Sorry so long, but I need some support, advice...

[bgoodman]

I have some questions, concerns and second thoughts here, and I am tired of going over it and over it and over it in my head!!! I am so confused with what I want to do, Iv been going over it with myself for over a year and have gotten nowhere! I know, that is sad! But I sooo need to vent!

I am 32, married, and have 4 kids-15.12.10.8 years old. I have always been a stay at home mom. I have never had a J.O.B. Besides trying to run an AVON business!

A while back, I started taking the pre-reqs at bakersfiled college for the rn program. There are so many pre-reqs and it scares the crap outa me. Anyways, I started with the required biology class, and dropped out the next day! The instructor was saying stuff like how hard the rn program is, and you basically have to learn just as much as a doctor does. Thats scared me big time! I started feeling like theres now way I can can do this RN thing. Plus, at the time, the selection process for the rn program was based on a lottery system. I didnt want to go through all that and not get into the program.

Then I thought of the LVN side of it, less pre-reqs, doesnt seem as hard to me like the rn ones did. BUT, I really dont know if I want to work at an LTC facility. I dont want to spend my days changing adult diapers, and being hit and spit on. (So I'v heard happens from other LVN's) And I believe for here in Bakersfield, Ca. that LVNs are working in LTC and not hospitals. I have also heard that MA's are replacing LVN's. Iv read this everywhere. But I dont know if thats really true or not.

So here I am now, just signed up for and MA program that is online, they help me find internship at the last part of the course. It costs 1000$ and they let me pay interest free 49$ a month payments for it.

But I have seen around that MA's cant find jobs, and the pay is just over minimum wage. Which at first I thought would be fine, cause my husband has a good job and makes good money. He works from 5:30am, to 6-7pm Monday-Fri.

Now, MA work seems fun and enjoyable to me, much more so than LTC work. (Although Iv never done either, so I dont really know what I would think of it, I am just trying to imagine working in both) LVN program here is a 2 year waiting list.

I hear about alot of people complaining about their MA training, And I think its because of how much they had to pay for it.

I just dont know if I should just continue with the MA training, since the price isnt so bad, or if I should go for LVN or RN.

I did a job search in my area, and I didnt find very many MA jobs. But I did find some LVN and RN jobs. LOTS of RN jobs though!! But I dont know if I can do the serious stuff an RN does. Inserting catheters, sticking tubes down peoples throat, have someones life in MY hands!! I dont know about that for me! But it would be nice to have the different job opps that I see, and the money they make. AND, its security too! What if my husband lost his oil field job, I would be able to take care of us on an RN salary! That would be great security. I dont think that would be possible on a MA wage...

Im stumped...Dont know what to do...Dont know if I should keep it small and just be an MA, or go for something else.

I also have to take my kids to school at 7:30am, pick them up at 2:30pm, and then I am the only one to care for them after that. I honestly feel like I cant do anything career based because Im stuck, with no help. And Iv read that MA's usually work 9-5 jobs. I cant work till 5 everyday, I have to pick my kids up!

So I also have to keep my schedule in mind when deciding what route to take.

Does anyone here have any suggestions, advice on my silly situation. Im starting to think Maybe I should just be a stay at home mom forever, or at least till my youngest gets in high school...but Im 32, I dont want to take too long to make a decision.

[PedsRN1975]

I know it must be scary after being at home with the kids to join the work force and specially in the medical field where it seems that you need so much knowledge and there is so much responsability to be had, however I want you to think about this: You are a full time mother for 4 kids. NO vacation, No days off, 24/7 you are responsible to keep this kids healthy and make decisions that will affect the way they grow and develop. Being a mother is the hardest job in the world and it sounds to me like you are doing a great one. So the bottom line is deciding what you want to do, not by how long it takes to get there but how much joy you will get from performing that job/career. Decide and then go for it. I was 29 years old when I decided to go back to school and I was having the same thoughts that you have, RN, LVN, MA . I wanted something that will be quick and taking science classes scared the daylight out of me. But when I looked into the long term rewards from taking the long route and doing it right, it made sense to me. The first semester I dropped everything I signed out for. The second one I was more psychologically ready and I went for it. Believe it or not when you are older you get things in a different way and science makes sense, in a way that it didn't when you were in highschool. I worked hard through my pre-recs and I gave my all with the time I had, I sacrificed time with my family and time with my friends. I lost some friends but the good ones that proved to be real friends stood by me and encouraged me from afar, without putting pressure on my time and energy level. I got into nursing school, at a state school because I got A's in all my prerecs. I decided that since I was doing all this sacrifice I will go all the way and get an A. I communicated with the professors and asked them for help when I was lost and I made it into nursing school. During my second year, when my student loans were crushing me I got a job as nursing assistant at the hospital I wanted to work as an RN. I graduated with honors from NS in 2009 and I had a painful wait until my hospital had a new grad program in september 2010. I prepared for interviews, I researched all the kinds of questions I might have and prepared my answers ahead of time. I made it in and last month I finished my orientation. Now I am on my own and loving it. I make a good salary that allows me to pay for all the student loans and life is so much easier. When I was in highschool I was a mediocre student and noone would have believed I would have been able to go through this process. BUT I DID! And so it's all about deciding what you want and going for it. It will be hard and you will have to sacrifice but look at your goal. And take it step by step. Before you know it you will be done. Someone told me once: Time goes by wether you use to better yourself or not. Use it wisely! You will be proud of yourself and your family. will be proud of you

