I dont think that would be possible on a MA wage... Im stumped...Dont know what to do...Dont know if I should keep it small and just be an MA, or go for something else. I also have to take my kids to school at 7:30am, pick them up at 2:30pm, and then I am the only one to care for them after that. I honestly feel like I cant do anything career based because Im stuck, with no help. And Iv read that MA's usually work 9-5 jobs. I cant work till 5 everyday, I have to pick my kids up! So I also have to keep my schedule in mind when deciding what route to take. Does anyone here have any suggestions, advice on my silly situation. Im starting to think Maybe I should just be a stay at home mom forever, or at least till my youngest gets in high school...but Im 32, I dont want to take too long to make a decision.