Relocating from CA to KS, how to proceed to ensure a swift return?

[Little Miss Blue]

Due to a combination of factors (specifically: a family crisis and my personal financial difficulties), I am relocating from Los Angeles to Wichita. Here in Los Angeles, I was working towards entering the ADN program at Santa Monica College. Now I have to "start over" in Kansas.

I want to spend as little time in KS as possible, but I also want to be realistic in my decision-making and not throw myself back into a dire situation in CA. I've been thinking about my options and trying to determine if it's still feasible to get my RN in California.

Two possibilities I considered:

1) Get my CNA and CMA in KS and finish the prerequisites for SMC's ADN program before relocating to Los Angeles again to work my way through school as a CNA/CMA.

2) Get my CNA, CMA, and LPN in KS and attempt to enroll in SMC's LVN-RN Bridge program, working through school as an LVN.

I intend to get my BSN from UCLA; I would really rather not get it in Kansas.

I know that the economy is bad and there's a job shortage in California, but in terms of my personal mental, emotional, spiritual - and consequently physical - health, it's essential that I live here. I see the return to KS as a (very) temporary situation in which I can get some certifications and save money before returning to Los Angeles where I belong.

My question is: from a strategic perspective, what's the best way to proceed with this? Should I attempt to get my LPN in KS, or skip it and return to Los Angeles as a CNA/CMA? Is one year of experience enough to secure a CNA/CMA position in CA? What other certifications should I look into?

[PetiteOpRN]

Witchita's great! I obviously don't know about your whole situation, but Wichita is not a bad place to be. One big advantage is that nursing school is cheaper in KS than in CA. If your plan is to eventually go to nursing school, you would save yourself lots of money doing it in KS where tuition and cost of living are less.

In the long run, you save yourself time and money going right for ADN or BSN, if that is your ultimate goal, regardless of what state you live in.

When you enroll, check to make sure that you can take boards in CA, if you wish, that way if you move when you are done with school, you don't have to pay a fee to get your lisence in a 2nd state.

[Little Miss Blue]

Wichita may be inexpensive, but as a bleeding heart liberal who craves culture, is involved with the Asian-American community in Los Angeles and has a dating preference to match, Wichita is not an appropriate place for me. I grew up there and worked desperately my entire life to get out. Going back, to me, represents failure; I see Los Angeles as my home and Wichita as a foreign hell. I do not want to be there any longer than is absolutely necessary, and I'm trying to reconcile that with a career in nursing.

Because the ADN program at Butler CC only admits in September and May, and my prerequisites aren't finished, I will have to wait one year just to get in - and that's assuming I get in on my first try. That puts me in Wichita for a minimum of three years, which is devastating. I'm tempted to get CNA and CMA certifications instead and rush back to Los Angeles as soon as possible - I'm just worried that I won't be able to find work and I'll be in the same position I am now.

[Seekinglight]

Well, take heart Little Miss Blue. I'm amazed at reading your post because I find myself in a very similar situation. I will be returning to Oklahoma (Guymon ) after creating my life in Denver where I feel at home and have created a great life. But, due to family, financial, and health (overwhelming stress) reasons, I will be attending school in frigging Liberal, KS in order to finally complete my ADN and move on to a better position in life. This sacrifice will be worth it - I know it. I try to look at the positives which include being able to see my family every day for the first time in many years. And don't be "blue" because there are always people who you will connect with and who share your views. "Like attracts like", right? Who knows, we may have a class together and share a laugh about our circumstances.

[iaca]

Lol, why are people from california always such spoiled brats about it? Mental health? As someone who also went to SMC and now lives in Iowa, Just get over it and do your ADN in kansas.

[Little Miss Blue]

FYI, Likes-To-Make-Personal-Attacks-In-Iowa, I have Seasonal Affective Disorder and I can barely function during harsh midwest winters. In California I didn't even need SSRIs to treat my SAD, but here even a combination of SSRIs and light therapy are barely enough for me to get by on. I wake up exhausted every day, and no matter what vitamins, supplements, and medication I take, I can't stop myself from overeating and oversleeping. I can't focus in school or at work, and I have crying spells and sometimes suicidal thoughts. I can manage spring and summer and usually a portion of the fall season, but I spend almost half of the year here unable to function properly -- and that's no joke.

I'm glad Iowa is working out for you, but I think I know what's best for me.

[BarneyBoy]

If you can find a way to make it work, go straight for the BSN. I'm one of those recent ADN grads who has learned the hard way that fewer and fewer hospitals are willing to hire and ADN these days. They really want BSNs.

[jjjoy, LPN]

Taking CNA or CMA courses and/or working as CNA/CMA in Kansas won't guarantee you a job upon returning to LA. LA's job market is tight all around. But it might help, it couldn't hurt, and it could be personally benefitial to you to start getting first hand clinical experience prior to applying to and enrolling in nursing school.