While we're on the subject, what do you have to do to become a nurse?

[Stepharoonie!]

I know, stupid question, but I'm curious as to what is involved exactly.

How many years of school do you have to go through?

Is it silly to start classes at the age of 25?

Are the classes something you can take along with a full time job, or is it better for a part time one?

Do you do "training time" while taking nursing classes?

Just figured I'd ask. I'm still trying to find a REAL career. Believe me, I don't want to be stuck working in a comic store my entire life. I also have no college education (or college credits under my belt), so I know it's going to be hard to get any kind of REAL job out there.

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[TigerBear]

Originally posted by Stepharoonie!
Is it silly to start classes at the age of 25?

Of course not!! I can't help too much, but I do know there are different kinds of nurses (which may depend on the state you live in): LVN (licensed vocational nurse) and RN (registered nurse). In Texas, I believe LVN programs are only one year, while RN programs are two. Many nurses chose to seek bachelor degrees in nursing. Nurse practitioners have even more training.

I have no doubt someone will be able to jump in here with more info. Good luck!

 

[Poohlovr]

That depends on what kind of diploma or degree you want.

You can become an LPN (licensed practical nurse--also called licensed vocational nurse in some states) in one year.

For an RN, there are different options--

An AD (associate degree) is a 2 yr course.

BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) requires a 4 yr degree.

Not available in our state any longer, but, perhaps in some is the 3 yr program ( associated with a hospital). If memory serves me right, that is sometimes called a diploma, but here it was a Baccalaureate (sp?) program.

Then there are, of course, the advanced degrees, but, I guess you aren't interested in those yet.

25 is certainly not too old. I won't tell you how old I was, but, let's just say probablyy half (if not more) of my class was 25 or older.

Working is a personal issue. I know nurses who worked full time while in school. I know others who quit working completely,saying they could not handle working and school. You just need to be sure that your work schedule can be arranged around your classes and clinicals.

You do get clinical (in the hospital) training as part of your schooling.

I know a lot of nurses who began as LPNs (because of the shorter school required), then, while they worked as LPNs got their RN. They usually made more working as an LPN than they did at their previous job, not to mention some RNprograms will give you class room credit for some of your LPN classes. Many schools are now offering 1 yr bridge programs for LPNs.
The way that works is you get your LPN and work in that position for at least one year. Then you return to school for a year and earn your RN, while you work as an LPN. There is a school here doing that as an on-line program (except for labs and clinicals, of course).Others are classroom studies.

Of course, for all of the types I've mentioned, you must sit for, and pass your boards.

 

[Disney Doll]

Actually, more and more people choose nursing as a seocnd career these days. 21 years ago when I was becoming a nurse, the norm was right out of HS and into nursing school/college.

In my area, there are a couple of options for nurses. One is LPN, which is a shorter course(usually 1-1.5 years). LPNs are limited in what they can do in CT, so check ino what the story is for your state before oyu go that route. I have also heard "talk" of LPNs being "phased out" over time, due to thses limitations, so be wary of that.

RNs in my area have 2 choices: a 2 year nursing school where you come out with an RN diploma + a Associate's degree or a 4 year college program where you come out with a BSN.

21 years ago, there was also the choice of 3 year nursing school with an RN diploma, which is what I chose. I chose it for a couple of reasons:
1. Close to home
2. More affordable than 4 year college with all related charges
3. Lots of clinical experience...I am a better "hands on" learner
4. Quick entry into the "clinical"(hospital bedside) area. Any 4 year college program didn't put you in the hospital til your 3rd year.
That type of program worked well for me because of the above reasons. The drawback was that it took me another 3.5 years (paid for 80% by my employer at the time) to finsih college and get a BSN.

That a; being said, BSN is about the entry level for nurses these days, at least if you want to get anywhere or do something other than hospital or nursing home care, so my advice would be go the BSN route.

