Need Advice!

[amelia_sn]

So I've recently started an LPN course (this is my second go around, as previously I had to drop out of my LPN class when my father was diagnosed with Stage IV bone cancer) and I'm having second thoughts about my original plan.

I was originally planning on completing my LPN program in 14 months and then bridging to RN, but the more I think about it the more I think that I should just transfer to the RN program now instead of paying twice as much and dragging it out even more.

I am lucky enough to attend a vocational school that offers both LPN and RN courses, and for their RN program they offer the gen. ed. courses required for an ADN, so it would take me just over two years to complete the ADN program. If I continue with my LPN program, I will complete that in November 2014 and then begin the bridge program in January of 2015 and not finish until around June 2016. The total tuition for the LPN program is $27k and then to bridge over it'll be another $23k for a total of $60k plus books/parking/etc. The RN program is $32k including all of the general ed. courses and the actual ADN courses.

I jumped at the LPN program because it is 14 months, but I'm really wondering if it isn't WAY smarter to just take the longer route and get my RN- I need some advice ladies & gents! I've got a meeting with my student advisor on Monday- but I was hoping for a little advice from fellow students!

Thank you!!!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Is there any way you can enroll in an LPN program at a community college? Your profile indicated you are in Virginia, and $27k is an awful lot of money to spend for an LPN license in a very low-paying state such as Virginia.

[amelia_sn]

I tried that route first, but the only community college near me has a waiting list out to a year and the RN program there has a waiting list just for the pre-reqs. My financial aide covers just about all of the LPN expenses and about 3/4 of the RN tuition if I chose that route.

[Compassion_x]

That is VERY expensive for an LPN. I am currently 17k in debt with student loans, including 2 years of gen eds, the two semesters of LPN, plus my first semester of ADN.

What about any BSN programs in your area? Try to get the best for your money (obviously). So if your end goal is to be an RN, I'd just do the RN and skip LPN if it's really THAT much cheaper.