[kittyfaye]

This is sort of a rant, but also I'm asking for advice.

I recently got my EMT license in March and still haven't been able to get hired. I've put my application in at several places and aggravated the hell out of them but still no response. I've decided that I will possibly go back to school to further my education and raise my chance of being hired by a hospital or clinic. I have a few problems though. I am not sure if I should start out with a small course like phlebotomy, or take an LPN course, or go straight for RN. I have a small community college like 30-40 minutes away for the phlebotomy and LPN courses. The other problem is, for the RN course, the nearest colleges that teach that are at least an hour away from me either way.

I'm tired of sitting around having nothing to do and waiting to hear from someone. It is driving me insane. Also, I'm so broke I have to ask my boyfriend for money to help pay my bills. I feel like such a failure at life.

[Travelinglady]

Hi, kittyfaye. With the economy the way it is, you might be expecting too much. I understand you to say you finished your degree in March and applied to several places. I suggest you widen your search and apply to jobs in many other places.

Can you not draw blood already or do you need special training to be a phlebotomist? Evidently so, huh.

Can you go from being an LPN and get into a RN program?

Where is the money going to come from to get more degrees?

Just asking some questions to think about.....

[kaliope]

hey kittyfaye
I think starting small, setting the small goals would probably be best because then you would open up more job prospects for yourself and then you could still go on to become an rn in the future. it is frustrating when you cant get a job so the more skills you have the better,

[Perna]

My next door neighbor was an LPN and spent a summer studying for her RN by herself; Maryland apparently has a self-study option so she just had to read/study/learn the textbooks and then take the test. I would go interview the people at the community college and see what various paths and job opportunities there are, etc. in the medical community where you are and what ideas they have. I, personally, would take a quick personal aide course at the community college and get a job in an assisted living facility and go to school part-time for something else as I got a bit of experience and understanding of what there was out there and what I wanted. Does the community college have a job center? I'd investigate that too; sometimes they let people in the community use it, maybe you could start a course there and then use it to continue looking for a job with your EMS skills, etc.?

[kittyfaye]

I filled out a FAFSA app online and I might be able to get a grant for money. In my state the emt's aren't required to learn phlebotomy skills so it's not taught in class.

That's a very good idea Perna, I'll have to go talk to them and see.