CHANGE IN LICENSE REQUIREMENTS pls. advise

CHANGE IN LICENSE REQUIREMENTS?? pls. advise [2007-11-21]
I attended AAS (RN) program quite some years back couldn always wanted to got back. But you were still able to sit for the LPN exam if you had completed 3 out of the 4 required AAS (2-year program) semesters. I always intended to do that, at least I figured I could always sit for the LPN boards. Now it seems, as of 6/1/07, in my state (NY) you could no longer do that...you had to graduate from an LPN program. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE IN THE OTHER STATES? I could take the exam in another state. As it stands now, I Anyone know? Pls. advise. Thx.

If you are thinking about LPN . . . [2008-05-27]
Maybe you should think about an associates degree in RN? It is only 1 semester more of schooling than LPN (LPN course 18 months RN course 24 months), and you have a lot more opportunity for RN (as well as a lot more job openings). As an RN you can work hospital, clinic, and nursing home. As an LPN, you are lucky to get anything outside of clinic, thus less work opportunity. I have done a lot of research on these courses, so let me know if you have any questions. Also . . . it may be different per state, but as of right now, the only difference between an associates versus bachelors in nursing is $1/hr pay. Good luck. It is never too late to change your profession.

Yes [2008-05-11]
Excelsior College in New York is the largest nursing program in the US. It is a distance education program and limits its admission to LPNs, paramedics, and other very specific persons who have had substantial supervised clinical experience and instruction. You can get your RN this way; they also have a RN-BSN program and some MSN programs. Go to http://www.excelsior.edu for more info. Some states (California and Maryland) do not accept Excelsior grads; a few other states have some other requirements for RN grads to meet besides just the degree. Most boards of nursing accept it just fine as is. HTH!

Love health field but [2008-04-20]
Can anyone give me feedback on Health Information Technology? I am a MT but never been able to get hired so I will change to something in health field. May be what is listed above. Any idea Need to know what will stick as far as employment. Nursing is out of the question can not stand nasty junk. Something I can do on the computer. Thanks for your help!! Barb

Schooling for RN [2008-01-24]
I have been an MT for 10+ years and am sick of it! I have always been interested in nursing, particularly R.N. Can someone fill me in on all the requirements? You have to get a 2yr degree first, correct? Thanks for any info, I am clueless

Depends [2008-01-24]
on whether you are going to get an AA degree or a BSN. Depends on your area. Just go out to the college and request a catalog. There should be a place in the catalog that will list prerequisites. There you will find what you need. Some programs do ask that you have completed all your sciences before you are accepted or declined. I doubt you will be declined because of the great need. Why do you want to be a nurse? Think about it and talk to some nurses and they might share with you things you should consider before doing this. I am one and choose not to work as one anymore and would rather transcribe and know five others like me. Have you considered checking into Allied Health careers? Radiology technicians, Sonography (they have a pretty good day, spend quality time with their patients, and make good money). Explore all areas of health care before you make your decision. If I were going to start over I would probably go to medical school (I did not want to move out of my area back when) or see about requirements for PA-C. Being a nurse is a real drainer and requires total commitment and endurance beyond anything I have ever done. All nurses who work in acute care and extended care are going to heaven. Don

Nope [2008-01-21]
The math you will learn to use is pretty basic and a lot of schools offer review courses and free tutoring. The most important thing to do is to change your attitude about it. (Not trying to be condescending here!) Also, you will be able to use a calculator to do any of the things that you need to do. Remember, most schools and instructors want you to succeed and they will give you all the tools to do so.

RN, no question, [2008-01-17]
Being an RN and having a wife that was an MT for 20 years, RN license is much portable, especially if you are not happy with employer, you can easily find somewhere else to work. (notfrom home, though). With voice recognition getting better and work going over to India, it is much harder to find a decent MT job.

thanks sm [2007-12-31]
I thought I would get laughed off here, but you are kind, Apple Scruff, glad you understand. I know I can help someone, just have a different set of skills. That's why I chose transcription, would like to see some real people though for a change rather than just on paper. There is hope!!!

old hag looking into nursing - kat [2007-12-30]
I just turned 40. I had been in the nursing program 13 years ago. Didn't finish due to family problems and subsequent divorce. Oh how I wish I had. About a year ago after raising a couple of kids through infancy and preschool and elementary I on a dwindling MT salary I started back taking prerequits. I was told I had to retake a few classes (A and P 5 year shelf life) and they had added few others (Pharmacology, Lifespan Development, and a Chemistry with a lab). So Passed the Nursing Enteract Test (NET) last spring. Got onthe waitlist and 2 more prequistes to take. (second half of anatomy and pharm). I hope I will be in the program next fall. I have no idea how I will be able to swing finances for the next 2 years while in the program. I am hoping to continue MTing part-time, get a few loans/financial aid, and family help. I am not 40 and wonder if I am absolutely crazy. But as the sole supporter of 2 boys (now 15 and 9) I really need to make a change. Mt just doesn't do it anymore. We barely make the bills anymore.

