LPN before RN??

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Feb 5, 2004

Wow, that is a tough one. I have heard a lot of nursing schools have waiting lists .... mostly related to the fact that do not have enough instructors! Shameful.

Trust me, the LPN's are not pushing the 1st semester students down the waiting list. In most RN programs, the LPN is given advanced placement and generally enters into 3rd semester. By the third semester, there are adequate spaces available for them due to the people who dropped in 1st and 2nd semester.

You pose a tough question, but if you are being forced to wait for a year to get into the program, it stands to reason that you can take the LPN program and then apply for the RN program and get advance placement. Therefore, you really did not have to wait at all and the time frame will be same or roughly the same as it would have been if you started the RN program. I say go for the LPN and then apply for the RN. Remember tho, you need to finish your pre-reqs because the LPN program is vocational and the RN is a degree path.

Good luck.

Dayray, RN · Feb 5, 2004

first off as an ADN myself now thinking about grad school, I have to ask if you have looked into BSN programs?

In my state ADN takes about 3.5- 4 years (counting prereqs) and BSN takes 4 - 4.5 years. As an ADN it takes 2 years to get your BSN in a RN-BSN program. going to BSN school makes good sense, especially if time is a concern. I kick myself because even though I went to a good school I have to get my BSN to get a MSN and ill have to spend 2 years more then if I had just done BSN first.

That being said, If you can't go to BSN school just now, I would say if you are sure that you can get into the RN program in 1 year wait for the ADN program. If it's iffy or unlikely that you will be excepted get into the LPN program and then go back. I was an LPN for a year (my ADN program was a 1+1 program). being an LPN will give you good experience and maybe it will help you on the ADN waiting list.

BUT.... if you go to 18 mo of LPN school then go back for the ADN you have 18 mo (LPN school), 24 mo (prereqs), 12 month (ADN) then 24 mo (RN - BSN) adding up to a grand total of 6 1/2 years before you can even think about appalling to a CRNA program verses going for 4- 4 1/2 years to get a BSN.

sherichance · Feb 5, 2004

I have the same issue as with the woman who posted this. I am a military family living on a small income which is my husbands. I have a little boy at home and funds are decreasing and fast. When I first got into the RN program I thought that as soon as I got all the pre-reqs out of the way, I could just jump right into it. The deadline here is Feb 1st of every year to start the program in that fall.

It is so hard for me to do 4 classes and take care of my son. Plus I have a hard time not being able to spend all my time with him.

I have only 5 pre-reqs to go too.

I have looked into the CNA program at my school too. I was going to do that so while I am on the waiting list, I can go somewhere to work, get the extra experience I need to get bumped up and have a job in the mean time so we dont have to go bankrupt.

I tried to see about getting into the LPN but they only take the top 40 people and there could be over 100 people trying to get in.

I also think its a shame that there are not enough instructors so more people can get in. I find myself very angry when 50 people get into the program and over half of them quit or fail within a certain time period. If they were not so dedicated to getting the ADN they shouldnt have been able to get the program before all of us who are so determined to graduate.

Sorry I had to vent.

Mazzi · Feb 5, 2004

I am an ADN that got this degree after my LPN. I did not have to take anybodys place on the list or push past them. I took what is called a MOBILITY course. Basically you study and test out of your first year nursing and go to second year clinicals. So everyone in this course have already taken the LPN test. I still had to take the pre-requisite classes needed in the two year degree. So this did not hurt anyone that was going for the ADN two year. Does this help? By the way the MOBILITY course was not a cake walk. It was a crunch course and I worked my butt off because it is basically one year in three months!!!!

LauraF, RN, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN · Feb 5, 2004

I am an LPN, and currently waiting to hear of acceptance into an RN program. The actual deal with LPN's and placement into the program, is that they accept only as many LPN's to enter the program, to replace those who dropped out of the RN program. So noone is actually being pushed down on the list. They just get to slip into a vacated slot. I am glad that I did it the way that I did. I was better able to learn study skills, and am earning $18/hr while waiting to get into school. Much better then the minium wage I would say.:)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2004

If your eventual goal is to become a CRNA, I would get on the list and take advantage of that year to take all the coreqs you are going to need, such as the chemistries, and other courses you're going to need. CRNA's require a BSN and eventually you are going to need those courses. A year isn't all that much time if you are filling it up with courses like anatomy and physiology, algerbra, statistics, and fun things like that. Get them out of the way while you wait.

If, however, you feel you can't wait and need to work, going the LPN route first is a good way to get to working right away. But don't do it because you feel you aren't going to have to take those classes, because for the CRNA you are, and more.

Good luck!!!!

OldNewbie · Feb 6, 2004

This is why I love this site way above any of the others I've visited looking for info/insight into a brand new industry for me....You know how highsight is - I wanted to be a nurse about a thousand years ago when in high school - and someone slipped me acid or something and I ended up in aviation - I loved it and did just about everything you could do, got slipped some more acid and did the mgt thing - well, slimy big business practices, and 9/11 - yada yada yada - ended up wasting my life (23 yrs) at one company just to be thrown away and told I was useless (me along with many others)....so here I am, an old broad (a cranky old broad at that! :chuckle ) just STARTING to do something about my VERY old dream...

