Tflowers34907

Thanks for your insight. It just feels like my time is now. I don't really understand the lack of support from my family. So after my first semester I can possibly get hired somewhere as a CNA? Would I have to take some sort of test or anything?

Hey! Sounds like our plans are similar in nature. I don't know where you are from but here we have a school that offers a BSN/MSN track. Because of this, I have decided to get my ADN first so that I can work on my BSN and MSN at the same time and possibly have the facility I work for pay for it. Best wishes.

Good luck to you as well ManofStone. I might just have to do the same. VintageMother, I would love to work graveyard somewhere but I don't have a CNA license. My school requires full payment upon registration. I wish they would give me at least until February to pay...

I am totally stoked about getting into LPN school for the Spring 2013 semester. I feel like I can finally begin a new chapter in my life and start moving forward instead of constantly starting over. With that being said, I feel like I am meeting some opposition from my family who feels I should just take up phlebotomy and keep working full time jobs. I feel like the fact that I have no solid skill set or formal training in anything is really not helping me and is a hinderance. I usually don't have trouble finding work but it is generally temporary and low paying (I have never made over $9.00/hr). I have applied for a W.I.A. grant but have basically been told I won't get funding until either the fall semester or Spring 2014 (if I start in January I will be GRADUATING in Spring 2014). Now I am just frustrated because my family thinks I should have just taken a secretary position and a phlebotomy class and gotten on with life. From what I have seen in the way of jobs where I live, a phlebotomy certification is useless without a year of experience. My family's answer to this? Just volunteer somewhere for a year... In my mind, doing this will have me no better off because now I am still waiting tables yet I spent $1600 to become a phlebotomist which I am now having to actually spend money to do. Am I the only one who thinks this would be silly? I was thinking I could sign up to take at least 1 class (college orientation) and try to test out of the required math and English. Not only would this save me money (approximately $720), but it would save my spot in the program so I don't have to reapply etc, allow me to keep working and save money for a full load for the summer ($2160), and keep me on track to graduate Spring 2014. Does anyone have any ideas on other ways I can get funding since I am trying to save my financial aid for later pursuits and no scholarships will be available until fall semester? Am I missing something? Can someone tell me why my idea is bad and seems unrealistic?? I just want to see what my family sees. Someone help me please. -Exasperated WannaBe LPN

My LPN program starts January 2nd! I am excited but panicked already. I didn't find out I got in until last week and now I have 1,000,000,000,000 things to do! CPR certification, immunizations, physical dental, background, pray for $$... Lol, I can get it all done but I just hope I still have hair by the time its all beginning. Anywho my program is a 1 year program so I will graduate in December 2013 God willing. Best of luck to everyone!

I'm starting LPN school soon and I am excited. I don't care if people say I am not going to be a real nurse because I am. Real classes that will lead to a real job that will help real people. If everyone was required to go through the "pecking order" it wouldn't be an issue. Personally I think everyone should have to start at the CNA or LPN level and work for 2 years before becoming an RN. Maybe then people would appreciate the roles of Life's Perfect Nurses and Competent Nurse Assistants play. As far as what anyone else has to say, I have found that very few have gone in and done some research to see the real differences in an LPN and an RN aside from pay and the letters behind their name. Be proud to be an LPN. You are a member of a team that cares for people who can't do it themselves, a healthcare professional, A NURSE! :)

Hey y'all! I recently found out I was excepted into my desired program. Now I am waiting to find out if I will receive funding from WIA. The last time I talked to my facilitator, she said they had a number of people who were using funds for the LPN program and had to fund those who didn't get money for the fall before they can give money to people starting in the spring. My question to y'all is what would be some methods I could use to pay that do not include financial aid? I would like to save my financial aid for when I go back for my RN which I know will be more expensive. Ideally, I would like to stay under $25,000 in debt to get my LPN and my RN. I finally have a job and I guess I could self pay but that's a lot to try and come up with by working in Olive Garden waiting tables, lol. I have until January 8th. Plus, any scholarships I could get from the school would only apply in the fall. I am working and would have no trouble paying for the summer since I know already how much the semester would cost but I have to take a few classes in the Spring to avoid having to go thru the admission process again and being delayed until Fall. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for me? Also does anyone know if there is a certain sequence clinical courses are required to be in?

Definitely depends. You need to check with your school. The school I want to get my RN at only goes by your last 24 credit hours which should include your prereqs. Another school I looked at goes by GPA for all schools attended. I think the best thing to do is just apply, expect the worst, and pray for the best.

Great post. Tis all! :)

I'm from Alabama and will be going to Trenholm Tech. The school is very well known here for the quality of its grads so I am very excited. Have you gotten a sample schedule or anything yet? I have mine and its pretty hectic. Its about 16 hrs per semester but I am going to try and test out of 2 classes to save money and nerves, lol.

OMG CONGRATS! We are starting at the same time. This year will fly by! Congrats again!

I was just reading some information about this a few days ago. Here are some links that should answer your question. Medical Assistant Medical Assistants : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics LPN/LVN Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Hey and welcome! My reasons for wanting to enter the field are very similar to yours. I have grown up with a lot of family members who relied on home health due to strokes. My father had cancer in his prostate (removed), liver, and kidneys (reduced by 65% thus far due to therapy) and really wished I had been able to do more to help him when he was in the hospital. I also like the patient education part of being a nurse. I have noticed that there is so much ignorance in my community surrounding things like stroke, heart disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and even STDs. I would really love to help educate people and just help them when they are at their worst. I am trying to keep an open mind as far as specialty. I don't have any nursing horror stories per se'. I have never met a mean nurse but I have met a few ineffective ones if that makes any sense. I just got accepted into an LPN program today. My nursing journey has begun! You really sound like you would make a great nurse. I look forward to interacting with you more here! Good luck with getting into school as well! :)

I got in to LPN school! I am officially starting in Spring 2013! WOO HOO!!

Woot woot! Congrats! *Party at your place!* :)