Stay at home mom LPN...

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I'm a 29 year old LPN. I graduated in 2007, but have barely worked since graduating, because I have 2 small children & wanted to stay home with them. My husband makes a good living, and I feel fortunate that I'm able to stay home with them. But I really love being a nurse, and feel like I'm forgetting a lot! I'm also concerned this may affect my ability to find a future job once the kids are older (since I haven't worked much).

I only need 2 more nursing classes to have my RN degree, and would love to be an RN as well someday. I've worked on my RN degree part time via internet through a local college. But the college where I'm working on my degree will require me to work one full year before accepting me in to the RN part of clinicals when I do decide to finish up my degree. I'm just scared since I've been out of school 3 years & have barely worked no one will hire me as an LPN to get that one full year.

I was just wondering if there are any other LPN moms who took a few years off with their children right after college before working? If so, did this affect your ability to find a nursing job when you were ready to work? I'm also worried I'm forgetting a lot, will this stuff "come back to me" once I go back in to the workforce? My friend who was an LPN said you never really forget... it's like riding a bike! lol Thanks don't mean to sound whiney... :rolleyes:

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well, I have 4 grown kids and I just got out of nursing school in feb. 2010. Sometimes I am afraid I have forgotten stuff. I start a new job on monday and I'm scared to death. I only have my clinical experiences to go on. I want to be a nurse so bad and now I'm getting my chance. I think once you do get a job, it will come back to you. Like I'm hoping it does for me!!!! Good Luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

I stayed at home with my children for 13 years. Nothing and I mean NOTHING will ever make up for those years they are little. The relationship you build with them cannot be built if you are at work. Now I'm probably going to anger some people with that statement, but there's just no way that working 8 or more hours a day can equal being with your kids for those 8 hours. Away is away. Your children will remember these years as happy ones and you will have built a firm foundation for the future.

As to nursing, there are ways to keep your foot in the door and your head in the game. How about online courses while the kids sleep? keep your brain working by reading nursing periodicals and keeping abreast of new things that come along. Nursing will always be here for you, but your kids are gonna grow so fast it'll make your head spin.

IMHO...older mom facing the empty nest :(

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Im 44 and I chose to stay home with my kids that is why i am just now becoming an LPN. I totally agree with new in ny!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MR/DD, Clinic.

I agree, I took many years off of nursing to be at home with my children and I would never do it differently.

I am currently going back to get my RN and am working PRN right now. I started back at the beginning of the year and love it. I had no problem finding a job in LTC, most places are looking for at least part time or PRN help and it's a way to get your foot in the door.

When they say you have to work 1 full year, does this mean full time or part time?

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Thanks so much for everyone's comments! I really appreciate them! :) They make me feel a lot better. I guess I do need to realize my babies are only little once. I stayed home full time with my first child, and took college classes part time w/ her torwards my nursing degree. I absolutely loved it as well. She's in 2nd grade this year, and I'm so glad I was able to have her with me all day as a baby. Now I have a 17 month old, and I'm happy she's with me all day too. I guess I need to realize work is always there, and when the kids are older, it's there when I'm ready. I have thought about doing a very PRN flu shot job when flu season starts. I had a company tell me they would hire me, and I could work when I wanted during this coming flu season. I may do that just to get some work experience. meadowsong, I need one full year of LPN experience to be accepted in to the RN clinicals at the college I've been attending. I got my LPN through that college. It's local, affordable, and works with my schedule. Thanks again everyone!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MR/DD, Clinic.

Your babies are only little once, I totally agree :) If you can stay home, I'd recommended it. The only other thing I would recommend, and this is just because I wish I would have done it, is to maybe work PRN at a local nursing home. I had a huge amount of anxiety going back into nursing after being out so many years. It can help keep your foot in the door, keep your skills up, and hopefully may count as your 1 year of experience. I wish you the best of luck! :)

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

i was also in the same position as you. i have a 9, 7 and 8 month old. i graduated from lpn school in july of 2009, but didn't get a job until 3 weeks ago. i'm only working prn right now so i can keep my skills up. it's not a facility that i would have picked for a full-time job, but i am learning a lot. they do their own blood draws and start iv's, which is something that was not taught to me in lpn school. i agree with what everyone else is saying, your kids are only little once and you can't take that back. try working prn, so you can keep your skills up. hope this helps!

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I took off two weeks of LPN school to give birth to my son in the 2nd semester. I graduated in 2017 and i just turned 30 this past June. I applied for LPN-RN school but i didn't get accepted because of my over all GPA did not meet the requirements. It is a 2.40 and i need to retake at least 4 classes at Georgia Sate university. That was the only thing they did not like. They like my Science GPA. When I didn't get accepted and realized i would not be starting RN school in May I felt so bumed out. I still am disappointed and it has been 3 weeks since the decision has been made although I am happy i get to be with my son so much now and i will get to be with him during his potty training and I think he will walk soon. Maybe this was meant to happen. Of course i can not give up all together. If i become an RN I can give him anything he wants. I just don't know what to do. I don't know if i should keep on applying to other schools as is or go ahead and retake those classes.

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If anyone has any advice for me it is much apreciated

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