Horrible news days before the holidays

[graveshaker]

I plan to start with LPN to get a taste for the field, then progress to earning a Bachelors in RN. I'll already be in the field so the bridge from LPN to RN should come easy.

[Todd Black 88]

Good decision, IMO.

How long is the LPN schooling there? Ours is a little under one year.
Our BSN is a typical 4 year bachelors degree.

[graveshaker]

This particular school is a full year eight hour per day five days per week course. The norm is 18 months. This school goes into clinicals one month after school starts. Most others have a long waiting process to start clinicals. They have a 98% passing rate for state exams.

[Keith M]

My parents divorced in the 70's and my mom put herself through nursing school while raising two kids. I respect those who do this difficult and demanding job.
At 44 I made a radical change in careers and location. It's a bit spooky but a nice change of pace and for the first time in years I actually look forward going to work.

[flyboyx]

Yes we are a UAW plant. But I feel the time for change is best for me. The money is great and all but the future is dull. Detroit is in bankurutcy, the auto industry has not been the same since 1983 . One thing is certain is that people will forever need medical assistance. The nursing field is very promising.

i fixed that for ya!

manufacturing jobs in the mid western usa have been on the way out for decades. growing up in jackson, mi, we lost goodyear, clark equipment, kelsey hayes, aeroquip and many others in the course of only a few years. my dad worked for aeroquip as an r&d engineer/specialist. his advice to me was figure out a career in service. avoid manufacturing at all costs. at least you can look on the bright side: you were able to succeed in a career in your area for perhaps 20 years where hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs before you. maybe this isn't very comforting right now but it is truth.

i think the nursing program is a good choice. as you mention, people will always be getting sick and in need of healthcare. you will be pretty much UN-outsourceable if that is a word. i am really impressed that you seem to be able to switch gears so quickly. i have to hand it to you. i don't think i have what it takes to go into that profession. thank god there are people like you that do.

there are some other healthcare professions that pay well but don't require 8+ years of school. perhaps radiology? physical therapy? don't quote me as i am not an expert. may be something to look into.....perhaps.

[FlexdXJ]

Sorry to hear that, the auto industry has been slow but seems to be picking up steam. I'm a Cummins employee and power generation/light duty/medium duty/heavy duty have all been very slow. Things are looking a little better with the new engine coming but Motor City took a pounding over the last few years.

[graveshaker]

I find it amusing that I'm 6' 2" and 230lbs with hands rougher than sand paper going into nursing. I guess my gender and size should give me an advantage during the hiring process. I'm sure my size should play a key role during the hiring process. I should be able to easily move a patient around.

[mrsleeve]

WOW, I am sorry man, its been going that way for a long time in MI, I lived there for 27 years and have seen lots of people I know take early retirements, buy outs, and just plain lay offs from All of the big names in the auto biz..............

Not that nursing is a bad field to jump to and not that trying to figure out the next thing is a bad thing at all, just a little 1st hand knowledge about the state of the industry there, for you to consider. My mother in Law is a RN with 30+ years of experience on the nursing home side of the industry. My in laws still own a home in MI, and she has tried to get a job in the state, with in an hours drive of the house that puts here looking from Lansing to Hillsdale, Kzoo to the western Detroit burbs so she can "live in her house" as she puts it. Well since the great down turn in 08 seems like most everyone that was displaced from their job for what ever reason retrained for the medical fields, many of them for the nursing/radiological/support staff side of the business. As a result it has pushed down wages for in the industry around the state, as now there seems to be an over abundance of "medical staff" in the state, seems. Needless to say the MIL is not working in MI, even before she moved out west in 06 she was only making 22 bucks and hour (though the 10 min drive was a selling point at that time). While though out the nation there is a need for nursing staff and you can make a very good living doing it, and not saying it cant be done in MI, its just you may have to look outta state to find suitable employment and have a hard time making a solid living in MI doing it is all. Not to mention with the ACA ( Obamacare ) kicking in full force soon, you might find your self a little on the short end of this. Sorry this is just my 2 cents and I dont mean to kick you while your down, but I just wanted to pass on a little bit anecdotal personal experience with the MI healthcare worker situation before you commit funding to it totally.........

