Men: Lawyer > LPN or RN?

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Hello! This is my first post (of hopefully many),

I'm a male turning 40 this year who has finally decided to come full circle with his desire to enter the nursing profession. Since childhood I've wanted to work in the medical field but a nasty 1st semester in college (D's in gen bio and chem) caused me to hastily change my major to psych and some years later I ended up in law school. After graduating, passing the bar exam and practicing for about 9 years (plus 3 years working in education), I now have the courage enough to dig deep and recognize that my real passion lies in health care. A couple of years ago I repeated gen chem I & II in the evening and got A's in both semesters. It was a boost to my ego, feeling vindicated that my 1st go-around in college was NOT due to incompetence. I've researched the nursing profession long and hard and kick myself for not having pursued it earlier. I also had once embraced the notion that nursing was a female profession and disregarded it as something I should be doing. Needless to say, I have thankfully matured from that mindset.

My continuing confusion lies in the nursing degree that I should immediately pursue (considering the fact that I would like to eventually achieve a MSN). Part of me wants to go for an LPN because it will get me working as a nurse faster and then I can earn an income while pursuing the RN (not sure if I would do ADN or BSN since I already have a BA - also thinking that my experience as an LPN will be an advantage when I graduate as an RN, thus avoiding the pitfalls I have been reading about new RN's not getting jobs due to lack of experience). After several years as an RN, I would look into MSN so that I can aim to instruct new nurses. An LPN appeals to me as well considering the fact that I have no patient experience, although I do volunteer at my local hospital but I only interact with patients socially (discharge, flower & mail delivery, information).

Although I posted this on the male nurse's forum, I welcome feedback from the ladies as well - thank you! :)

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Have you looked into an accelerated BSN? You have a BA so it's an option. Not having an medical experience is not an issue. I doubt most folks going into nursing have an actual healthcare background.

[UVA Grad Nursing]

An accelerated BSN or direct-entry MSN will take you much, much less time. LVN to ADN to BSN will likely take you 5+ years of study. ABSN programs are 1-1.5 years. Our Direct Entry MSN is 24 months.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Thanks for your replies so far. My natural inclination of course is to pursue an accelerated BSN, but I have been reading a lot about the competitiveness for these programs and I would be frustrated to wait to get into these programs if there are other faster ways for me to achieve the RN. Is that a legitimate concern?

[UVA Grad Nursing]

All entry-level nursing programs at the non-profit schools are competitive. The for-profit schools have a different model, and some accept all applicants.

In your case, Paco, you have some professional and real-world skills that other applicants do not have. As an attorney, you certainly have worked with many clients, solved problems among family members, been able to research issues, and can write succinctly and completely. These are things in your "toolbelt" that can be very helpful in nursing programs. You'll need to get the prereq classes done over the next year (sciences and social sciences). You should be able to satisfy these over the next 12 months or so and aim for an ABSN program (or DE-MSN) program for 2010.

[Sarcolemma]

IMO pursuing the LPN is a waste of time and money.

With your background you could easily get into an ADN class and be done in 18 months (or much less) going full time, and would leave you with a lot more flexibility in job opportunities (and earning income).

As someone posted above, doing LPN --->RN bridge would take much longer than straight ADN, and (I think) you'd lose more potential income by doing it that way. It's a common misconception.

take it from someone who's climbed the ladder from nursing assistant on up to MSN

you're a guy who knows how to work hard - don't sell yourself short with the LPN if you're planning on bypassing it almost immediately anyways.

[lumberjack]

I agree with the above posters. I'm in an accelerated BSN program at University of Nebraska Medical Center, an eleven and a half month INTENSE program for those with a previous bachleors degree and all the pre-reqs. This is a much more effecient way to go than LPN-RN-BSN-MSN. And you'll get your patient care through clinical classes and when you start working. Almost all of us (7 in my class) are on our second (or third) career, it sounds like you'd fit right in this sort of program, get good grades on the pre-reqs and you'll have no trouble getting accepted.

[Perpetual Student]

In your case becoming an LPN would likely be an unnecessary step that will only slow you down. You would be much better served by looking into accelerated BSN and entry-level MSN programs. The "lowest" you should go is an ADN program. Your previous bachelor's degree you would make you eligible to complete many MSN programs without ever having to earn a BSN. You should be able to make a good bit more than you could as an LPN working the same amount of hours.

I became an LPN first, but I was in a much different position: I hadn't ever held a formal job and my only education was an AA. As far as money goes, just do whatever legal work you can find until you become an RN. I'm now in an LPN to RN program and am going to do an RN to BSN program once I'm done.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Thanks everyone for all the advice I have received. You all have been very good at sharing your objective thoughts on my situation and I needed that. I'm going to really look into accelerated BSN opportunities and ADNs as a backup. You're right, I should not sell myself short based on my background, thanks!

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

...I have another 2 cents to toss in... if you look at cost and depending on schools in your area.. maybe an ADN makes sense.. with your previous BA and your future ADN you don't 'need' a BSN and there are a LOT of MSN programs and DNP programs that will use your ADN along with previous bachelors - and BSN not required... some have a couple of transition classes.. some don't - but the options are plenty and it could sure be the cost of a BSN depending on your particular situation.

It's a counter-intuitive but might be worth a look.

[UVA Grad Nursing]

Just Cause:

A slight correction. Of the 95+ DNP programs in the country, nearly all are post-Masters. Less than a dozen will admit BSN students into a 3-4 year fulltime program for the DNP. None are (and I have not heard any plans) to develop an ADN-DNP program anywhere in the US.

So at present the pathways after 2015 look to be:

1. MSN to Advanced Practice DNP

2. BSN to Non-Speciality MSN (CNL, Education, Administration, Informatics, etc)

3. BSN to Advanced Practice DNP (CNS, NP, CNRA, CNM)

4. ADN/Diploma to BSN

5. ADN/Diploma to Non-Speciality MSN

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

Lots of information out there.

Here is a list of 160 RN (non-bsn) to Masters programs . I disagree (based on what is really offered) with VA poster as there are plenty that offer specialties and they are not all generic....

I'm sure you will see as you look through the list.

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/IDS/pdf/RNMSN.pdf

Actually the UW, is one example, of a DNP program that does take RN with non-BSN but alternate bachelors... UW DNP also has a DIRECT entry program for someone with a bachelors and NO BSN or ADN or nursing experience. They are just an example and known by many as one of the top nursing schools in the country.

The pathways for 2015 should also include RN to DNP.. not just BSN to DNP.. there are plenty of programs out there. I'm sure the OP will find that if he/she is interested.

v/r