Nursing School Advice

[hugabearjo]

Please advise, I have just completed my first year of nursing school. WOO HOO!!!! now I am faced with a decision. Summer quarter is optional, if you want to get your LPN you must go (which I have no intention of stopping but, you never know what life might throw at you). Most of my class, I would venture to say approx. 40 out of 52 are attending summer quarter.

I can't decide what to do for several reasons here they are:

1- I am exhausted, it has been a long year with some medical struggles for my kids and myself (maybe all the reason to go summer just incase problems crop up again and they find a more serious cause because we still have an unknown tumor origin that was benign, but has come back. And another child with a nerve damage in his foot that we have no cause for) (or maybe all the more reason to not go and focus on getting everyone healthy.

2- This is what makes it Budget Board friendly- If I go summer I am stretching my budget to the absolute maximum. I could do it barely, but risk having to move in with my mom toward the end of next school year. So winter or spring quarter.

3- I am going to miss the first week and a half of a six week course work so I have to play catch up hard and fast when I start. I am going on a mission trip with my three teen boys and won't compromise that to go to school. Originally this was planned during the two weeks we had off between quarters but, our nursing instructors wanted different time off and changed the dates for summer a little over a month ago. I am a strong student so I can catch up it just makes me more exhausted thinking about it.

Please help those of you who are Nurses, and those who are not.

Thanks in advance. Off to a twelve hour shift. I will check this in the evening.

You guys are great.
Jo

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

In this economy I would do it if it means you'll be an LPN at the end of the summer semester. You never know what might happen and you'll know that you can get good steady work with the LPN degree. Of course RN is better and I know that's what you're going for but this is really good back up just in case.

 

[PrincessDreams2]

Hi there -

I am an RN. Is this your first year of LPN school, or RN?? My advice would be to go this summer, especially if it could potentially lighten your load during the regular quarters. I am not really clear on what you mean about "if you want to get your LPN you must go". I am assuming this means that if you do the summer session, you will have your LPN at the end of summer. LPN = more money, so even if things will be tight for a little while, it would be worth it. If your instructor is willing to allow you to miss a week of school and make it up, that in and of itself is valuable. Not a lot places do that.

Anyways - I would not stop at your LPN, and I take it you are working as an nursing assistant right now?? Get your LPN, continue on and get your RN and then your bachelors if that is possible for you. You have to think about it long term, and especially when you have kids. The nursing field demands higher educations nowadays. You will better your life overall.

As far as possibly living with your mom; that would not be the end of the world, if your mom is supportive and will help you out. I lived with my parents for a year and a half after my divorce and it was the best move I could have made financially. (are you a single mom??)

Good luck to you and you can do it!!

 

[emh1129]

I am entering my last year of nursing school (RN). Our school doesn't have that option to get LPN part way through, but that does give you a lot of options.
So it's 6 weeks minus the week and a half you'll miss? So 4.5 weeks? If so, I'd go for it.
Gives you some opportunities in case things come up health-wise,

 

[magik]

I don't know about nursing school specifically, but I am in graduate school, and I know for my school, regardless of whether it's summer semester or not, you absolutely *must* attend the first class meeting or you are not allowed to be in the course.

I assume your school does not have a policy like this? Maybe you could check with your professors what would be involved with missing the first week and a half and maybe get a head start on readings or other things?

 

[Shelli_5]

I have been an RN for 3 years now. I was a second-degree student and have a BSN. I hear the exhaustion & stress in your message loud and clear, so I am going to disagree with the other posters. I think you should take the summer off from school. Use that time to renew yourself and take care of your kids. Hopefully that will give you a fresh start when you return to school in the fall. Nursing school is HARD and it sounds like you really need a break. IMHO, there is no reason for you to get a LPN license on your way to being a RN. (Just don't give yourself the option of quitting school!) Best of luck with your decision. Let us know what you end up doing.

Shelli

 

[fairies308]

I would go for the LPN and thats only my suggestion. I am suggesting this because I was in a 4 year program, one that didn't offer an LPN option and had 3 classes left after this past spring semester, well notice the was in my statement. I failed the 2 classes that I was in and the college kicked me out of the program. Now I have to figure out where I can go and before Fall 2010 because I will have to retake some classes that are required before nursing classes can be taken. I have been so depressed about it, but everyone keeps telling me that it will work out and for goodness sakes I have 3 kids thats what they keep telling me. Not only do I have to find somewhere else to go, I need to start from the begining so if they offer the LPN option do it.

