NoWomanNoCry

I wasn't asking for medical advice anywhere in this thread I was asking for advice on if having back issues (Sciatica to be specific) would prevent me from getting into the nursing field.

Because I don't have health insurance at the moment otherwise I would have went to a chiropractor.

Thank you all for your advice. It's a lot to think about. I appreciate everyone's view on this.

Thanks everyone! I do agree I need to see a doctor who specializes in stuff like this...I was just so upset at getting information like this after this doctor had not even physically examined me and literally spent 2mins speaking to me total. Thanks again for the advice :) it seriously made me feel better about the whole thing and have hope it's not just a pipe dream

Sorry if this post doesn't belong here I was unsure if I should post on student nursing or actual lpn board. So ill remove it if I'm in wrong place. I'll try and make this short. I'm 30 and I been wanting to go to school for lpn (who knows maybe bridge to rn) so bad...it's all I'm focused on. I'm trying to find a good school in my area but that's hard and a whole other topic lol..:.so every now and then I have issues with my back (lower back pain and pain in right leg) so I have to watch how I do things a lot. Well back went out few days ago and I'm in bed and can't move...the pain is really bad so my husband helped me up and took me to ER. The doctor came in didn't even physically exam me but said he would do pee test and X-rays. Ok no problem. They get results back he comes in tells me it's Sciatica (sp?) and ask me what I do for a living (this was the most he even spoke to me while I was there) I said I'm trying to get into nursing school..he said RN? I said for now LPN he rolls his eyes and tells me my best bet is to just stay in bed and give up my pipe dream since my back goes out sometimes. So needless to say I came home crying in pain still because they did NOTHING....told me to take Aleve (which I have been and it didn't help). So I'm still in bed and I keep having a pitty party thinking ill never be a lpn. I guess the way the dr said it just upset me but if I wasn't it so much pain I wouldn't have let it bother me I don't think. I guess I'm just coming here to ask is this just a pip dream for me? Do you think I can still do this with my back being this way sometimes? Any advice would be great...thanks :)

I wish you all the best. I didn't want to read and run...your post really touched me.

I'm not the OP, I just seen someone mention the school in Pa being bad and I got worried. As for the 2 schools I listed one is 15mins away the other is 30. However the one that is 15 I know it's not accredited but its approved by state. The whole accreditation is what bothers me.

Also just wanted to thank you for your help I'm not from Pa just moved here 2yrs ago but I don't know where a lot of stuff is really.

Also just wanted to thank you for your help :) I'm not from Pa just moved here 2yrs ago but I don't know where a lot of stuff is really.

I haven't applied yet. But the 2 schools that are in my area is the Schuylkill Technology Center in Frackville Pa and a tech school in Hazelton Pa. I live in Schuylkill county and there is NOTHING here. If my husband and I didn't share a car and we had the money for gas I'd drive further if I had too for a decent school.

Just googled ...it's 2hrs away

Thank you! Off too google that school!

This worries me because I'm in northeast Pa and I'm trying to find a lpn school. I found one but I'm very nervous about it not being up to par because its a VoTech school and I can't find it listed being accredited. It's approved by the state though.

The "bad company" was a friend gave them my name telling them I needed a job. I called them they said to come in...asked me nothing..handed me a packet of papers to fill out (references...tax stuff...ect) I turned it in and she told me she had a client for me and I was to meet another worker there at clients home to be introduced the next day. I went there the next day meet up with another worker from company and met client. The co worker explained to client and myself things I'm suppose to do and not do. Some clients need more things done for example some have it listed to have so many meals made each visit made..some require just one meal. It all depends on how many hours your with client. With "good company" I went in to there office and basically asked for a app and filled it out...I asked for the boss so I could hand app into her. We made small talk and she asked about my exp and looked over my app and said she would call my references and my current job (with the bad company) and get back within the day. I knew I would t have a issue with references or even current job at that time because I was and still am in good standing with both company's. she called back and said she was giving me a client and that was it. I made sure I dressed up..just cause I was applying for a aid position I wanted to look professional. Also a lot of time they will ask you how far your willing to travel. I told them within my town I was living in. Neither company paid for gas/mileage so I couldn't be driving all over just for a $7.25 hr job along with running errands for client. This was all when I lived in Texas and they didn't require any kind of HHA certificate or CPR / first aid training. However since moving to Pa a lot of non medical aids positions are asking for people to take a HHA Training course and be CPR/first aid trained as well. So that's something to consider...make sure you know what your area requires. :)

