Veteran thinking of QUITTING LPN SCHOOL

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Specializes in Rheumatology/Emergency Medicine.

Hi all,

I don't post here often as I'm a male and I obviously think different than females, I'm currently finishing my 2nd trimester of LPN school and I am scheduled to finish my last semester starting May 4 with an August graduation date. I'm currently working as a CNA to pay for school, I like working with my patients, doesn't bother me cleaning poo, holding memberes, open wounds, etc etc. However I still need to provide for my family and am seriously considering taking a job at the local VA hospital making as much at working in a non patient care job than I can as an LPN and can start soon. Should I skip out of school and take another job? I've been paying out of pocket for school and I've already paid for this semester, but still need to pay for next semester somehow and I really need a steady job with decent income.

Suggestions? Please no, "we don't do it for the money" remarks, my bill collectors definitely do it for the money and my kids don't care what I do for a living as long as I can provide for them. I'd hate to quit school this close to the end, but my employment preference for government jobs ends in Sept 2009 and I may not get a VA job after that.

Tony

retired Vet, LPN student/CNA

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.

you will need to do what is best for you and your family. make a list of the pros/cons and discuss with your partner.

good luck!

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Specializes in US Army.

Is there any way you can do both... Usually the government's hiring process is pretty slow. So maybe you can accept the position but negotiate a deferred start date, or maybe work some type of shift which allows you to complete school. It doesn't hurt to find out if they will work with you. Good luck

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I understand where you're coming from and I think you should choose whatever's best for you and your family at this time. It will suck if you have to interrupt your nursing education, but otoh if you still want to be a nurse this is probably something you can pick up again after you're settled into your new job.

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Specializes in Rehabilitation; LTC; Med-Surg.
Hi all,

I don't post here often as I'm a male and I obviously think different than females, I'm currently finishing my 2nd trimester of LPN school and I am scheduled to finish my last semester starting May 4 with an August graduation date. I'm currently working as a CNA to pay for school, I like working with my patients, doesn't bother me cleaning poo, holding memberes, open wounds, etc etc. However I still need to provide for my family and am seriously considering taking a job at the local VA hospital making as much at working in a non patient care job than I can as an LPN and can start soon. Should I skip out of school and take another job? I've been paying out of pocket for school and I've already paid for this semester, but still need to pay for next semester somehow and I really need a steady job with decent income.

Suggestions? Please no, "we don't do it for the money" remarks, my bill collectors definitely do it for the money and my kids don't care what I do for a living as long as I can provide for them. I'd hate to quit school this close to the end, but my employment preference for government jobs ends in Sept 2009 and I may not get a VA job after that.

Tony

retired Vet, LPN student/CNA

I won't give you the "we don't do it for the money," because that's a lie! If the pay is terrible, and you spend a lot of emotional and physical resources for school, the pay better be more than $12/hr!

That said, I'll tell you what I would tell anyone in my class: one year of your life and you're done! It depends on where you work - you can do agency work and get paid top dollar as an LVN. The only drawback is that you have to work at least 50 miles away from your current location, or just find a local company that pays you to go from hospital to hospital. The typical LVN pay in my area ranges from $14-$22/hr, but with agency work it's anywhere between $18-$26/hr.

Don't think you won't get a good paying job as an LVN. You can! You have to know where to look. Don't give up just yet, give it one more semester - if you still feel like you need to quit, then do it.

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I have gone back to nursing after 20 years. It's never too late. I totally understand the financial aspects of your dilemma as I was in the same boat. 20 years ago, nurses were not earning what they do today;certainly not as much at the time as an Engineer working for a Fortune 500 computer company. I, too, had small children and was completely responsible for them.

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Specializes in Rheumatology/Emergency Medicine.

Thanks all, I'll try what was suggested, keep going to school and also try applying at the VA with the caveat that I can't start until after school is out. That way I will at least have a choice, start at the VA as an LPN or as something else that has a job opening. It's frustrating that a position that welcomes a patient and logs them into the hospital pays more than the LPN giving the care, doesn't seem fair.

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Even in you work full time in that VA spot you could finish school and when you graduate work perdiem somewhere as an LPN for some extra cash. Nursing homes in my area pay per diem LPNS 27 an hour... obviously thats not bennefits included but if you have the full time job at the VA place you would be fine with that. If I were you thats what I would do. You never know what will happen with this VA job, and then you will always have your LPN to fall back on. Besides you made it this far... don't quit now... :D

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Specializes in Rheumatology/Emergency Medicine.
Even in you work full time in that VA spot you could finish school and when you graduate work perdiem somewhere as an LPN for some extra cash. Nursing homes in my area pay per diem LPNS 27 an hour... obviously thats not bennefits included but if you have the full time job at the VA place you would be fine with that. If I were you thats what I would do. You never know what will happen with this VA job, and then you will always have your LPN to fall back on. Besides you made it this far... don't quit now... :D

We had 2 classmates quit last week, a female to tend to her sick mother and a male, not sure, but the best guess was his statement about the low wages in E. TN.

As for me, as long as I can find the money to pay for this next semester (not certain I can) then I'll try to finish.

Take care,

Tony

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we all know how aweful the financial situation can be while in school- especially when you have kids. like other posters said, Id weigh the pro's and cons and do what you have to do for your family BUT heres some food for thought. Youve most likely already paid for school,will you be reimbursed- When will the next time be that you can start all over and go to school again, your almost done- i know the econmy is bad and every one is struggling which brings me to my next point. Layoffs are happening, and the more education you have the more likely youll be to keep your job since itll be harder to have some one pick up your work once your gone. If you get laid off from that job- what will you do?You wont have anything to fall back on. BUt you can always see if you can take a leave of absence if your family is in dire need, since thats how it seems to be these days- and maybe go back next year with the next class once your financial situation is a little more stable-Or if they have a part timeprogram that you can switch to and work that job too. these are things i think of everyday but for me, in the end i am almost done and were just gonna have to struggle for a couple more months so that way we wont have to as much for the rest of our lives.....either way do what you feel is right- and what works best for you. Good luck on whichever way this turns out.:up:

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