I think I can do it, and have received a lot of encouragement from people like you - for that I thank you...

You've also given me WAY too many options to think about!!! Remember I'm just a dumb pilot and mechanic - we need ONE direction on how to tie our shoes! ONE!

I sincerely appreciate all the advise - I actually thought about chucking all the RN/LPN stuff and getting it all in one fell swoop in a BSN program - big problems at the moment - MONEY, MONEY, and MONEY...the financial aid/scholarships/grants I've applied for and have researched don't include a 4 yr degree from the onset - most only pay for whatever gets you on the street and off their program the fastest is what most offer - now once I DO get the ADN, then I can start the whole "begging for free money" dance again...I also wanted to say that in my not so eloquent speech, I apparently left the impression that I have animosity toward the LPN's that are jumping in the program I will be waiting to get in - I absolutely certainly do not - if I spent the time, money, and effort getting my LPN, I would EXPECT to get some type of preferential treatment - I am in no way sneezing at the LPN program/transitioning to ADN...I was only trying to get some insight for what may be the best path - right now, the way the school I'm going to works - the LPN vs. RN deal is six of one, half dozen of the other - the obvious advantage to the LPN route is money making ability and most of all experience....the ONLY down side to that scenerio for me is working while going to school is going to add more time to the process...as I said, I am soliciting any kind of funding I can get, and have been trying to position myself so I don't have to work until I get the RN - it's going to work for sure for a year - after that, dunno...remember that I have different experience in license getting - in some of my licenses I worked through them - took me twice as long, and cost me almost twice as much - some of them I saved the money, took the time it took off and dedicated myself TOTALLY to that license/rating - the later worked WAY better from a lot of stand points - I spent less money, took less than half the time, and I was WAY better at my skills...I know I'm comparing apples to oranges, but I still say practicing your skills (whatever they are) daily rather than only during test time/when you HAVE to is WAY better....

Lastly, I also must have left the impression that getting the LPN first is a way to get out of some critical classes - nope - I didn't mean that either - I don't believe in short cuts when you're getting a license (legal permission) to do something as important and critical protecting someone's life - I didn't do it when I was flying or fixing airplanes, and I certainly wouldn't consider it nursing...

I apologize if I unintentionally offended anyone - as I'm AGAIN demonstrating - sometimes my fingers get off on a rant and don't check with the brain first!!

Thanks SO much AGAIN everyone - I have A LOT to consider!

STILL Dazed and Confused..... :confused:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2004

I know a lot of hospitals have scholarships and tuition re-embursement. Might be worth looking into where you live. The hospital I work in will reimburse CNAs who go to school for LPNs, LPNs who go for RNs and ADNs who go for BSNs.

So once you get your foot in the door, getting the money for school may not be all that difficult. Also, many states due to the shortage have great state scholarship funds to tap into.

Good luck!

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Feb 6, 2004

Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy
I know a lot of hospitals have scholarships and tuition re-embursement. Might be worth looking into where you live. The hospital I work in will reimburse CNAs who go to school for LPNs, LPNs who go for RNs and ADNs who go for BSNs.

So once you get your foot in the door, getting the money for school may not be all that difficult. Also, many states due to the shortage have great state scholarship funds to tap into.

Good luck!

Tweety - excellent point. I have just applied for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment program. This is the national program that will pay up to 30% of your student loans. For me, the only way I could afford to go to school was with student loans. In addition, there are numerous scholarships available for people who want to go to nursing school. I also know that if you work for the VA, they have student loan repayment programs.

While it may seem like a lot of money, there are many programs out there that will help, so don't let finances be the only deciding factor. I lived off my student loans to get through school and I am sooo glad they were available to me.

OldNewbie · Feb 6, 2004

You both are right of course - the biggest problem I have now is I'm still in the first quarter (of the rest of my life), so a lot of loans/scholarships/grants aren't available to me YET - I was laid off the week before Xmas, had registered for two classes (because I was still working 60 hrs a week) - when the axe fell I leaped into school full time - so I've done two FAFSA's so far, and both of them look like I'm a millionaire because of severence, etc. They won't let me file a special condition amendment until March - and that apparently won't be looked at/considered until Fall Qtr - the scholarships - I did apply for 3 - the only 3 I"m qualified for - most want 2-3 qtrs, and/or 40-50 credits - or are for high school students...

The WIA - well that's another story - I'll get it eventually - but it's a big hairy fight right now -

I'm premature in my question at LPN vs RN I know, but at least in my experience, planning planning planning is most of the battle - if I have a direction, I'll waste less time getting there...

I've heard and seen many offers for loans repayments, bonuses, you name it as incentives at different hospitals..my plan is to follow your path Pat - live off student loans/scholarship/whatever until I get through -

I'm training my ungrateful 26 lb bag o' demanding fur for the circus as we speak! :roll

Thanks again - I REALLY appreciate the time you took responding...off to school I go!!!!!!!