Is LPN school really that hard?!

Lexxie, LPN · Jul 26, 2007

I obviously had some misconceptions about what was involved in becoming an LPN. I thought, how hard can it be and what do you seriously need to know to push pills??? (I work in LTC). I did an 18 month evening program. My class had the largest number of students (20) graduate from that program. What was hardest for me, besides having my ex take my kids FT while I worked FT & did this, was going over material one night and testing on it the next night. If you didn't understand something, you were screwed, because there wasn't time to slow down. I admire my Level I instructor.. she had the difficult job of teaching us all of that stuff. We used to joke that she was the "Weeder".. weeding out the people who couldn't hack it. But most of all, she helped to organize us

Ginny Weasley · Jan 4, 2008

OMG...I'm already scared about applying to this LPN program that I want to do that is 18 months long after reading all of this. But I'd rather go through 18 months of hell I guess then have to struggle through 2 years or more of pre-requisites like MATH (I never made it past pre-algebra and there is no way I'm taking Elementary algebra) I guess and face the risk of having to repeat certain courses because my grade was too low which in turn, would take even LONGER to finish them. I mean, I had no problems with my CNA theory part. I found that part a piece of cake. I rarely studied. However, the skills part was extremely hard for me, and still is. I'm hoping that by me already being a CNA it might be somewhat easier compared to someone who has never had any experiance to speak of working in the field.

Ginny Weasley · Jan 4, 2008

PrincessAnnie said:
To get in the program for LPN you have to take A&P, Algebra, English, Intro to nursing and also the Nursing Assistant course. You can also start on your gen eds at that time. Oh..and you need 8 hours of cpr training to get in the program.

Not all LPN programs require pre-requisit courses. In fact, most of the ones I've seen don't require any, but are very expensive. I guess you can either go the pre-req route and take the LPN course at a community college, or pay alot of money and skip all that and learn the pre-reqs along with the nursing courses (which is probably why its so expensive).

HeartJulz · Jan 4, 2008

LOL... yes, it is THAT hard!... if they made it easy theyd have just anyone out there taking care of your loved ones, right? Best advice in my own opinion is you really have to 'let go' of some of the things that you now enjoy! I had to let a lot of my housecleaning and yardwork go.. I missed out on a lot of social gatherings, dinners... and I felt like I lost out on a lot of time spent w my daughter. There were times I was so exhausted that I almost fell asleep numerous times driving home. Im a single mom, though my daughter is not a toddler, its still work being a mom... that w working and commuting.. plus my car broke down a couple times on top of the EXPENSES!! The gas, books, tuition...ugh!! sometimes I hated it! I felt so stressed out and I was so sick of sitting @ the dinner table until 1-2am studying... but I just graduated last month and Im so happy I made it through ... you will look back and its more of an accomplishment knowing how hard it was and knowing you made it through than giving up and saying its too hard and not trying...good luck .. and dont let the fact that its extremely difficult scare you away .. my program total was 16mths long... now Im awaiting NCLEX and already signed up for the 2 of the 3 pre reqs for the RN which I will be ready for in a year and then its only 8mths and I will have accomplished all I wanted .... you can do it!!