LVN first?

Being a LPN isn't necessarily a shortcut. In my case I worked while I got my RN so the one extra semester I took getting my LPN was not a waste of time or money. I worked at the facility where I am now so the transition was nearly seamless. It sure was comforting to actually be a nurse as I watched some fellow students fail out of their second year of RN school with only their CNA license. I also had the NCLEX experience and was sure I would pass so I didn't need to waste my time and money on the review classes that most of my RN classmates took.

The true "shortcut" is going for the RN the first time around.

I did the LPN, then ADN, then BSN route.
You will spend more money and time in school doing it my way than doing the BSN the first time around no matter what people here tell you.

In most cases, you will finish your LPN after a full-time year (minimum), then take pre-req's for the ADN, then take a semester long "bridge" course for LPN to RN "transition", then spend the same second year that all other ADN students spend doing.

Most ADN programs are 4 semesters. LPN's in most programs complete their "bridge" course, then the final two semesters of the ADN program. So they basically get 1 semester shaved off for LPN credit and their years of experience. That's no bargain.

LPN to RN routes are a rip-off in most cases if you know you want to be an RN and have the financial ability to do so.

Not to mention, for those who stated that getting that clinical experience first is so valuable, not true.

You will work just as hard as an RN and in an almost identical job in most cases, for less money simply due to the letters after your name as an LPN.

And many hospitals don't even grant credit for LPN experience. I started as an RN with 7 years of LPN experience at the same wage as a 22 year old who only worked at "The Gap" prior to nursing.

You don't have to become an LVN to get hospital experience either. I live in California, and became a certified phlebotomy technician in about 3 months. It was a cheap certification and I worked all throughout taking pre-reqs and nursing school with great flexibility in my work schedule to accommodate school. $23/hour. Wouldn't have done it any other way. I say go for RN directly, and find a quicker and cheaper way of getting a job at hospital. I just graduated with 2 new grad RN job offers, and one more possibibly to come next week. Just food for thought.

I am in Ca too and am seriously considering taking the phlebotomy course to aquire a job at a hospital, and get myself into an adn program. can you give me more info on what a day in the life of a phlebotomist does? what is the starting pay in Ca? do you enjoy it? the cost of your program etc? any info would be helpful to me right now.

thanks so much.