One Year Down... One More To Go!!!

[JessiHouston80]

Hello everybody!

I am finishing up my first year of Nursing school in a two year program and am eligible to take the LPN boards after this semester. I have been debating whether or not to take it because money is kinda an issue right now... my husband lost his job (which paid 17.75 an hour + benefits) in March and is now working as a bus driver (which pays 10.00 an hour w/o benefits). We have 2 boys and I do not work outside the home because I am focusing fully on school. However, I believe that I would make more money if I took the LPN boards and worked as a LPN...

My main interest is OB/Labor and Delivery or Postpartum nursing... I would probably enjoy Pediatrics also...

I am open to any suggestions you all may have for me!

Thanks!

Jessi

[cougarnurse]

Hi, Jess, and welcome to the site! :waving:

In regards to getting your LPN, I see no problem with that; we gotta do what we gotta do. Of course, I'd been an LPN for years before getting my RN. I got quite a bit of experience along the way, also. Not sure if many places have LPN's in OB, but I know that there are quite a few Agencies that have Pediatric home health cases where I am. At least you can return to school later, eh?

No matter what you do, drop on by often, and keep us posted.

'Cat'

[AmandaWIRN]

I worked in pediatrics before I worked ER- it is a very rewarding area to work in. We had a few LPN's on our floor, and they were all wonderful- helping with vitals, oral meds, feeding babies, keeping the kids from crawling up the walls! It definetly won't get boring! If you can successfully balance work with school, I say go for it- it will help with your finances as well as provide invaluable experience. Also, once you have a job as an LPN, they may hire you on as an RN when you are done with school- a good way to "get your foot in the door."

[onetraveler]

Hi, Jess, and welcome to the site! :waving:

In regards to getting your LPN, I see no problem with that; we gotta do what we gotta do. Of course, I'd been an LPN for years before getting my RN. I got quite a bit of experience along the way, also. Not sure if many places have LPN's in OB, but I know that there are quite a few Agencies that have Pediatric home health cases where I am. At least you can return to school later, eh?

No matter what you do, drop on by often, and keep us posted.

'Cat'

You are so right. I was an LPN for 17 years. While the transition to RN was challenging it wasn't as daunting as it might have been had I not had those years. I worked as an LPN on a very busy M/S floor. As an RN student I understood the lingo and actually I didn't have to do all the "skills" things for the clinical rotations.. LOL. Never put in a foley, never changed a central line dressing etc. They let the students who'd never done if before do it. But they did make me "precept" them.. I had to tell one student to get another foley kit because he contaminated the first one. Got an A for that observation. The instructor noticed the break in sterility none of the other students did or maybe they just weren't bold enough to speak up...

I say sit for the LPN boards, OP, and then work weekends somewhere.

:luck: :luck: :luck:

[JessiHouston80]

Thanks for the valuable input... I guess my only qualm about taking the LPN boards is the cost. It costs $255 and my husband and I barely have enough to pay the bills as it is. I am going to try and scrounge together the money though because it would pay alot better than what he is making.

Jessi


P.S. I will be finishing my RN schooling in May of 2008(GOD WILLING!)

[cougarnurse]

I just wanted to say :luck: !!!