If your a machinist why are you looking into nursing in the 1st place you should be able to find suitable work as machinist some where, there is always need for good people that can make things................

Edit: Flybox and I grew up in the same area, I can and will confirm everything he said about the decline of the business in that area, there are a few places left around and I think most of the Aeroquip facilitates are all still (or back) up and running they were just bought out by Eaton...

[graveshaker]

I'm classified as a machinist but I'm more of a CNC operator. The nasty coolant spray of CNC machines has got to me. It took the news of the plant closing for me to realize it. The plant life is a lucrative career but the gloomy no window environment gets old. Coming home from work not smelling like shop and looking like hell seems very promising. The cost of living in mid-MI is very low. I own a 2000 sq ft brick ranch home with a two car attatched garage purchased two years ago for $71,000. My mortgage is only $624. I can comfortably survive at the lowest LPN pay scale.

[mrsleeve]

Hey, I am not trying to discourage you, just wanted pass on my families experience with the state and the industry thats all no more no less.

Hey I can totally understand wanting to come home clean and not beat totally to death after a 10 hour shift, I totally get that, and that plays a factor in the decision. I know the cost of living in the state, I lived there for 27 years born and raised ;)

It takes a lot of strength and charter to take this like you are. To grab the bull by the horns and make your self a new path and not be bitter and angry about the situation and moop about not doing much of anything about it like so many have done (including my self for a little while in 08 ) . Good luck with your endeavors, I hope you find happiness and prosperity, with the career change, and the change of scenery as it were.

[Todd Black 88]

I'm classified as a machinist but I'm more of a CNC operator. The nasty coolant spray of CNC machines has got to me. It took the news of the plant closing for me to realize it. The plant life is a lucrative career but the gloomy no window environment gets old. Coming home from work not smelling like shop and looking like hell seems very promising. The cost of living in mid-MI is very low. I own a 2000 sq ft brick ranch home with a two car attatched garage purchased two years ago for $71,000. My mortgage is only $624. I can comfortably survive at the lowest LPN pay scale.

holy crap!

God I wish I had that out here.

[flyboyx]

I'm classified as a machinist but I'm more of a CNC operator. The nasty coolant spray of CNC machines has got to me. It took the news of the plant closing for me to realize it. The plant life is a lucrative career but the gloomy no window environment gets old. Coming home from work not smelling like shop and looking like hell seems very promising. The cost of living in mid-MI is very low. I own a 2000 sq ft brick ranch home with a two car attatched garage purchased two years ago for $71,000. My mortgage is only $624. I can comfortably survive at the lowest LPN pay scale.

holy crap!

God I wish I had that out here.

yep.......and to boot, that 71k house in saginaw (2 years ago) is probably in a REALLY nice area. my guess is that similiar houses in this neighborhood sold for 170k back in 2005. this is a region of the country where foreclosures(decent ones but needing work) can be had for 26k all day long. for the hell of it, check out zillow. fuck! there are just as many blue houses as red ones.

maybe you might think about becoming a slum lord? rent for a cheap house is still 6-700 bucks/mo.

cheap housing market comes at a severe price though. unless you are like me and have the ability to commute to work once a week, decent jobs that pay a decent wage are very very scarce if available at all.

[JasonC]

Know exactly how you feel. Same thing happened to me at Fleetwood Travel Trailers. But they told us to go home that day! It's an experience I'd like not do again..

[Todd Black 88]

F'k! $26k?

I could buy 40 houses for what mine sells for now! F'k that's a neighbourhood.

I could call it Todd Land!:)

[mrsleeve]

You dont want to live anywhere in the lower 1/2 of the lower part of the state after you have lived in Vancouver. I dont even like going back to the state to VISIT family.