Torn between job I love and going back to school

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So I have been accepted into the lpn to RN bridge program that I applied for back in November. since November however I have gotten a new job as an lpn at an ALF at their memory care unit. I absolutely love this job! It is rewarding working with these people and I don't dread going to work everyday in fact it's the opposite. I get excited to go to work. My problem is however that with one of the owners being an RN and with the alf regs there is no need for them to have RNs working there. I am really sad at the idea of possibly not being able to work there anymore eventually. Even during school I will have to cut back on hours there. So the question is do I continue my education now and hope to come across another job Ill love just as much or stay where i know I am happy. Yes RNs make more money but money isn't everything right? I'm also worried about what some friends and others may think about me not taking the opportunity to become an RN. This doesn't mean I couldn't eventually go back to school again one day though right? Ugh I could type a lot more about this, I don't want to type a book, but I just don't know what to do. Lol. How many others have had a similar situation like this? What did you do and are you happy with your decision? Trying to weigh out all the pros and cons of each. I only have a month now to decide.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
So the question is do I continue my education now and hope to come across another job Ill love just as much or stay where i know I am happy.
You are taking a calculated risk by staying at a workplace where you are happy. This job might not be around in five, ten or fifteen years. Even if the job still exists, all it takes is for one erratic manager who dislikes you to terminate your employment and replace you with someone else.
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I would advance myself. Jobs come and go, but your education will always be there for you.

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For every cushy LPN/LVN position, there are probably about a dozen for RN's. And the good part is most RN's don't want those cushy positions because they actually want to work. This should be an easy decision.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I am going against the grain here, and say that while education is important, it will always be there. I think you should continue to work a job you obviously love and enjoy.

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Well if you have taken pre-reqs they expire in 5 years, I am finishing an LPN program myself and if I were you I would continue my education, I have worked at an ALF that I loved but it quickly deteriorated when they got a new director and I had to leave because the quality of care and the residents needs changed drastically, we had several total care residents in an ALF and it started to become more than I can handle, good luck with whatever you decide

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at least go the part time route so that you have all of that positive experience under your belt! Employers love to hear how passionate and connected you can become to your work...

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Can you defer your acceptance for a year? Could be a good option to see if you continue to love your job and give you more time to sort things out.

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I agree with the other posters. Your job isn't guaranteed that it will always be there. The company could shut down, etc. Having more education under your belt will help you. And no-one can take your education away. I think you should go back and further your education! :) You can still work at your current facility while in school. Obviously not as much as before but you still can. Furthermore, if you have a great connection and feel that you want to continue working at that facility, then you could always work weekends or 1 day a week - something, even after you have finished school and are a RN.

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Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

Can you do both? Drop down to part time at your job and go to school.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I am going against the grain here, and say that while education is important, it will always be there.
We must be mindful that the price of education is also increasing at an astronomical rate. If the OP waits 10 or 15 years to return to school, tuition and fees will probably be double or triple what they currently are.

So yes, school will always be there, but it will be several times more expensive. In addition, the older people become, the harder they find it to return to school.

Furthermore, the job she loves might not be around five years from now. In this day and age, being loyal to a workplace is a mistake that blows up in peoples' faces.

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Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.

You never know what the future will bring. You love this job now, but be terribly bored with it in a few years and wish to try something else. Worse, you could be happy working there and one day get called in and told "we are going to an all RN staff, and you can either resign or work as an unlicensed worker for half the money". Sadly, it happens these days all too often. So I say very simply....go get your RN. It will give you the most options in your career.

Best to you,

Mrs H.

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