Hi all, I'm trying to make a huge decision. I'm 28, have a 19 month old, currently working at a job that I hate, making $12.64 per hour. So this is why I am back in school. I have my AA degree, and originally I was thinking of going in the PTA program, have a few prereqs left.. (4 to be exact), although I'm reading and for Orlando, FL, I was finding that PTA's aren't making a whole lot of money unless you are working in a nursing home or in someone's home. I don't want that. Then I thought of going to school to be an LPN (would have to take 4 classes to get into that program), then going through thath program for 1 year, then get into the RN program career track. Which is only 1 year, but then on top of that, that is 7 MORE prereqs I would need to get into the RN. Then I thought of getting my AS as an RN. Which would be 7 prereq classes, then the 2 years of the program. The issues I am facing which might turn me completely off are dealing with is that I cannot handle changing diapers of a 90 year old man, or anything gross like vomit. I have a terrible gag reflux. I have Barretts Esophogas, I'm not sure if it's related, but I haven't always been this way. Needles don't bother me. I don't want to miss a whole lot of time with my son, but at the same time, I am trying to better our lives. Any advice at all would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks for listening :)

Hi ProudMomma. If you are thinking of any of those programmes, then the schooling necessary means missing a lot of time with your son, but if you want to better yourself then you would have to do it.

Why don't you do it this way, wait until your son is in kindergarten, or old enough for a good daycare center where he can learn socializing (which would benefit the both of you for the maturity level).

If you are going for the gold, go for Registered Nurse, why bother with Licenced Practical Nurse, but I think the RN schooling is a lot more then one year.

Good luck, my dear, I hope this helped.

As for changing diapers, cleaning up vomit, that is all part of any of these positions. I don't mind any of them if it helps the person I am caring for.

Tick

If you can't stand really bad messes, I don't know of any job in the medical field that I can recommend, I work out of the physcial therpy area of a major hospital, and patients losing bowel control is a daily issue

Hi! Im glad your wanting to go to school! Especially because you're a mom! I have a 4 yr old and a 1 yr old, I'm going to college for RN! You won't see your son much when your attending school but at least know that in the future it'll be all worth it! PTA is a great career too and has flexible hours,also rn work 3 days a week from 12 hrs or more a day, but again you get 4 days off. You should shadow the 2 fields and see which one you like best! Goodluck! Wish you the best! God Bless!