LPN's please help

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2007

You can become an LPN in about 12 months if you attend a private vocational program and pass the NCLEX-PN shortly thereafter.

LPN school is not academically challenging or 'hard', but there is a whole lot of stuff to learn in a short amount of time.

ITsurvivor06 · Mar 7, 2007

sophy,

yes, the classes are hard. the most important piece of advice i can give you is to study to learn, not just to pass tests.

it is a 24/deal. it helps to have a lot of support at home; in fact it's essential. at 22, i don't know if you are on your own and working or living with your parents or what, but nursing school is all-consuming. but you just keep crossing each day off your calendar and before you know it, you are done. if you really want it, you can do it!

ITsurvivor06 · Mar 7, 2007

on second thought i have to agree with the commuter--it's not so much that the classes are hard, it's just that it is a lot of information to take in in a relatively short period of time. it can seem overwhelming at times. i graduated in december and started working in february. that's where the real learning takes place.......

allantiques4me · Mar 7, 2007

I personally did not think nursing school was hard.But I had a lot of support from my husband( watching the kids)I was a N/A prior to being a nurse,had a lot of experience under my belt and I also loved to read and study about medical conditions ,treatments and diseases.I graduated 6th in my class of 44.I really didnt feel overwhelmed.However there was a lot of persons who'd failed out.My Lpn program was 12 months of very intense curriculum.Im sure you can do it ,and I used to be really shy too.Youll be fine.Dont be scared.

itzkristen · Mar 8, 2007

The course work is definitely challenging in the sense that there is a lot of material covered in a short period of time. As for the material covered, that can be challenging as well. I went to nursing school after completing three years of college as a biochemistry major. A&P, Chemistry, MedSurg -- those were my "easy" classes as I had a strong background in them.

As long as you stay focused and commited, you'll do just fine!

Bam2726 · Mar 9, 2007

Im still in school and im about half way done. I didnt find the first classes hard at all, but when you get to med surg it was a lot of info to learn in a very short amount of time, i do agree, study to learn not to pass the test it will bite you in the butt if you do. We started as a small class and we lost someone already, so its hard but get into a study group if you can. I can give you a little bit more, study respiratory system, my class had a very hard time one that one. :monkeydance:

Butterflybee · Mar 11, 2007

i agree with what everyone said. In nursing, you really need to be serious about studying...and i mean studying hard. it's no joke...trust...a few people in my class flunked out.

gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN · Apr 4, 2007

I went through a 10 month course. Very challenging, but soooo worth it! You will need a strong support network behind you, forget having a life, it will be on hold til classes are completed and NCLEX passed.

kat7ap · Apr 4, 2007

If you are determined, you can do just about anything you want. Although I have never heard of 9 mo LPN programs. There are 11-12 mo ones. I went to a private tech college that was one year including the prereq's. All you had to do was pass an entry test and basically show that you can qualify for a loan and pay them. I graduated 2nd out of a class of 60. I had already taken college level sciences and basics which helped in my understandings because you only learn very basic concepts in LPN school.

I did not find most of the coursework extremely challenging and honestly didn't every study very much, but still made A's. However there were a good majority of students for whom it was very hard and had to study all the time just to pass. The hardest thing about it was the time it takes up and financial strain it will put on you. You basically need to put your life "on hold" during that time, but one year will done before you know it.

chesara · Apr 5, 2007

Hi,

I'm new to the boards. I've been struggling with "finding" myself for many years now and graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies last year. I originally went for teaching but decided that wasn't for me. I've always felt I'd do well in the healthcare environment. I like helping people, especially when they need it the most.

The reason I didn't puruse the BSN was because I couldn't see myself giving shots. Just the thought of it made me weak. That was the only thing holding me back and I wish I had been stronger while still in school. Now that time has passed, I feel I can get over it. Everyone else does, right? I would love to hear from anyone who also had problems giving shots and how they overcame it. I'm sure it's mostly mind over matter. But anyway, I don't want something like being afraid to give a shot stop me any longer from pursuing becoming a nurse.

I thought about starting out as a CNA but I'm already paying loans back from college so I think I should just jump right into the LPN program because I really need to start working again. My husband has been very supportive, not caring that I didn't work during college. But after I graduated with no job prospects, I started feeling like I wasn't pulling my weight in the family.

Since I was light on the sciences during college, I would need to take almost two semesters of pre-reqs before entering the nursing program at the four year college I attended. At that rate, I wouldn't have my BSN until late 2009 or early 2010. That's almost like starting college all over again!

So I'm now considering starting the LPN program at a local technical college but haven't gotten past the application process yet. I'm hoping with having a degree that I'll be accepted into the program. The next class starts in July. I could have started this month but dragged my feet, thinking I might still find a job. Now I'm not waiting around, I'm starting to make things happen.

The program at the technical school is 95 credit hours. Does this sound about right to most of you? I'm guessing 15 of those will be waived since they are classes I've already taken in college, hopefully shortening my time in school.

I feel like I wasted 4 years of college but I don't want that line of thought to hinder me from moving on with my life. I know my husband is ready for me to make my mind up and start a career. I am too. And to top it all off, I'm almost 40. I really hope there are some late bloomers on here like me so that I don't feel so bad! I have zero experience in the healthcare setting but feel in my heart it's where I should be. I didn't feel that way when I was pursuing teaching.

Sorry for the long introductory post but I'm needing a confidence boost and hoping that others with similar experiences will let me know that it's okay to start off late in life. My college does have an LPN to RN program that I may take advantage of later on but my main goal is to go through LPN school, get a job, get some experience, and then go from there. Baby steps.

Thanks for listening. I'm really glad I found this board.

TashaLPN2006RN2012, ASN, RN · Apr 7, 2007

pharm was probably my hardest class, everything else was tough but manageable! My program was 9 mo long (well class time added up to 9mo) but we didnt actually graduate for 12 months (add in the break times between quarters) and it was ALOT of info to consume! I love it though and love being an LVN! i got my first job in home health and i'm thrilled about it! good luck!