Which would you choose?

pnaya · Jan 27, 2006

Hello all! I have a small conflict that I would like suggestions on. I have 3 options of ways to get started in nursing. I have a financial aid appointment tomorrow (loan) and I need to make up my mind today!
Option #1 - Start a CNA class for 6 weeks ($600) and get employment, hopefully with tuition assistance
Option #2 - Start the Medical Assistant program ($10,700 all inclusive) for 8 months
Option #3 - Start an LPN program ($21,000 all inclusive) for 12 months
Any suggestion please

I'm in the same boat as you are, but i think it would depend on how much time u have and how much money you can spend....any one of those is a win-win...but i would prefer LPN - i just think it would provide more experience...CNA is good, but i just hear alot of "horror" stories.... MA is good if u want less contact with pts.

Kwality · Jan 27, 2006

The time I have, because I'm a stay-at-home mom. The money is what's missing :chuckle. That's why I'm going to have to get a loan. I used my grant money to get my BA 5 years ago. I must agree with you about the LPN. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. :)

meri29 · Jan 27, 2006

The least expensive option is definately the way to go. However, many hospitals in my area (Atlanta) offer work for student nurses as Patient Care Technicians. There are no extra classes to take. The only hitch is that you must have had 2 semesters of nursing school (with clinical -- not pre-reqs) before they take you on. However, I earn great pay, my hours are scheduled around my schooling, and I'm also drawing extra service cancelable loans through the hospital on top of Georgia's service cancelable loan program. It's win-win! To earn money the first year, I just worked retail.

Fonenurse · Jan 27, 2006

I would try to think more long term - what do you want to do with your life? What will make you more satisfied? You may be better off with the cheaper option financially, but would that job make you happy? For me its a choice of rich and miserable or broke and happy - go with the job that you think will give you most satisfaction - all loans have to be paid off in the end.

Kwality · Jan 27, 2006

I'm not a nursing student, so the Patient Tech route really doesn't apply. Looking long term though, this would be a great investment and I do want to be a nurse. I think there is a six month deferment on the loan after graduation, so that's good.

IdahoNurse · Jan 28, 2006

I got my nursing assistant certificate and then worked part time as a cna while getting my lpn... then I worked as an LPN until I got my RN. If money is something of a bind, I would suggest that. Plus, I really think that it makes you a better RN if you come up through the ranks... you know about how your CNAs and LPNs feel, because you have been there and done that! Not that there is anything wrong with going straight to BSN, but most of the time I can tell those who have come up through the ranks.

Kwality · Jan 28, 2006

I got my nursing assistant certificate and then worked part time as a cna while getting my lpn... then I worked as an LPN until I got my RN. If money is something of a bind, I would suggest that. Plus, I really think that it makes you a better RN if you come up through the ranks... you know about how your CNAs and LPNs feel, because you have been there and done that! Not that there is anything wrong with going straight to BSN, but most of the time I can tell those who have come up through the ranks.

I went to my financial aid appointment yesterday, and it turns out that even with the sub and unsubsidized loans, if I qualify for, that I would still have a balance of $4,000 left if I take the Medical Assistant program that have to be paid during the program! Well, i don't have that just laying around and it would cost about $600 a month!

It looks as if I'm only going to be able to afford to get to my LPN program by working and saving up some of the money. I'm not sure I can take it part-time according the schedule that I saw. It's an all day program.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jan 28, 2006

I personally would get my CNA get a part-time job in the field, start the LPN route and if you wanted to..........later bridge to an RN program. Good luck

IdahoNurse · Jan 29, 2006

You may not be able to afford the whole program, but you can take a few of the basic courses... the prereq. Good luck to you... I had to work for mine, but it means so much more.

Skippitb · Jan 30, 2006

Have you looked at public universities and community coleges in your area? I went to a large public university in Michigan and it just barely cost me $21,000 for all 4.5 years of my bachelors. You could go to 12 months of medical school at the University of Michigan for $21,000. You should be able to find program far less expensive than what you are quoting if you want to make the effort. I would look around some more. All of the community college's around me have LPN programs for about $4,000 for the whole 2 years. I looked at a few different community colleges in illinios and they were priced similarly at about $1,800- $2,000 a year.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Jan 30, 2006

If becoming an LPN is your end goal, I would skip the MA program. I worked as a CNA after completing the first semester of the LPN program. (I worked in a restaurant the first semester) I then worked as an LPN while in RN school. I got very good experience this way. Can you do something else part time until you finish your first semester of the LPN program and are allowed to test for the CNA cert?