Also I'd like to add a few other things. It's not all bad but you need to make sure you work for a good company. I had 2 different company's I worked for along with a family that hired me on their own. One company which is the one I listed in the above post was horrible, the other company I never had a issue with and the clients were great. My typical day was getting there in the AM making breakfast for my client...I would remind her of her meds (I never handled them but I simply reminded as she ate her AM meal she needed to take them because being non medical u can't handle them) I would start wash while she ate...collect mail..clean an pick up her home. Depending on the day would depend if I would deep clean or spot clean because I liked to have a schedule of deep clean days and spot clean days. I have her little dogs a bath (this was actually a no no but she was unable to do it and I felt bad for the dogs...if I were to ever got bit I would have taken full responsibly for it) I would pick up her meds run to wal mart and grocery store along with dropping bills off at places to be paid. I would make sure she had a big dinner made before I left so she could pick at it for lunch if she wanted but it was there ready for dinner so she wouldn't have to cook. I also started gardening for her lol she was unable to so I bought (out of my own pocket) gardening plants and pots she would watch me and it was something she enjoyed watching bloom. I would be there for 4hrs 7days a week. Keep in mind I didn't run errands around in my car everyday but it did require me to at least 2 days a week. I also kind of went above what I was required to do like the dog bathing and gardening. But it made her happy thats what mattered. Also another thing I had a client that moved her granddaughter and granddaughters 2 kids into the home after me working there about a month. That was fine until my client was telling me I needed to cook and do their laundry. I was too cook the kids breakfast before they went off to school while the mother slept! I cleaned up after them all...the mother did nothing! Didn't work....then got put in jail and I was asked to pick her up when she was released. Needless to say that was my last day there cause I'm not going to put up with that. That wasn't my job. So you really need to feel your client out (as do they you) make sure it's a good match cause some WILL take advantage of you. When that happens get your company involved and if that don't help ask for a new client and leave. It won't get better trust me! When you get a good client...hold on to them! They will be the ones that make your bad day a good day...they will be the ones that remind you why you work with the elderly. They need you :) Hope this helps. I have many years of exp in HH in a none medical standpoint. Now I'm going to enroll in nursing school.

Here I found it. I worked HH for 2 different company's in texas at the same time. I have patients 7 days a week. All I did was work and I got to know my patients very well. Company number 1 was a joke...all they cared about was the money! I went to a clients home and on her porch was a zip lock bag of pot. Needless to say after a few weeks of seeing things going on in the home I came to the conclusion without a doubt she was selling drugs and pills as well as stolen merchandise out of her home. Now I may get flamed for this part but there was no reason this client needed to be on the home health services. She didn't have the nursing part of the services where a nurse came out weekly all she had was the aid services which is basically a glorified maid. She was 100% able to do housework and things for herself. I remember the company giving me this woman's info saying she really has no reasons to be on HH But she knew how to work it to get it. But they were getting money and were happy. Then one day her unemployed son (in his 40s lived there but wasn't suppose to because she told company she had no one to help her. Who was the one bringing in the drugs/stolen items) anyways he cut his hand on glass and my patient (his mom) had told be before her son had Hep C and when he cut his hand she was wanting me to clean it up and bandage it. I said I needed gloves she said not to worry about it there was none but I needed to help him. I refused and she started going crazy (I think she was on something) and ran me out of her home with a metal crutch (when I think about it now I laugh but I was scared back when it happened lol) I called my company crying and told them when happened. They told me to come right in and write a incident report. I went in told them what happened explained how her son had a cut that was not even stitch worthy but she was verbally forcing me to clean it ungloved ...told them about the other things I witnessed. They were on my side and said they would find me new patient. Then few days go by I find out they kept this woman on their list and was trying to find other people to be her aid. I was shocked because after everything they cared more about the money then their staff.

I actually replied to a tread awhile back about something along these lines...let me see if i can find and copy/paste it because its kind of long.

Thanks! Off to check out the apps and book listed!

I'm looking for a good medical terminology book..something that maybe does things by sections and not all at once so I'm not overwhelmed. Also would these books have the medical abbreviations in them too? If not what would a good book be for that? I was reading a day in a life of a lpn thread and a poster had something about HS and all I kept thinking was HS = high school lol so I figured I need to know this before I enroll in school :)

I just couldn't read and run so I wanted to say I think it's really wonderful you being there for her like that. Wish I had better words of wisdom. Take care :)

Oh ok thanks. In on other side of Pa then lol. 2hrs from Philly. There is NOTHING around here so I'm nervous about being about to find a job.

Congrats on making it one month! I'm going next week to talk to someone about enrolling at the start of 2014. Please keep us updated on what it's like in school. :)

Sorry if this is a bit off topic...I also live in a very small town in Pa and I'm curious what region your in...I'm in NE PA. I have no clue what my starting pay would be so in just trying to ballpark it. Also your the first small town Pa member on here I have met :) For what it's worth if go with number 3. Don't let people stop you from getting a job ever! Plus who knows how long they will last and you may end up liking the job. Good luck :)

The school I'm looking at is a vocational school too. I'm just curious if you like going the VoTech route instead of regular college? I ask because part of me feels like I won't be getting as good of education since I'm not going to a college (I'm not saying that's your case just mine) my school is 12mnths long.

Well your not alone I can assure you. Just from me posting this question I have gained confidence to go out and buy some of the books that were recommended on this thread. Everyone on here had many good points and gave me the much needed push. I'm terrified of failing because I know ill be taking out a very big loan to pay for school so it will have to be paid back and failing it not a option. I also feel like I'm 30..that's no old but I'm not in my 20s no more either. My husband and I had no kids and we won't be because of health issues on my part so I will have all the time in the world to study and I'm willing to put the effort in to achieve this! Feel free to message me if you need to be encouraged by someone who is in the same boat as you! Good Luck :)