what will LPN school be like since I have all my pre-req's?

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I'm thinking of gong the LPN route starting in August so that I can at least be a nurse and able to work in one year, vs. the two that I have with the RN programs. Most of the CC RN programs are structured so that you take nursing classes along with the other req's like psy, history, etc... Since I've already had all my sciences, is that going to help me in LPN school and make it easier, or do they approach things from a more technical standpoint? Can you skip out on certain classes if you've had University level courses in things like A&P, etc...? Just wondering because the 5-day a week schedule for 12 mo seems intense, and as a single mom, that may be a big factor in deciding to go the 2-yr RN route because it's broken into semesters with summers off, kwim?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Hi,

Most of the programs in my area, RN and LPN, require that you have all your pre-reqs finished before starting nursing classes. I have taken a class a semester toward my minor in addition but I wouldn't have wanted to take things like Micro or A&P while doing the nursing program. I haven't heard of anyone "skipping" classes because they have University credits unless you mean that you won't have to take Micro because you already took it at University. I went 4 or 5 days a week for the 12 months. I worked also and it was tough but worked out fine. Being able to work as a LPN a year earlier to me was a huge plus so I guess it depends a bit on your financial situation. Good luck! Jules

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Specializes in LTC.

PN training is very technical, very hands-on. And very intense. For me, it wasn't the content they were teaching, but how MUCH content they were teaching. There is a lot to learn in a short period of time, which can make it seem overwhelming at times. When I think back at how much I learned in my 11 month program, I really wonder how I managed! Also, I had all of the prereq's done before school, which was a BRILLIANT idea. There were some folks in my class who were trying to finish up a couple of classes, like A&P II and Psych 101 in addition to nurses classes. Bad idea. Some of them had to drop d/t poor grades in their prereq classes. I won't lie to you, the PN program is tough, but can be done. We graduated 29 out of 40. The ones who either dropped or failed out had many other issues going on at home, or health-related issues. Don't let those numbers scare you. We had 2 drop after the 1st day! One had to have a hysterectomy, one was diagnosed with Lupus, one with MS, one failed A&P II, one quit just because she decided it wasn't for her, one quit to care for her ailing mother, etc. Those of us who made up our minds we were going to be an LPN did just fine. And all but one of us who graduated has passed the NCLEX. The one who didn't struggled from day 1 to get through. The only reason I am telling you all of this is b/c once we got started, we were constantly asking the staff why people didn't graduate from the year before, I guess guaging our chances of making it through. I hope this helps.

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i think you should do the Rn just because you will have more time to finish ..i was a single mom and went to college it was difficult . also if you can get better pay as an Rn and it fits your schedule with your child take the time now and don't try to rush through things just to work .having summers off will give you the time you need to recenter and refresh . as you probable know by now a year flies by. however you have the choice do what is best for your life .i am taking the lpn only because i do not have the time to stop and do 4 years .if i could i would though .Best of luck and good for you for being such a great mom.

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thank you so much. There is actually a BSN program I can start this Fall (no wait list, just gpa req's) that I can finish in 2yrs as well, so I may wind up just going that route. I agree that a year does fly by, and it would be nice to have some breaks to be with ds more and work more.

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.

I took prerequisite classes (A&P, Micro, Chem, Eng, Math, Growth and Dev, Psych) before I enrolled in a 1 year LVN program. I had been trying to get into a CC RN program but there was a long wait with hundreds of applicants for just a few spots. My LVN program was at a private vocational school and did not require prereqs. In our first quarter we studied A&P, Human Growth and Dev, Nutrition and Fundamentals of Nursing. These classes were very much nursing based, not as generalized or in depth as what I took before. I did not receive credit for my prior classes because the way my school was structured. I felt I had a definite advantage over most of my classmates who had not taken any college courses. I ended up graduating 2nd in my class of 60 people. The course work wasn't extremely challenging but it was intense because of the short amount of time to complete everything. I didn't have to kill myself studying either, usually less than an hour each night. Preparing for clinicals was a little more time consuming though.

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