ruby1228

Thanks for all the additional replies. My grade is now down to an 82% after studying my butt for this last test. I have the final left. It will decide my fate. If I fall below my 82% I fail . I talked with the nursing dean and was told if I fail I am looking at about a 3-5 wait to get back in. I plan to try my hardest to make it.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to comment. It really means A LOT to me. My family and friends just don't understand so its really hard for me to talk to them. I try not to discuss my feelings at work about it because we have some toxic co-workers who love to make themselves better by belittling others. Thanks again!

I figured that was what I'd do as a back up plan if I did flunk. But the more and more I thought about it I thought maybe I'd just do better switching regardless. Ive always been the type of person to study hard and get good grades. Now its like I study extremely hard and end up with low 80s which is failing. Its really hard not get a complex sometimes about it.

Im 33 years old and I'm in Ohio. RNs make more money than LPNs here too. Roughly an $8-$12 difference depending on the location. Really though the money isn't my concern at all. I'm a very frugal person. I never wanted in this for the money. I don't think CNAs or nurses get paid nearly enough. Thanks for commenting though. It does make me feel better to see someone else who has made it through that failed a semester. Even though I repeated what I failed and got As it really wrecked my self confidence. Your right, I should feel blessed that I am in an RN program.

If I pass this semester I will have 2 more semesters for my RN. If I fail I will have to sit out for roughly 2-3 semesters (9 months to a year). Then come back and repeat it and then finish 4th and 5th semester. If I switch to the LPN I will have one semester and that's it. It won't be a full time semester. I've had the more advanced pharm and all the lab skills already so I'd just be doing the clinical/lecture part.

Actually I should take part of that comment back about our hospital no longer hiring LPNs. There is a couple off site clinics that are affiliated with our hospital that will occasionally hire LPNs. But these jobs are far and few. I've only see 2 LPN jobs posted in the 2 years I've worked there and they all require experience. Our hospital will hire LPNs to work as CNAs (I currently work with a few) and as medical assistants and unit clerks. Basically you are a LPN that is not doing LPN work. They will also continue to pay for my school and I won't have to pay back anything if I switch to the LPN. I've already spoke with them about it. Basically I just have to work 1 year per each semester I got reimbursement for. Which is three years right now and will be 4 if I pass this upcoming semester. If I quit work then I have to pay back some of the money.

So sorry about this. I'm a long time lurker, but a first time poster.

I would appreciate anyone's advice. I am driving myself crazy and getting major anxiety over this. I don't know where else to ask because my family and friends do not get it. They all think nursing "couldn't be that hard". I don't think anyone truly understand still they experience it. Anyhow, here is my story. I originally wanted wanted to go from CNA to LPN to RN. I worked 2 years in an LTC, then quit and went to a med-surg floor at a hospital and I have been there close to 2 years as well. I have learned A LOT as an nursing assistant. I am a very hands on learner. The college I attended changed their whole program right before I started clinicals. You either go for an LPN or RN. You cannot go so far and then test out for an LPN. Its one or the other. I had a 4.0 and was one of the ones selected to the RN program if I wanted. Our hospital does not hire LPNs anymore so everyone suggested I go the RN route. It made sense so I did it that way. Now I regret it. First semester I got all A's. Second semester I failed. I got an 81.6 and needed an 82%, so I was close. I repeated second and passed with high A's. I am in third semester now. I am barely passing. I'm getting an 83% right now and still have 2 tests left. I think I will be okay and plan to work my butt off to pass. Really though it could go either way. We start off with 60 students each semester and generally only 10 or less pass. Its a very rough program. Our Nclex rates are one of the highest in the state at 99%. I just feel as though I haven't learned anything in school. Sure for the most part I am pretty good at picking the "best" answer out of 4 choices, but in real life its not going to be like that. I do my best to try to apply things I've learned in school to things I see at work on my floor, but I it only helps so much since I am in a CNA role. I learn sooooo much more from seeing and doing. I honestly think if I could just do clincals instead of chapter after chapter of book reading I'd be getting great grades and feel more confident. But that's just how I learn and I realize the school isn't set up that way. I have 2 semesters to complete to become a RN (plus the nclex obviously). If I change to the LPN I have 1 more semester. I am just scared to death of the responsibility RNs have. I know LPNs still hold a great deal of responsibility but I couldn't imagine being a new grad right out of school and having the responsibility of an RN. I feel like I got myself in a mess. I am 33 years old and feel like I am intelligent person, but I made a mistake. I look around some of my young classmates who are 19-20 or round about there who have never had any healthcare experience and say how easy nursing is. Maybe for them it truly is easy and this is what they were meant to do, or maybe they don't yet have a clue. I don't know. When I hear comments like this I just think "How can being responsible for someone's live be easy". Then my anxiety shoots way up and I think maybe I am just not getting the material like they are. My dilemma is my work has paid for me to go to school so I owe them a few years work as at least a part time employee (2 days a week minimum). I do love working there and want to eventually become an RN there. They have told me that they would only hire me if I was working on a BSN. I do have all of my BSN generals completed except for two classes. Anyhow back to the point of my story. I feel like If I become an LPN for a while I think it will benefit me. But I will have to work 2 jobs cause I have to keep my hospital job. I know LPNs make less and work at LTCs and similar places. Am I totally crazy for doing this? My family and friends seem to think so. I just want to be a good nurse. I don't care about the money. Nurses don't get paid enough anyhow, so the money isn't an issue. I just don't want to be bad nurse. I think maybe a year or two working as LPN may better in the long run for me then move up the ladder. Any advice would be much appreciated. I've been driving myself insane. Thanks for listening!!

