Anyone here a nurse? is a nurse salary enough to live on? in California?

My mom was a single mother with three children and she raised us on an RN salary. It is definitely on the higher end of the payscale for many professions that require college.

It is good that you know your weaknesses. Only you can decide if you will be able to complete and pass the classes that are required. Anatomy and Physiology requires you to learn all of the parts of the human body (bones, muscles, etc) and how the body functions. Then there is Microbiology and Pharmacology. If you already feel that you won't be any good at this, then you have your answer. If you think that you used to struggle with math and science but you are willing to try, then you may do better than you think. You have to know ahead of time that you might have to study harder and more hours than others in your class that ARE good in these subjects. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes to learn the material because you really have to KNOW it once you are an RN. That means asking for help from instructors or going to a tutoring center (if your college has one).

LPN programs are one year long. RN programs are 2 years long. Many colleges require you to take some courses before you apply to these programs (math, science, english, etc) because the programs are very popular and they want to accept people that can do well in them. Plan on taking a year (2-3 semesters) of pre-requisites before you apply to either program. This makes an LPN program 2 years long and an RN program 3 years long. If you apply directly to a 4-year college, the RN program will be 4 years long and you will have a Bachelor's degree instead of an Associate's degree. This can help you move up in your career.

If you need something ASAP and really just have to get done with a program right away, look into the LPN program. Also - LPNs are utilized somewhat in hospitals and doctors', mostly in long-term care (nursing homes) and some home health organizations. If you really only want the 'practical' part of nursing and you are looking into long-term care or home health, then you may want to stick with being an LPN also. An LPN salary is enough to live on so you can choose to be a 'career LPN' and not get your RN. Many people out there are and are doing well for themselves.

Most people get their RN license these days. There is more flexibility with this degree/license because there seems to be more places that RNs are used. A BSN (bachelor's degree level nurse) will prepare you to 'move up' in both regards to salary and job opportunities. You will have more options to go into management/supervisory positions or even research later on. Because more people get their RN, it seems that there is less of a waiting list for LPN programs also. The programs are so popular that in our area some people get in on the first try and some people get in after 3 tries applying (meaning it can take 3 years to just get into the school). Also - if you eventually want to be an RN anyway, do it the first time around. You don't want to have to quit your job later on just to go back to school for another year or two.

The choice really is yours. The length of time it will take for you to move out on your own depends on many things: how long it takes you to get into the program, how long it takes you to complete the program and how long it takes you to save up money to move out.

Look up the college you want to go to.

Figure out if you want to pursue LPN or RN.

Call to schedule a time to meet with a counselor so they can make a list of the steps you need to take to get your degree.

Follow the steps. If you have any questions, ask them.

Be prepared to work HARD. Harder than you probably ever have before. That is what college is about: challenging you and making you learn a LOT of material that you need to know. Do whatever it takes to get through.

As an example, if you choose the LPN program, it will probably take you 2 years to complete the classes. Then it will take you about 6 months of working to save up enough money to move out on your own. You do NOT want to move out as soon as you think you have enough money to get an apartment. You WANT to make sure you have what you need to move (2 month's worth of rent, plus security deposit, plus enough money for food/gas/utilities/etc) PLUS an extra 3 months' salary put away in a savings account. You want to have some money put away just in case you need it. What would happen if you got a flat tire or your car broke down but didn't have any money saved up to fix it? What if you ever had to go to the doctor or the emergency room for something? (Even with insurance, in our area you have to pay $150 co-pay to be seen). Make sure that you are responsible with your money. The path to riches is NOT by making a million dollars a year. It is by living BELOW your means and saving or investing the rest. When you graduate, get a modest apartment or house that can hold you (and your kids if you have any/plan on having any). It is u

RN? Single? Probably not! A frugal BSN or MSN with substantial experience, ranking position & high salary who has saved & invested very carefully & has substantial down payment, excellent credit, etc, might swing it if they saved enough that the mortgage amount is no more than 2 years' gross income. However, costs of keeping that house - taxes, utilities, maintenance, etc - could still get them! A single person is taxed to death, whereas a couple is tax-advantaged and has more earning power plus more income flexibility. Possible? M-a-y-b-e, in certain circumstances. Likely? No, it's hardly probable at all. Not Hidden Hills, unless they made a fortune on their investments, etc.

It is hard to say!

And it also depends on where do you want to live...

Do you want to get a job in the city or away from the city?

Generally speaking, only California and New York City pay the most.

I would think that being an LPN or RN would be enough to live off of.