 

[MScott1851]

While it may seem more time and money conscious to become an LPN, I know that every hospital I've worked at are using less and less LPNs and hiring strictly RNs, especially in critical care areas. Around here, LPN's pretty much just work in nursing homes and doctor's offices. There are NO LPNs in my department, the ER, at all. Also, if you ever want to be in management, you would need a BSN, and eventually a MSN. I know that I am over women who have been nurses 20 years, because they only have associates diplomas, and I have a 4 year degree. Not necessarily fair, but just the way it is.

I really didn't have much trouble with nursing school.. I thought it was not as strenuous as everyone made it out to be, but others let it consume them. I worked 40 hours a week the last year I was in nursing school...the first couple of semesters I only worked 20-25. I was lucky, I worked at Sears and they would let me come in and work from 2pm to 9pm, and some on weekends....I was also very active in my sorority and in campus activities and partied quite a bit, much to the chagrin of other classmates who had to bust their butts studying and still barely passed...I graduated with a 3.3 and still managed to have a life.

 

[Poohlovr]

Just a note ---in my state, LPNs are used in almost every area of the hospital--the exceptions being ICU,CCU, L&D and surgery.

There are so many LPNs working in hospitals here that there is no way they could be phased out any time in the next several years. As a matter of fact, the hospital I work at tried that a few years ago. It lasted only a few months. Just yesterday, out of 7 nurses working my unit (telemetry), there were three LPNs. They are considered, and treated as, intregal members of the health care team. Our nurse of the year this year will be an LPN.

I guess the use of LPNs depends on how critical the shortage is in your particular area.

Also, limitations on LPNs vary from state-to-state. In Ky, the only limits are--LPNs cannot hang blood, give IV pushes and hang to a central line.
With an extra 4 hr IV therapy course, they are allowed to access and de-access ports, and flush and hang to a PICC llne.

The IV policy for LPNs is under review by the Board of Nursing now to consider allowing LPNs more responsibility.

Across the river, in Indiana, LPNs are allowed to hang blood and do IV pushes of some medications.

Check with your states Board for limitations to decide if the LPN role is right for you, even if it's only while you work toward your RN

 

[Toby'sFriend]

25 is still a baby! You have plenty of time to start a degree.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

It looks like one of the better colleges in my area would be Valencia here in Orlando. For the Nursing, R.N. (A.S. Degree), it appears that you have to have 5 terms of classes for a total of 72 hours *after* your regular classes. You also must have 12 hours of Microbiology, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II before you can start the nursing program.

I'm searching through the site, but I'm not seeing what I have to take as "regular" classes. What do you have to do before you start the R.N. classes? Are they different from college to college?

Sorry for all of the dumb questions

 

[Jasminesmommy]

You can always start by volontering at a hospital and then ask around on how they started. I was thinking of doing the same thing. My only problem is I am deathly afraid of needles and I heard you practice on each other. I don't want an expirenced nurse pricking me so I damn sure don't want an unexpirenced person poking me.

 

[Poohlovr]

I'm searching through the site, but I'm not seeing what I have to take as "regular" classes. What do you have to do before you start the R.N. classes? Are they different from college to college?

I can speak again, only for Ky, but, yes, some classes here do vary from school to school, altho pretty much all require Eng (usually 1 & 2) algebra, A&P, micro, etc.

Why not call the school and ask?

Jasminesmommy--yes, we did practice on one another, but, not much. Maybe one injection and three IV sticks? Mostly we used dummies and rubber arms.

 

[Fire14]

I'm an LPN and My program was 10 months. At My Comm. College the ADN prereqs. were Bio, Eng, and chem. During program or before I had to take A+P 1+2 And Micro plus a few odd and end classes such as Commucation.


As an LPN in MI I could start IVs, Flush central lines, Stop Iv's Etc.

In Ohio I'm still trying to fiqure out what i can do. I know they offer a extra class to be IV certified and it sound similar to what KY LPN's can do.

At my school We were told we couldn't practice on on another Due to OSHA Guidelines so we used Dummies, Did it on pt's during clinicals under sup. of instructer.

I personally work in LONG Term Care (nursing home/Assisted Living.) I do know some LPN's work at Hosp on floor. What I've noticed is smaller Hosp tend to have more LPN's than BIG Hosp.