I would appreciate anyone's advice. I am driving myself crazy and getting major anxiety over this. I don't know where else to ask because my family and friends do not get it. They all think nursing "couldn't be that hard". I don't think anyone truly understand still they experience it. Anyhow, here is my story. I originally wanted wanted to go from CNA to LPN to RN. I worked 2 years in an LTC, then quit and went to a med-surg floor at a hospital and I have been there close to 2 years as well. I have learned A LOT as an nursing assistant. I am a very hands on learner. The college I attended changed their whole program right before I started clinicals. You either go for an LPN or RN. You cannot go so far and then test out for an LPN. Its one or the other. I had a 4.0 and was one of the ones selected to the RN program if I wanted. Our hospital does not hire LPNs anymore so everyone suggested I go the RN route. It made sense so I did it that way. Now I regret it. First semester I got all A's. Second semester I failed. I got an 81.6 and needed an 82%, so I was close. I repeated second and passed with high A's. I am in third semester now. I am barely passing. I'm getting an 83% right now and still have 2 tests left. I think I will be okay and plan to work my butt off to pass. Really though it could go either way. We start off with 60 students each semester and generally only 10 or less pass. Its a very rough program. Our Nclex rates are one of the highest in the state at 99%. I just feel as though I haven't learned anything in school. Sure for the most part I am pretty good at picking the "best" answer out of 4 choices, but in real life its not going to be like that. I do my best to try to apply things I've learned in school to things I see at work on my floor, but I it only helps so much since I am in a CNA role. I learn sooooo much more from seeing and doing. I honestly think if I could just do clincals instead of chapter after chapter of book reading I'd be getting great grades and feel more confident. But that's just how I learn and I realize the school isn't set up that way. I have 2 semesters to complete to become a RN (plus the nclex obviously). If I change to the LPN I have 1 more semester. I am just scared to death of the responsibility RNs have. I know LPNs still hold a great deal of responsibility but I couldn't imagine being a new grad right out of school and having the responsibility of an RN. I feel like I got myself in a mess. I am 33 years old and feel like I am intelligent person, but I made a mistake. I look around some of my young classmates who are 19-20 or round about there who have never had any healthcare experience and say how easy nursing is. Maybe for them it truly is easy and this is what they were meant to do, or maybe they don't yet have a clue. I don't know. When I hear comments like this I just think "How can being responsible for someone's live be easy". Then my anxiety shoots way up and I think maybe I am just not getting the material like they are. My dilemma is my work has paid for me to go to school so I owe them a few years work as at least a part time employee (2 days a week minimum). I do love working there and want to eventually become an RN there. They have told me that they would only hire me if I was working on a BSN. I do have all of my BSN generals completed except for two classes. Anyhow back to the point of my story. I feel like If I become an LPN for a while I think it will benefit me. But I will have to work 2 jobs cause I have to keep my hospital job. I know LPNs make less and work at LTCs and similar places. Am I totally crazy for doing this? My family and friends seem to think so. I just want to be a good nurse. I don't care about the money. Nurses don't get paid enough anyhow, so the money isn't an issue. I just don't want to be bad nurse. I think maybe a year or two working as LPN may better in the long run for me then move up the ladder. Any advice would be much appreciated. I've been driving myself insane. Thanks for listening!!!