In a quandry; RN vs MT [2007-12-18]
I am 47 years old (I see from below that I am an old hag :)) and looking to change careers. I if it comes to taking care of my family (4 children 13-6), we will do whatever it takes. In order to maintain our lifestyle, recognizing that I appreciate and recognize good grammar, enjoy a challenging job, and require a job that allows me to work at home, I've been looking very seriously into the MT field. If I pursued this option, it would be with a certificate from either Andrews or M-Tec. Reading the various MT boards, however, I am quite concerned about the future of MT, both in pay and job opportunity. And then, at the same time, I am heartened by the enthusiasm expressed by IC the detractors seem to be just as common as the enthusiasts. Further adding to my quandary is the trickle of nurses moving from RN positions to MT. I would enjoy the solitude of being an MT and am highly self-motivated. I believe I would enjoy oncology, L not necessarily the blood but the pus. I am also concerned about bringing disease and sickness home to my family. So, my current plan is to train with M-Tec or Andrews for a year, obtain my certificate, work as an IC and keep an eye on the nursing field. If possible, I might be able to continue to MT while in nursing school should it prove possible. I am also considering the fields of Radiation Technician and Surgical Tech. The reason I would prefer nursing to RadTec or Surg Tec is due to the travel available for traveling nurses (although I understand MedSurg would require at least 2 years of experience before I would be able to travel nurse). Any thoughts?

Excelsior College in NY doesn't [2007-11-26]
You can be admitted there to the RN program since you completed more than 50% of your RN program regardless of the fact that you don't have an LPN license. Otherwise, I don't know about sitting for the LPN exam. My RN program had the LPN built right into it. I had to stop out at the end of the LPN portion because I had a baby. :)

CHANGE IN LICENSE REQUIREMENTS?? pls. advise [2007-11-21]
I attended AAS (RN) program quite some years back couldn always wanted to got back. But you were still able to sit for the LPN exam if you had completed 3 out of the 4 required AAS (2-year program) semesters. I always intended to do that, at least I figured I could always sit for the LPN boards. Now it seems, as of 6/1/07, in my state (NY) you could no longer do that...you had to graduate from an LPN program. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE IN THE OTHER STATES? I could take the exam in another state. As it stands now, I Anyone know? Pls. advise. Thx.

Unclear Post [2007-11-21]
Better and simpler said: Would anyone know if a (RN program) nursing or former nursing student can still take the LPN exam after 3 semesters, like was always the case, or did they change it in all the states? I know in NY you can

nursing vs MT [2007-09-30]
I would say that fiancial reasons are a good one to consider a career change. I hate when people get high and mighty and say people should not consider RN for the salary. Look when you make cents per line for years and make less and less each year a decent RN salary looks pretty darn good. However, I do understand you have to have an appitude and ability to handle patient care. But with the MT job market such as it is is it no wonder people are looking for other fields. Itfields, particularly ones that cannot be outsourced overseas - such as RN or any other hands on type of career. I think that salary is a motivating factor - an enticer, but people should research and go into the field of nursing with eyes openand know that you will be doing more than just collecting a paycheck. If you think you can handle what is entailed in nursing, nursing school, etc go for it. I am taking my prerequistes right now. As a single Mom the salary is a big factor but I also am quite aware of what I am facing and have a true desire to help people and not just in it for the money. I also am in it for the job security. With over 10 years as an MT I have had too many jobs go overseas or watched the line rate get less and less with each passing year. There is no security in this field. I too enjoy transcribing. I like my job - but the field doesn't like MTs back and the hospitals all outsource and most services are just interested in their bottom line. It's just time to get out.

Stopcock device use [2007-08-25]
Are there any nurses reading here that can reassure me about this device my dog has? He had a pneumothorax, and they sent him home with a chest tube. The vet and tech can always get air into the syringe, but hubby and I can't get it to work. We screw on the syringe, change the position of the lever to open it, and pull back on the plunger, but all we can ever get out is some bloody fluid. I know tissues can shift around and block the tube, but always to us and never to them? CJ is very cooperative, lying on his side and not moving. He's such a good boy.

old hag looking into nursing [2007-08-12]
I am another. Although donold hag tag. I am 39, soon to be 40. I have 3 more classes of prerequistes and then on to the nursing program. while I have some reservations about transferring to patient care after being in profession with no patient care contact such as MT. However, I feel confident Nursing has a much better future than MT and I am willing and dedicated to making this career change work for me even though there will be obvious adjustments and lots of hard work required. I too worked as an MT as a single mom for the past 9 years. I too am tired of working for pennies. When I started out as MT I could make 14-16 dollars an hour as a newbie. I did start at 10 per hour as a trainee but after trainining I made the above-mentioned, which wasn yet QA nitpicking you to death on dictators the best Transcriptionist would struggle with. You are lucky to make a decent livable wage. While nursing has it's on unique challenges and I am sure problems, at least you are considered a professional and paid accordingly - not peanuts or by the line... I would encourage single to continue into nursing.

