What to do...

[jenniferlynn98]

I applied to EC, bought Study Group 101 notes, hit my tuition reimbursement start date at work, pumped myself up to get started on this, got the OK from my BON...and then the doubt set in...What if I can't find a job as an EC grad? Will I have to defend my degree the rest of my career? Will my BON do what VA and GABON have just done? Will I be a good enough nurse without all the clinical time? How will I ever get past the CPNE?

So then I went ahead and applied at the community college PRAYING that I could be one of the 20 "lucky" ones to get in...why not, I had all my generals complete, plus some additional ones that they recommended, minimum GPA requirements are a 2.7 and I had a 3.7, and I had 5 yrs healthcare experience, etc... BUT then the letter came today...not only was I not one of the 20 "lucky" ones accepted in...I was #29 on the waiting list:cry:.

So, here I am to debate again...what do I do? There is 4 other community colleges with LPN-RN but all are the same...accept only 20 in and I wouldn't know until May---more time sitting and waiting. There is 1 college that has LPN-BSN but it is $429/credit hour and I doubt (especially with today's whole economy talk) that I could get financed to help pay $37,000 in tuition plus books. Everytime I think about the convenience of EC, no wait time, the cost, etc... my stomach begins to turn again in doubt that I am doing the right thing. Do I just go for it?!?!?

Thanks for listening/reading...

Jennifer, LPN from MN

ps--In case we move for my hubby's job again, I know several states require a certain # of hrs b4 you can endorse your license in their state, but please remind me again of which states will absolutely not accept EC grads--VA, GA (after Dec 2009) and CA...any others?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

You have it a little backwards -- GA is currently a big "no," VA is if you graduate after 12/31/2009. Maryland is another. CA is only accepting those who enrolled before 12/2003 (there are still a few students finishing up in CA -- I know a couple who just passed the CPNE and got interim licenses). Here is the istudysmart page that has pretty good information, except that the GA thing is still not updated on that page:

http://www.istudysmart.com/content.asp?cid=70

If you truly can't plan for where you might move due to your husband's job, EC might not be a good idea for you, if you do indeed have other options. Good luck!