 

[bennyrn12]

I have been a RN for 5 years now. First let me say good thinking going to nursing school! As for if you should get your lpn or take the summer off if it were me i would just take the summer off. It sounds like the amount of stress you would be putting on yourself if not worth it if you are going to be rn in a year anyways. Even if you went to school you would have to take your boards and then go through an orientation all while still going to school. Stress does terrible things to your body (i got shingles in school because of the stress of nursing school, working full time and planning a wedding!) The money will be there when you are done, being able to spend time with your kids wont! Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[MrsPete]

I vote take the summer off. Here's why:

I'm a teacher, not a nurse, but hard work is hard work. A few summers ago I found myself in a difficult position: I needed to pay daycare all summer (or lose my two children's spots), and I didn't have a summer paycheck. I thought teaching summer school would be a pretty easy gig -- after all, it's the same material I teach during the two school semesters. WRONG. Summer school wasn't so bad, but I started the new school year without having had a real break, without having had time to really prepare for my upcoming school year, without my lesson plans all in order as I'm used to doing -- and that next school year was absolutely horrible. It was bad enough for me as the teacher, but as the student you NEED to be fresh and at your best. If you come into fall semester tired, you're not going to do well, and you may jeopardize your grades or your eventual state boards.

Second reason: budget. If you're likely to NEED to move because of summer school, you're not pushing the edges of your budget, you're exceeding it.

Next, missing the weeks because of the missions trip is absolutely not a possibility. Even for a top student, this just isn't something that you can do.

Finally -- and possibly most importantly -- though school is tremendously important, so are your kids. They need some uninterrupted mom time, and summer's perfect for that. In 10 years it won't matter whether your diploma was dated 2010 or 2011 (making those numbers up, but you get the point).

 

[shrpgrl]

I have been an RN for 15 years and I can tell you I still remember the stress. I would say take the summer off and go back fresh. You need to give yourself a break as well as give some attention to your family. When I went thru we had several people get divorced during the final semester ( ADN program very intense, enough said). Many of us carried 18 credit hours and with clinicals we had no life. I don't think I would survive it if I tried it now but I have to say, it was the best decision for us at the time. 15 years and I still enjoy it.

 

[megsters]

im in nursing school to get my RN and BSN. im in my last year, and i totally understand where you are coming from!! my school doesnt offer summer classes at all, so that decision is all laid out for me. fall semester, spring semester, summer off.

im going to reccomend taking the summer off. i completely feel how exhausted you probably feel. im grateful for the down time for summer, it lets me live for a little. i like the feeling of going back to school and feeling fresh and rejuvinated at the beginning of a new semester.


can you still take the six week course if you have to miss the first chunk? ive known some places where its no big deal, and others is a big no-no.
i think contiually being exhaused, stretching the budget to the max, and having to play catch up with everything else going on in your life would be more stressful than the possibility of moving home. ive done it until i finish school, and its been pretty fun.

good luck on school. im right there with you !!

 

[emh1129]

OP- If you do decide to take the LPN summer course, you'll still have a month or so "off" afterwards, right? So you'll still have some time off before the fall semester starts, albeit not as much, right?

 

[paper1225]

Another vote for taking the summer off! I just graduated nursing school last fall and since you are only in your first year..........you have no idea the stress and studying that is coming! If you want to be an LPN, then go for it, many in my class did, but I did not want to for many reasons....for me one boards test is enough. Going straight through is very difficult, as I did it with a family and children also, and everyone was VERY happy when it was over-very stressful!

 

[Kellydelly]

Personally I would take the summer off. What is the benefit of taking the extra LPN course? Would it be to get a job as an LPN while you are working on the rest of your RN? In my state they are not utilizing LPNs in the hospitals like they used to anymore (they are popular at long term care facilities, though). I have one more semester to go to get my RN and I am glad for the summer break. I am working as a nurse tech in a local hospital, on a unit I am interested in working in when I graduate. So I am kinda getting a break, at least from studying!

 

[itutorfortravel]

I have been an RN for 3 years now. I was a second-degree student and have a BSN. I hear the exhaustion & stress in your message loud and clear, so I am going to disagree with the other posters. I think you should take the summer off from school. Use that time to renew yourself and take care of your kids. Hopefully that will give you a fresh start when you return to school in the fall. Nursing school is HARD and it sounds like you really need a break. IMHO, there is no reason for you to get a LPN license on your way to being a RN. (Just don't give yourself the option of quitting school!) Best of luck with your decision. Let us know what you end up doing.

Shelli

I agree with Shelli. I am not a nurse, however I did earn a Master's degree in math while working. I was not married nor did I have children, and I found it very difficult to balance my life. The last thing you want is to push yourself to the point of exhaustion and risk not doing well in your classes. Nor do you want to become so tired and frazzled that you end up resenting school or becoming irritable with your family (not saying you'd do that, but when I am tired I do become crabby ) I understand being anxious to get your degree, but you also must take care of yourself and your family. It sounds like you will have your mom there to help if you need it at any time, so that is some comfort if you are worried about finances if you don't get this behind you right away and get a higher paying job sooner rather than later.

