moving to austin, looking for schooling for my mom

[sunnywake]

Hi all,

I'm not into the nursing thing so pardon if I step on any toes, I'm trying not to but I don't know much about the nursing world.

I am currently living in wisconsin, but I'll be graduating from college in May and moving to Austin, Texas.

My mom has done everything and anything to help me through school and I plan to do the same for her. It's hard to do things from so far away but I'm trying to be proactive about things.

My mom is interested in doing the lpn/lvn type of program, but cost is also a major concern for us. She'll be living with me while she's in school. So initially what I'm looking at here is getting her into austin community college and working on some pre requisits for her (she has previously gone to community college here and has many of them out of the way) because I figure there is a waiting list to get into the program.

Then after that's complete, she would like to get a job and then get her RN degree.

So my question for you guys, is has anyone done anything similar to this that would be willing to possibly befriend my mom a little and help her along? Some advice here and there? She's not too computer savvy (whicyh is why i'm posting this on her bahalf) but she's getting better, got email and all of that such things now.

She's an awesome lady, 45 years old, recently divorced from a pretty bad ex-husband and trying to really make something of her life. She's really excited about doing all of this, but there's only so much I can help with.

So if anyone is interested in helping us out a little (advice wise, not monitary heh). Even if you don't want to talk to her, you can just pass along some info/advice to me and I'll pass it along her way.

[austin heart, BSN, RN]

Amanda, St. Davids offers a great 2 day 12 lead class, I think it is called Advanced Disrythmias. Back when I took it (several years ago) you did not have to be an employee of St. Davids to take it so you might want to try there. It is an easier class if you already know your basic strips, but I think that they also offered a basic EKG class as well. Just call the their education center.

[mandana]

Thanks a bunch! I'll do it.

Amanda

[nsgstudentinthe254]

I live in Killeen, Tx which is about 45 min from Austin and considerably cheaper than Austin. I attend central texas college. I am in my third semester of the ADN program. It is a two year program. They do have an LPN program, but my suggestion to your mom is to go ahead and complete the RN program b/c you are able to take the LVN test after your 2nd or third semester of RN school. The only preq she needs are intro to nursing, biology, A&P, and comp 1. She needs to take a net test which tests you at an 8th grade level of math, which is the hardest part of the test. There is a waiting list, but it does not have anything to do with grade point avg. to get in. The program is no joke however. The classes are very hard. We started with 52 and we are at 17 now. There are many ladies, and guys, for that matter that are your mom's age. Her age will be a plus because she will be more mature and have life experiences that the younger ones do not have. I also receive a schlorship from the department of health. It is soley based on income. You don't have to write an essay or anything like that. They just needs your tax info from previous year. THe website for that is www.HRSA.gov the website for central texas college is www.ctcd.edu. Good luck to your mother I hope that she accomplishes all that she has set out to do.

[lytexas]

If she is planning on staying in Austin she is going to have a hard time finding a job as an LVN unless she is willing to work in a nursing home. All of the hospitals here are phasing them out and I only know of one that still hires them, Brach, and that is for their skilled nursing unit (nursing home type patiants).

I would encourage her to attempt the RN program if possable. Has she checked into grants or hardship loans?

Another thing is she might want to check into their credit transfer policies. If her classes are older than 5 years old they are more than likely not going to transfer. Also from what I have heard, ACC's ADN program has a pretty long wait list.

Good luck to her, I hope that every thing works out for the both of you! :)

Yes this is very true, I just got hired on to St Davids and the DON there was telling me how the hospitals are trying to do away with hiring LVN because there is so much they are legally not able to do and the RN are having to go behind and do it, so it is making their jobs harder.

I understand your position on not being able to finance the RN compared to the LVN I am going through the same dilema right now but thankfully the hospitals here have opened my eyes and explained it to me like this...An LVN is only 8 mo shy of an RN so for the first 16 mo or so she will be really limited on work anyways then if she stops after her LVN she will be LUCKY to find a job paying maybe $20-$25/hr (and full time is not guaranteed) BUT if she can tough out the last 8 mo and pull loans etc she can DEFFINATELY find a FULL-TIME job paying ATLEAST $30-$35 an hour and even more in the float pools etc, so in terms of money she would actually be able to pay off loans or what not faster AND have her dream job with a SECURE position and be happy!!