[bgoodman]

thanks newrn1975 for your advice and support!!

well, i figured that an ma job would fit my schedule better than an lvn or rn. but i hear that ma's normally work 9-5. is this true in most cases?

what i really need is something flexable, where i can still continue to get my kids off to school and pick them up. i really have no body else that will do this for me, or will be able to for that matter...

which career seems the most flexable?

im worried about the programs too though...would i get out in enough time to pick the kidos up, monday-friday...i'm just finding it really hard to choose because of my lifestyle.

and if anyone here has worked in a ltc (which is where most lvn's work at here), is it really typical for them to be the ones doing the bathing and diaper changing, or do the cna's mainly do that? i dont think i would like doing those things on a constant basis! thats why ma appealed to me so much.

oh, and i also just recieved my first course material from usci. a couple days ago i signed up for their ma course, its online. i guess at the end you have to find a place to do you internship/clinicals. for so many hours and then i would be able to become certified through amt, i think i will recieve rma if i do that. and i just called one of the lvn schools here, and she said that i have to either have my cna or cma, i asked if i could have a rma and she said she didnt know if amt will accept me for certification off of the internship, that i would have to have 5 yrs of work experience in or to become certified. is this true, cause i read the amt website, and didnt see this.

the course is u.s. career institute if anyones heard about it, let me know!

but i have 7 days to withdrawl from it. so, im just trying to make a decision...

[bgoodman]

I copyed this from the AMT website: The underlined, bold areas, are what I am concerned about.

1. Applicant shall be of good moral character.

2. Applicant shall be a recent graduate of, or scheduled to graduate from: *

A. A medical assistant program that holds programmatic accreditation by (or is in a post-secondary school or college that holds institutional accreditation by) the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), or

B.

A medical assistant program in a post-secondary school or college that has institutional accreditation by a Regional Accrediting Commission or by a national accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education, which program includes a minimum of 720 clock-hours (or equivalent) of training in medical assisting skills (including a clinical externship of no less than 160 hours in duration), or

C. A formal medical services training program of the United States Armed Forces.

*

If you graduated within the last three years, proof of work experience is not required. If you graduated over three years ago, you will be required to show proof of current work experience.

3. Applicant shall have been employed in the profession of medical assisting for a minimum of five (5) years, no more than two (2) years of which may have been as an instructor in the post secondary Medical assistant program (proof of current work experience and high school education or equivalent is needed). Employment dates must be within the last five (5) years.

4. Applicant has passed a generalist medical assistant certification examination offered by another medical assisting certification body (provided that exam has been approved for this purpose by the AMT Board of Directors) and who have been working in the medical assisting field for the past three out of five years and who have met all other AMT training and experience requirements (no further examination required).

Having read that would you think I would be ok to go ahead with the MA program I had signed up for? I believe I would only be able to get my RMA, and read something about NCCT too...but the lady at the LVN school said she doesnt think I can get my RMA through AMT withought the work experience. But if Im reading the above correctly, it said work experience is not needed if you have graduated within 3 years from an accredited school, which mine is through the US department of education and DETC.

The lady at the LVN school said that their MA program is 950, and the internship will be provided for you. But with the one Im enrolled in, is 1000$ and I have to figure the internship part out on my own I think, they give me a list of places to try out though, not sure yet. But I wondered how hard it would be for someone to let me do the clinnicals/internship...

So what do you guys think???

[mallegar]

Hi,

I have just read your blog and have had some of the same concerns as you did. I'm currently enrolled at Lincoln Technical Institute in PA going for my RMA. I am 39 years old and have tried to go to school two times before this and my lifestyle at that time prevented me from completing either attempt. (My age and then having my first child) My passion for the health care industry has never waivered!! You either have it in you to go for it and achieve it or not. For years I felt like I wasn't smart enough to go to school and get a degree. Well, after almost a year in this excelerated course, I am carrying a 4.0 GPA and found in myself the drive and confidence to want to go even further. I will be on my externship in January and I can't wait to get there!!! I have pretty much decided to further my education from that point on. Becoming a RMA isn't going to be good enough for me, I want more!! I have been in the direct care field for six years and I know I can change adult diapers and see many disgusting things without it putting me over the edge. Once you get into the field and get a feel for these things, should you then decide if the healthcare industry is for you and do you want to spend that time and money to get it!!! It takes a special person to be able to handle the extraordinary sights that are an everyday occurrence in this type of field. I will tell you that if you can handle these sights, there is no other rewarding career to be in!! Yes, being a mother is a gift from God. I am not trying to down play that role but to be able to give someone the true gift of exceptional care they deserve is priceless as well!! Don't give up and you will be successful in whatever you decide to do!!! Have fun trying!!

mallegar:)

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

You changed your childrens diapers for free. Why is it a big deal to change adult diapers and get paid for it? I'm a LVN and I was lucky that I have a job in a hospital. But I also work for a LTC per diem and I have changed diapers in the LTC facility. I refuse to let a resident be in a soiled diaper. What the CNA can do, I can do too. We as LVNs should be team players. I don't do this all the time because I do have my work that I need to get done. When I have some down time I help answer call lights and change diapers, feed patients, etc... In the LTC we do what the RNs do in the hospitals. We do the tube feedings, the med pass, the dressing changes, call the doctors, do ongoing assessments and those of us who are IV certified do the saline flushes, start the IVs etc (not antibiotics or picc lines). It is hard work but it's worth it. If your heart is in nursing then go for it! Go the the LVN forum here and read up on the different threads. Good Luck.