Southern Cal - Please help!!!

[jelly]

I just don't know what to do! I'm an LVN, with no experience. I took the boards in CO and got licensed and then moved to CA. By the time I got my license, I was already employed in a non-healthcare related field, making $50/K year. I applied for some LVN jobs, but only got one call, and it wasn't enough money, nor would I have gotten any good experience out of it.

I've been here a year now and I need to make a decision. If I stay at my company, I can do business school online and my company will reimburse me a %. But I still desperately want to finish nursing school, so I need to figure out what to do asap. My job is full time days, so I need another job. I need to work as an LVN at nights to finish RN school, right? I'm almost done. I have 3 1/2 years. I should finish in 1-2 years. I'm even totally ok with doing my Associates RN first and getting that over with in a year. One of my biggest problems is the pay. It's sad how little LVN's make. Any advice on where a new LVN could work and get decent pay?

Since I can't afford to just quit my job and make $15K/year less (because of the cost of living here!), I want to get some experience on the weekends. Does anyone know of any places I might be able to work weekends for some experience, so that I might actually get called on any jobs I apply for? Is that even possible? I can't do per diem right now, cause I have no experience.

I'm just at such a crossroads and I don't know what to do. I have 110 credits towards my BSN, I don't want to start over with business. If I want to finish nursing school, I need to work nights, but still need to be able to pay my bills. I need experience so I will get decent job offers. I just don't know what to do and this is killing me. I want to be a labor & delivery nurse so badly, it's all I think about anymore.

A further complication is that we currently live in Ontario, and I currently work in El Segundo (lax area) but we're moving in April, somewhere closer to LA. Not sure where we're going yet, so it would help if I had some idea of what I may do with myself. We're also trying to get pregnant. Working as a nurse pregnant won't be a problem, would it?

Approximately what do LVN and RN's make starting out and after a few years out here? Salary.com says LVN's make around $12 an hour or something like that, but I had an offer for $17.

If anyone has any advice, I will kiss your feet and name my first born after you Seriously though, this is tearing me up and I don't know what to do.

Thanks in advance!!!!!!

Kelly

[suzanne4, RN]

Slow down and take a deep breath. :)

Where are you attending nursing school for your RN, are you already in a program? Or are you just looking now to complete a program?

My suggestion would be to do a bridge program on-line right now, that way you could keep the position that you have, work days, and then do your program at night. The one big advantage that you have is that you already have the LVN title, as they call it here, after your name. You would also be able to complete the work on your schedule. And you may be able to combine your nursing with the business, as some classes can be used for both degrees.

At this point, to have to take a significant paycut, and probably have to work off-shift, you will be much better off by completing the RN program then getting a job as a new grad in that area.

Hope that this gives you some other choices.

[jelly]

thank you for your response. An online bridge program would be great! Do you know of any such program? I inquired about one and they responded with one sentence that my state didn't accept the online program. Are you in CA? I wish I could slow down and take a deep breath! :S

[jelly]

I also just found out about mount St. Mary's evening/weekend program from reading a post. I went to their website and they aren't even accepting applications for Fall 06 transfer students! If they aren't even accepting applications, doesn't that mean they aren't even waitlisting you? I can't sit around and wait for a year and hope they accept them next year. But, it sounds ideal!

[suzanne4, RN]

Yes, I am in CA.

I know of the program that you are speaking of. My suggestion would be for you to contact the University of Phoenix. They have schools here and are accepted by all 50 states for licensure as an RN. And they also have fabulous business programs, that is where I got my MBA. Perhaps your work would pay for the classes that could be used for both degrees for you, that is a thought.

I would talk to them first, and then let me know what they say.

[pickledpepperRN]

Make sure the program is approved in California. Clinical experience is required for LVN to RN students too. I would get on a list ASAP then take classes while on the list.

I worked as an LVN night shift while working toward my AND. Then eight years later finished my BSN. UOP seems perfect if you can afford it. I did another BSN program for those who are already licensed as a registered nurse.

When taking prerequisites I worked full time. Cut back to six 8 hour shifts every two weeks when doing clinicals.

Here are the approved schools. Look for the ! = LVNs Only

http://www.rn.ca.gov/schools/rnprgms.htm#adn

[jelly]

thanks for the replies. I actually talked to University of Phoenix awhile back, they only do RN (Associates) to BSN. Not LVN to RN I can't believe nobody has yet thought to offer online classes and then just have the students do clinical work on weekends. My prayers would be answered! And with this nursing shortage, wouldn't that help?

I don't have any classes to take while on any lists actually, I have all the prereqs imaginable, except for the odd things that certain schools want (like CSU wants critical thinking). Once I know what program I'll be doing, I'll make sure I don't have anything left to take but you wouldn't believe the crap I've taken through the years waiting for a program! lol Now I just need a program that does nights or weekends! I'd pay anything at this point, but UOP only offers RN to BSN, which I do plan on doing later, once I get an ADN at least!

[jelly]

ok, one more question. Going off Salary.com, I was assuming I'd start out as a new LVN at around $35/year. After reading some posts on here, I'm wondering if I could make more than @$17/hr, especially if I work night shift. I make $23/hr. now ($48/year) ... anyone know if it's possible for a new LVN to make anything close to that? What areas might pay the most? If I can make close to what I make now, it wouldn't be quite as hard to quit my current job and work nights.

Do I need my IV Cert? Anyone know where I can/should get that done?

Thanks!!!

[kitten77]

If you are willing to volunteer a few hours per month/week to gain experience you can call the clinics in LA. I volunteered at the Valley Community Clinic part-time ten years ago and had a great time. Many of the clinics that use "sliding scale" pricing for patient exams are places which have volunteers. If you volunteer at a hospital (in my experience) the work is less patient oriented. With all due respect I don't think you want to deliver flowers to patient's rooms, you would want real hands on stuff which is found at clinics.

Good Luck