Just a bit of advise that I have been given by professionals in the medical field, hope it helps, hope you can see the point I was trying to reach! Good Luck!

[austin heart, BSN, RN]

Yes this is very true, I just got hired on to St Davids and the DON there was telling me how the hospitals are trying to do away with hiring LVN because there is so much they are legally not able to do and the RN are having to go behind and do it, so it is making their jobs harder.

I understand your position on not being able to finance the RN compared to the LVN I am going through the same dilema right now but thankfully the hospitals here have opened my eyes and explained it to me like this...An LVN is only 8 mo shy of an RN so for the first 16 mo or so she will be really limited on work anyways then if she stops after her LVN she will be LUCKY to find a job paying maybe $20-$25/hr (and full time is not guaranteed) BUT if she can tough out the last 8 mo and pull loans etc she can DEFFINATELY find a FULL-TIME job paying ATLEAST $30-$35 an hour and even more in the float pools etc, so in terms of money she would actually be able to pay off loans or what not faster AND have her dream job with a SECURE position and be happy!!

Just a bit of advise that I have been given by professionals in the medical field, hope it helps, hope you can see the point I was trying to reach! Good Luck!

I want to know where you can secure a job in Austin making $30 hour? Is this a night position including difs? Is this a PRN position?

Median pay for an RN with at leaste 5 years experiance is $24/hr base and depends on department and believe me, I have done my research. I would LOVE to making $30/hour!

I also HIGHLY dout that you are going to find an LVN position in Austin making $20-25 an hour. Why would they pay an LVN the same amount of money an hour when they can have a RN for the same price?

[lytexas]

12-24 week assignment beginning November 2005

$500/month living expenses

$34/hr +shift and weekend differentials

$500-$1,500 bonus depending on length of assignment

$250 travel allowance for RNs commuting over 100 miles

2 Years Exp

This is St. Davids, (pulled directly off their website) now granted it is for seasonal RN's and the time frame is Nov-Apr, but you can still apply and they are really looking for RN's just within the hospitals on a regular basis. Now OF COURSE it is going to all depend on your level of experience and what type of position you are looking for and if you are able to do weekends, nights, quick assignments etc, that is with any job. If you choose to work Mon-Fri 7-3 than your pay is likely not going to be as high because that is the most sought after shift and schedule, but by working the shifts that NO ONE wants to work (i.e FRI SAT SUN 7p-7a or even the 11-7 shift) than you will make more. I have talked to several people throughout Seton and St Davids about the benifits of getting your RN compared to LVN and the number one reason from EVERY person I have talked to was the pay differential using the LVN pay around 20-25 (these are the highest possible pay rates that they were basing this on) all depending on what shift, what location, hospital, nursing home etc, and the RN pay being anywhere from 5-10 more an hour starting off (just in the hospitals, i have not looked further into nursing homes for RN's, just LVN), not including float pools (St Davids pays $10 more an hour for float pools alone), weekends or night shift differentials. Now the same will go for LVN, of course you might be lucky to get $20 it will all depend, in a nursing home yeah its very likely to make that much and more, because the LVN really does a majority of the patient care. Every person is different in their quest for a position and your pay will reflect your availability and experience, but there is not much wiggle room for an LVN to make much MORE than 20-25 especially with the hospitals trying to wean away from LVN's in general, which was really the point I was trying to make, regardless what the base pay is for the job she decided to take, she WILL make more as an RN and would be able to pay off loans and what not faster and have a guaranteed position.

[austin heart, BSN, RN]

12-24 week assignment beginning November 2005

$500/month living expenses

$34/hr +shift and weekend differentials

$500-$1,500 bonus depending on length of assignment

$250 travel allowance for RNs commuting over 100 miles

2 Years Exp

This is St. Davids, (pulled directly off their website) now granted it is for seasonal RN's and the time frame is Nov-Apr, but you can still apply and they are really looking for RN's just within the hospitals on a regular basis.

This same St. Davids listing also says that you are not eligable for bennies or PDO. And yes, you are going to get more money for a SEASONAL position. But when you go to apply for a regular full time staff position median pay is between $24 and $26 an hour base. This is what I was quoted and I have 10 years experiance, more than half of that in Critical Care. I personally would not work for a St. Davids group in Austin again either unless I was hard up. They are all HCA which is famous for treating employees poorly.