So, I'd focus on all the things you have going on this summer and return to school in the fall refreshed and looking forward to classess again.

 

[RN4Babies]

I have been an RN for 3 years now. I was a second-degree student and have a BSN. I hear the exhaustion & stress in your message loud and clear, so I am going to disagree with the other posters. I think you should take the summer off from school. Use that time to renew yourself and take care of your kids. Hopefully that will give you a fresh start when you return to school in the fall. Nursing school is HARD and it sounds like you really need a break. IMHO, there is no reason for you to get a LPN license on your way to being a RN. (Just don't give yourself the option of quitting school!) Best of luck with your decision. Let us know what you end up doing.

Shelli

ITA! I've been an RN for 15 years, and remember the stress of nursing school like it was yesterday. In our program, the third semester of clinicals was the most intense and difficult; I know programs vary greatly, but it generally seems the further into the program you get, the greater the expectations along with building stress.

Also, if you are gone for 1 1/2 weeks of a six week summer program, you're going to be missing almost 1/3 of what's being presented. That's next to impossible to make up, even for the strongest of students. At the school I attended, you weren't allowed to miss more than one day of a summer class; if you did, you had to withdraw and take the class over the following semester.

Take the summer off, go on the mission trip, recharge your batteries, take care of your kids, and go back in the fall ready to tackle your classes!

 

[hugabearjo]

Thanks guys for the kind words of encouragement. Sorry it took so long to write back. I came home and crawled into bed last night and then today was filled with pinning ceremony for the class who graduated RN this year. It was touching. Here is some additional information that may help you help me.

*I have cleared the absence with my instructors and they will let me catch up.
*Many of the other class members who are taking the summer off it is because they are working as nurse techs to keep their skills up. I am not working in the medical field.
*In order to get my LPN I would have to pay for and sit for PN boards and I don't have the extra $$$ to pay for the test.
*Especially since our instructors have warned us that LPN's aren't getting jobs in our area they simply aren't hiring.

I am so torn. Part of me says to go and have the safety net, incase either of the children's medical conditions warrent me to drop out next year. It would give me an entrance back into a program. (my current program would hold the placement for me in the next class at the place I left for one year only). The other part says, get healthy, get organized and spend time with the kids incase something medically is really wrong. (they have talked about some very scary conditions for both kids, including brain tumors, spinal tumors, MS, etc.)

I know I am placing a lot of burden on you to help make the decision but, really I don't know where to turn. I have to decide by Tuesday as we leave Wednesday for our Mission trip.

Thanks guys. I am lucky to have internet friends.

Jo

 

[badblackpug]

If you don't have the money for the LPN boards, then the point is moot. Even if you take the LPN course and pass, if you can't take the exam, you can't get a license. I know, in this area, not many employers hire LPNs. (I am an RN, by the way) the only places that are hiring LPNs are nursing homes, and the pay isn't all that great. plus, missing the 1st week and a half may put you at a disadvantage. What if you can't catch up? Will a low or not passing grade effect the track of your program?

I have to agree with taking the summer off. Your second year of nursing school will be very busy and stressful. There will be a lot of studying. Take a rest. Regroup. Go into your next year relaxed.

 

[lisaluvsmickey2000]

I've been an RN for about 5 years now. Our program went through the summers, so with all my prereqs and nursing classes I went full time for 3 full years! With 1 1/2 semesters left you could opt to take the LPN boards and drop or keep going to finish the RN program. Our finances were at the point that we were about to lose our house and car. I had to scrape the $$ together to pay for the lpn boards so that I could get a job at the nursing home next door. I worked every other weekend (24 hours) and 1 wed night a month (8 hours) at close to $20/hr. This allowed me to keep the house and car while I finished the last semester and a half, passed the RN boards, and got a job! Also, taking the LPN boards prepared me for the style of testing that you will see on the RN's...it was very helpful!

 

[MissNurse]

Oh, honey, please take the summer off. I know that the economy sucks right now, but there WILL be nursing jobs out there when you finish your RN. I have a terrible feeling that if you get your LPN, you will be giving yourself an "out". I know first-hand how frustrating and tiring nursing school can be (I got my ADN 9 yrs ago). I wanted to quit so many times, and if I could have worked as an LPN, I probably would have and just quit because it's easier. It is getting increasingly difficult for LPNs to find good jobs. It seems as if they are getting phased out slowly. Take the summer off and spend time with your kids. Rejuvenate yourself. You can do it!