taramade

It's called being lower middle class. Too "rich" for assistance. Too "poor" to live comfortabley. And yes i'm sure, I have looked into and applied to everything I know of and we don't qualify.

Thanks for the advice. I'm starting to wonder if it would be wiser to go for RN so I can work part time as a cna or caregiver. Atleast while getting pre-req's out of the way. I ultimately want to be an RN anyway, I just thought the lpn-rn track seemed like a smarter and quicker way of having an income and getting my foot in the door. Now i'm not so sure. Thoughts?

So, i'm hoping to start an lpn program in January which will be M-F 8am-4pm (class) and 6:45am-3pm (clinicals). It last 12 months and tuition is $13,000. I have 3 kids. Two will need to be in before/after school care and one will need full-time daycare. That will cost us $200 a week which we really cannot afford. I will be getting student loans and pell grants, but will have no money left over because it will all go to tuition. Plus I will have to come up with some extra $$$ out of pocket for tuition each month. I'm starting to think this is crazy and there is no way we can afford this. But we also can't afford to live off of one income forever either. How do people afford to go back to school? Can you get a personal loan to help with living and child care expenses? We do not qualify for ANY government assistance like child care, food stamps, insurance, etc. Am I fighting a losing battle here? Should I just throw in the towel before I get started and run out of money? I really want to have a great career and bring home a decent income and i'm starting to get depressed wondering if that will ever happen.

My thoughts exactly. Also, for women it is one of the only careers you can start in 2-3 years and make a decent salary, unlike men who can get high paying jobs with little to no education. Women don't have as many options as far as trades we can learn and make a good living. I also believe the ones that are in it just for the money will probably not make it out of school, and if so probably won't make it that far in their nursing career before getting burnt out and doing something else.

I actually did not want to include my previous hospital stays in my essay because I didn't want them to think I was too "sickly" to be a nurse. I have Crohn's disease, and that has been a big part of why I want to become a nurse, but I didn't even mention I have it because of fear they won't pick me. (I am healthy aside from that and it does not prevent me from working.) I'm assuming you have been around a nurse at some point in your life. If someone you knew was having a baby, sick, or what have you. I would try to remember those experiences. You can also include that it's just something that you know. "I feel very strongly about pursuing my career as a nurse, because it has always been something I just knew I wanted to do. It's something that I feel in my heart is the right path for me." You could imply that you feel this to be your calling in life. Also, I don't know what they tell you to put on your essay, but the school i'm applying for wanted us to list reasons why we wanted to go to their college along with why we wanted to become a nurse. So you could also use a paragraph on buttering them up. Good luck!

I meant I didn't need all of the negativity. And most of it, not all, was from "childless" people who assume ALL parents are unappreciative, spoiled brats. And when I said "what can you do, switch shifts with a coworker?" no where in there did a say, a "childess" coworker. I meant, anyone who was willing to trade.

Wow, thanks for all of the replies! Much appreciated, even the bitter ones. Ha! I never said I don't expect to work ANY holidays. I was just curious how parents with young children handle this situation. My question was NOT to hear about how childless people feel about working parents. lol... FTR, I am totally fine working holidays, things can be rearranged, but there are also holidays that I would love to get to spend at home. Also, with a military spouse who deploys quite frequently, and misses these special events on a regular basis, just makes me want to be with them that much more especially when Daddy can't. You can only do Santa and trick or treating for so many years... I imagine when my kids are older I won't care as much about certain holidays. Anywho, I appreciate the feedback and am looking forward to my nursing career. I know things will fall into place when they are supposed to, i'm sure we will just "make it work" when the time comes. The benefit of having a career so I can take care of my kids and be able to afford to take them on vacations outweighs the holiday drama.

By the way, in my area LPN's are much needed in hospitals, dr. office's, nursing homes, and home health. I know many lpn's that work in hospitals around here. Just because your a licensed nurse doesn't mean your destined to only work at nursing homes.... There are many options.

I know what you mean. I'm applying for an lpn program that starts in January. You have to write an essay and have an interview before you will be accepted. They only pick who they want to be in the program. I am super nervous and excited to apply and pray that I get in. I would be so proud of myself to get through the program and finally be an LPN. Yet, there are still people out there who make it seem pointless to go this route and make me feel like I shouldn't even be proud of becoming an lpn. Like, it doesn't even count unless it's rn. The biggest insult is when a friend of mine who is becoming a medical assistant told me her instructor told the class "Don't go to LPN school, it is a waste of time. You can do everything an LPN does as a MA." Oh my gosh I started LOL. Really??? Do people actually believe that crap? I don't care what anyone says anymore, I am proud to be going to school to become a licensed NURSE and one day hope to bridge to RN. But, until then LPN is just fine with me...

What do you do when you have to work holidays? Do you sacrifice your time with family on those special days or is there any way you can switch days with a co-worker? What about after a little senority? Do you get to pick and choose a little more then? When I think about being a nurse I can only picture myself working in a hospital setting, which means crazy hours and schedules, right? I have three small children and there's certain holidays I want to be there for always. So what's a parent to do? How do you handle that situation? Or should I just count on working in a doctor's office until they're older so I have a better schedule?

If I were in your position I would focus on "me." I know it's hard because you want to help your family, but i'm sure they want to see you succeed and reach your own goals. You shouldn't have to settle. You are ONLY 22, that is not old at all. Not at all too late to go to nursing school. I would personally look into all of the nursing schools in the area but an lvn program might be better suited for you right now. It typically is a shorter program and some of them are not competitive at all like the RN programs. They just require a "waitlist." The lpn program i'm going to is a 15 month program and the tuition is a lot cheaper than that community college and universities around here. Then after you graduate just work for a year and enroll in the bridge program to get your RN. But, this is just my 2 cents. Do what you feel is right for you. Think of your family, but also think of yourself. Where do you see yourself in 2-5 years? A driver? A nurse? Only you will know the answer. :)