Start a nursing career in Georgia

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Hello All,

I am moving to the Atlanta area within the next year. I have been an accountant for over 10 years and I hate it. I got into my field because it was easy to find work. In my late teens I was a CNA and loved it!! I wanted to pursue a career as an RN to follow in my grandmother's footsteps. Unfortunately for me all of LVN & RN programs in California were impacted or grossly overpriced. I applied to 12 programs and were denied admission by all. The others had waiting list that were over several years long. There was also the challenge of finding work as a new grad after graduation. So I deferred my dreams because I couldn't afford to move from California. I took a job as an office clerk just after my 21st birthday and i haven't stopped working since. One day I looked up and I was a 33 year old divorcee and very unfulfilled.

I love my home state but I cannot make a life for myself and my daughter here. Home prices are ridiculous, the schools are terrible and lets not mention the fuel prices. Its not a fair trade off for the nearly year long sunshine. I need to make a move. My mother is moving to Atlanta to retire. My daughter and I will be making the cross country move with her.

I have read that Georgia has a nursing shortage. I'm not sure if that is true. A lot of for profit schools here in California use that same line to entice students to sign up for classes. Then leave those students high and dry when they can't find a job. I have a few questions for any nurses living and working in Atlanta area.

I was thinking of training as a LPN then I can work while I pursue my BSN. My daughter will be 4 years old when we move and just about to start kindergarten. I want to get out of accounting ASAP!!! I am miserable but I need to pay the bills so I suck it up.

What schools in the Atlanta Area would you recommend for LPN?

Are there LPN bridge programs?

Is there really a nursing shortage in Georgia?

Is it realistic to start a career in Atlanta?

What is the job market really like?

Thank you in advance.

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Nursing schools are as tough to get into here in Georgia as any where else. The job market is lousy for nurses - especially new grads - BUT that doesn't mean you shouldn't try...CNA's and MA's are REALLY popular and by and large have a better chance of getting a job so that would be one way to get started, get a feel for where you want to go and start from there. When I went to nursing school (in Georgia) I did not have to take the TEA's test but that is now required (you can search on here for more info). The GPA and the score form that test determine admission...most accredited schools have a wait list so be prepared for that. You can start researching schools before you get here and even apply if you are able to meet the requirements.

Most hospitals in Ga. no longer hire LPN's..many will hire only BSN grads so you may need to start out as a CNA, Tech or MA if you need to get certified/working. The job market is tough - even for experienced nurses & the pay will NOT be like in Calif.

The VA, MD's offices and LTC hire LPN's. What school you choose depends on where you are going to live (ATL is large), how far you are willing to travel, if you are going to take out loans etc. Emory is one nursing school in the ATL area but they are RN only. Most tech school host the LPN, MA programs, some CNA. There are other nursing schools in Ga (you can look on here or google for them). If becoming an RN is what you really want to do, it's going to take time, patience and perseverance but it can be done. Hope this helped.

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Thank you Weary1. I figured the job market wasn't as plentiful as advertised. I don't mind starting off as a CNA again. I preferred doing that over numbers any day. LOL We are still narrowing down where we want to live. I thought maybe there was a few schools with good reputations for LPN training. I didn't about MA. They're obsolete here in California. Most school's have closed their programs. I'll start looking into my options.

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MA's are heavily used in MD offices in Georgia. Also, some hospitals and other settings employ them as well. Good luck.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Be prepared for a dramatic pay cut, but with a lower cost of living. :) You are wise to do your due diligence regarding the job market. Nursing is often incorrectly billed as "recession-proof" and people are convinced they will be swimming in job offers and money right after graduation and often after graduating with huge student loans coming due, but thousands of unemployed new grads would say otherwise! But it sounds like you would have a good support system with your mom. Best of luck with the move!

