Thinking about Furthering my Education

MusicMedic

MusicMedic

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as some of you know I am currently a New EMT-B im having a hard time finding employment

Ive been recently seriously considering furthering my education, and getting my Nursing Licence, first as an LVN then RN

im currently getting Unemployment benefits (in California) there are a few private programs here in Orange County, its full time for 12 months
and thats about the length of my unemployment benefits.

to pay for the programs ill hopefully be eligible for Federal Aid

The local community colleges have a 2 year wait list to get into their nursing program

The Paramedic programs here require at least 1 year as an active EMT

now should i further my education or wait and try to find a job as an EMT?


i know that LVN/EMT dont really go hand in hand, but more education is better right?
 
If you get licensed as an LVN, you'll make more as an LVN as you would as an EMT. Just remember, you're going to need to have all your prereqs done before you start, according to the the program you attend wants. Depending upon where you are in that process, that might take a while. Private schools might take a bit of money along the way... Quite a bit, possibly.
 
If you want to be a medic, go medic and find a school that doesn't require a year of experience as it's archaic and stupid.

If you want to go nursing then go nursing and don't waste time getting your medic when you can be doing other classes for nursing.
 
Akulahawk said:
If you get licensed as an LVN, you'll make more as an LVN as you would as an EMT. Just remember, you're going to need to have all your prereqs done before you start, according to the the program you attend wants. Depending upon where you are in that process, that might take a while. Private schools might take a bit of money along the way... Quite a bit, possibly.
Click to expand...

The community colleges have a bunch of pre-reqs, but like i said their wait list is rediculously long

The private programs generally dont have pre-reqs, but i do have to take a few entrance exams to make sure im competent enough. and yes the private schools do take quite a bit of money around 33K (thats where i hope i can get a good chunk payed by the govt)

do LVN's get certified in phlibotomy?
 
MusicMedic said:
The community colleges have a bunch of pre-reqs, but like i said their wait list is rediculously long

The private programs generally dont have pre-reqs, but i do have to take a few entrance exams to make sure im competent enough. and yes the private schools do take quite a bit of money around 33K (thats where i hope i can get a good chunk payed by the govt)

do LVN's get certified in phlibotomy?
Click to expand...

Stafford loan should be more than capable of giving you 33K over 4 years. I doubt it will give you that much over 2 years unless you are already a graduate student.
 
Linuss said:
If you want to be a medic, go medic and find a school that doesn't require a year of experience as it's archaic and stupid.

If you want to go nursing then go nursing and don't waste time getting your medic when you can be doing other classes for nursing.
Click to expand...

All the medic school in the surrounding areas require at LEAST 6 months EMT experience

so finding a medic school without EMT experience is not a possibility
 
In all honesty, if you have a crack at getting into LVN school now and that will make entry easier to get right in to RN school, keep that forward momentum rolling; don't wait around or take side roads just for the sake of hopping on an ambulance.

A couple years of application is far better than a couple years of patience as you await to become a paramedic. In a couple years you may get to be a paramedic but in a couple years you'll also be a nurse who THEN can get into Emergency work or whatever you choose.

If a little nudge like this sounds better than following the paramedic track, then be happy, you'll have saved yourself a lot of grief trying to fit in to something that's not quite you!

If it's a have to; nothing anyone says will make a difference.
 
The problem is you may not find work as an LVN or at least not in any acute hospital setting. What LVNs make is also about as pathetic as the EMTs. Take the prerequisites such as all the sciences while on the wait list for nursing. Get a phlebotomy cert from a community college. Do not spend $2k on it from a private school. Then apply at one of the hospitals as an ED tech or whatever job (OR tech, Surg Tech, Ortho Tech) and let them pay for your RN degree.

Example of hospital assistance:

Kaiser
http://xnet.kp.org/pcs/sfap/index.html

RN loan repayment (Federal):

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm
 
VentMedic said:
The problem is you may not find work as an LVN or at least not in any acute hospital setting. What LVNs make is also about as pathetic as the EMTs. Take the prerequisites such as all the sciences while on the wait list for nursing. Get a phlebotomy cert from a community college. Do not spend $2k on it from a private school. Then apply at one of the hospitals as an ED tech or whatever job (OR tech, Surg Tech, Ortho Tech) and let them pay for your RN degree.

Example of hospital assistance:

Kaiser
http://xnet.kp.org/pcs/sfap/index.html

RN loan repayment (Federal):

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm
Click to expand...


the phlebotomy courses fill out fast here at the local community colleges, i guess ill just have to be fast

but thanks Vent for the links ill have to look into those
 
MusicMedic said:
the phlebotomy courses fill out fast here at the local community colleges, i guess ill just have to be fast

but thanks Vent for the links ill have to look into those
Click to expand...

I know a few RNs who had almost all of their RN education ($40k Samuel Merritt - Oakland) paid for by the Fed repayment and Kaiser picking up the rest.
 
Are there any Paramedic Programs in Southern CA that dont require 6 months experince?
 
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