nursing [2007-04-16]
I was working as a CNA 32-hour weeks and going for my RN prereqs Mon through Fri. I too wanted to get my RN as fast as possible for the salary aspect of it as opposed to bridging over from LPN. In retrospect, I wouldn What I observed watching the RNs really surprised me. I saw paperwork taking precedence over patient care and the nurses were becoming madder and madder about it. We CNAs were doing more and more of what nurses used to do while they unhappily sat with the paperwork.We barely made a little more than minimum wage while they got the big bucks. We knew the patients better than they did. The patient load per nurse and CNA was too high because of nursing understaffing. What kept us going was the fantastic feeling you get when you help someone who is suffering. The job has to be done from the heart primarily if you want the best benefit of it. When I saw how frustrated and disillusioned the nurses were because of all the red tape for the slightest thinginstead of patient care, and how they were run ragged because of understaffing,I began to look intotranscription as my main job with CNA on the side because I truly do love hands-on care.On someaccounts, I make more per hour doing transcription than an LPN with a lot less hassle. RN might pay more at first as opposed to transcription, but the burn-out rate is high these days and the constantshift changes can do a real number on you. There-- I think itturning to transcription and she quotes their replieswhen asked why. You might want to check that out.I agree with what they told her. You might also want to try doing CNA for a hospitalbefore you make a major leap.Donyou your information -- get in there and try it youself for a while and see if it is what you want. You may thrive on itor you may hate it. I found that on the jobwas SO different than what I was being told in school.Talk to the nurses themselves. They aremore than happy to share their thoughts with you and give you advice when they have the time. As for the respect factor of LPN to RN -- where I worked the nurses were very supportive of anyone who did this, as that is how many of them became RNs.While there were some power-plays at times, all in all it was like a family. If there was real trouble in that regard, I never saw any. As a matter of fact, I was advised by the nurses to do the LPN first and bridge over because I The only nurses I saw who were not liked and respected were the lazy ones who just wanted to take breaks and leave as much of their patient care as they could to the CNAs. Good luck to you whatever you decide! We sure need more dedicated nurses!

Need advice on becoming RN [2007-04-15]
I am currently an MT who made $300 last week typing my butt off. I am seriously thinking about going to school to become an RN. My cousin got a job right out of school making $18/hr. As much as I love this job, I am tired of typing for peanuts. This company I am working for hired me 2 years ago and started me at 7.5 cpl. They just told me they would raise me to .08 cpl in 6 weeks if my accounts are all maintained within TAT. Thanks for the $20 more in my paycheck. That Enough of my griping. I just need to get different opinions on this. I understand it can take a litte longer getting into the actual program after your prerequisites are done, but my sister is going through our local community college and said I should do my LPN first, work until I get into the RN program. I really do not want to go through 10 months of schooling for one license and then have to do more later on. I Do I have a better chance of getting into the RN program if I was to be an LPN? I would like to hear as many opinions and advice on this as possible. Thanks!

Don't go LPN, GO RN - More Opportunities [2006-12-18]
I am an LPN and new MT. I needed a change in career. In my area, just about the only jobs an LPN can get (very easily) is in a nursing home because they can do the same work as RNs and donsupervise. Anyway, the hospitals went back to hiring more LPNs, particularly for the skilled care units and geriatric wards. So, this has been a back-and-forth concern for a long time. You will find work somewhere as an LPN, sort of depends on where you have opportunity to look. I encourage you to keep going and get that RN degree as you will find you have many more opportunities and much better pay. Not only that, if you stop going to school, even for a little while, it may be more difficult to get back in. Good luck to you.

scholarships. [2006-09-01]
Not all scholarships are based on income I had four of them when I went to college before. Most of them we either based on an essay or my grades. I have seen a few for older women returning to college. I know it would have my hands full but since I have already completed all of the general education requirements there is the possibility I would only be attending parttime. I also worked three jobs while I went for premed so I am pretty sure I know what is coming. Thank you for the advice. I will definitely check with the local hospitals. I live 2 hours from Pittsburgh PA but I really don't want to have to drive that far to go to work. Hopefully I can find something much closer.

The only thing . . . [2006-07-10]
I am worried about in making this change is my age. I am currently 43 and I have three to four years to go depending on the waiting list. I never thought I would be looking for a new career at this age, but with the way transcription is going I don't trust it to be around as long as I need it. Also, since my husband died last August, working at home alone is not a good thing. The last few days I have been seriously thinking about bagging school and getting another medical secretary job in house, but I just don't know. I think part of my problem is that I am currently taking Anatomy and Physiology II in a five week summer session back to back with AP I in the first five week session. That basically equals one year's worth of work in 10 weeks! My brain is fried. Do you think that the physical aspects ofnursing will be too much for me to start at48 or49? I haveto decide before I use up my life savings to pay for school. I could live on 30-35,000 a year with benefits if I really wanted to.