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Be prepared for a dramatic pay cut, but with a lower cost of living. :) You are wise to do your due diligence regarding the job market. Nursing is often incorrectly billed as "recession-proof" and people are convinced they will be swimming in job offers and money right after graduation and often after graduating with huge student loans coming due, but thousands of unemployed new grads would say otherwise! But it sounds like you would have a good support system with your mom. Best of luck with the move!

Thank you Pixie. I've had many jobs in various industries and know that no job is recession proof. I love nursing but I'm afraid I'll never fulfill my dream due to the state of the economy. I know too many degrees and certificated people out of work or working in a job that doesn't reflect their education. I'm working a job the polar opposite of my passion. LOL I love my mom for supporting me so I don't want to make a mistake. I have a lot to consider

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Thank you Pixie. I've had many jobs in various industries and know that no job is recession proof. I love nursing but I'm afraid I'll never fulfill my dream due to the state of the economy. I know too many degrees and certificated people out of work or working in a job that doesn't reflect their education. I'm working a job the polar opposite of my passion. LOL I love my mom for supporting me so I don't want to make a mistake. I have a lot to consider

I totally get it! I spent a decade in a soul-sucking, mid-level-management corporate career before I chucked it all to be an ER tech (I had been a paramedic for 2 years at that point, just volunteering in my community). It was a 50% pay cut for a 100% increase in happiness. I believe in following your bliss, but responsibly. Lol. It worked out well for me, I went back to school and have been an RN for 7 years.

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LOL I like that. "Following your bliss responsibly." I hope I can do the same. Thank you.

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I reside in CA, but I'm originally from ATL, GA. All of the women in my family are RNs, and my best friends in Atlanta are RNs too. There is a "shortage" of nurses everywhere, but getting a job in GA is just as competitive just as any other state. You might have a better chance if you look to the suburbs of Atlanta or smaller cities such as Columbus, Augusta, etc. The cost of living is increasing in Atlanta (especially compared to when I was growing up), but it's still much cheaper than CA. For the price my husband and I paid for our house in CA, we could've bought a mansion in GA. The pay for entry-level nurses in GA sucks though. Get some experience, and you will do better financially. The best hospitals for experience are Grady, Northside, and Emory (I used to work there...great benefits). If you get into any of those hospitals, you're set. If you want to work in peds, CHOA is really great. The benefits package is wonderful too, especially for working moms. Good luck and keep us posted :-)

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I reside in CA, but I'm originally from ATL, GA. All of the women in my family are RNs, and my best friends in Atlanta are RNs too. There is a "shortage" of nurses everywhere, but getting a job in GA is just as competitive just as any other state. You might have a better chance if you look to the suburbs of Atlanta or smaller cities such as Columbus, Augusta, etc. The cost of living is increasing in Atlanta (especially compared to when I was growing up), but it's still much cheaper than CA. For the price my husband and I paid for our house in CA, we could've bought a mansion in GA. The pay for entry-level nurses in GA sucks though. Get some experience, and you will do better financially. The best hospitals for experience are Grady, Northside, and Emory (I used to work there...great benefits). If you get into any of those hospitals, you're set. If you want to work in peds, CHOA is really great. The benefits package is wonderful too, especially for working moms. Good luck and keep us posted :-)

Thank you so much! I was definitely interested in Peds. I'll start looking into programs. I think I'll just go straight into an RN program.

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After just experiencing the job hunt as a new grad in GA, my opinion is that it's actually quite EASY as a new grad - especially with your BSN from a respected nursing school here. I was offered 4 positions - 2 in critical care and 2 in specialty areas. Many of my classmates had the same experience, and all of us had jobs waiting before we passed NCLEX. Good luck! :)

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After just experiencing the job hunt as a new grad in GA, my opinion is that it's actually quite EASY as a new grad - especially with your BSN from a respected nursing school here. I was offered 4 positions - 2 in critical care and 2 in specialty areas. Many of my classmates had the same experience, and all of us had jobs waiting before we passed NCLEX. Good luck! :)

Wow!!! That's great to hear. I hope I have the same experience when I graduate. Thanks

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