Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Nursing Career Advice /

Whats the better way to go?



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,703 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Mar 23, 2005 01:36 PM

Whats the better way to go?


My family is getting ready to move back to the US (from Canada) and I am planning on starting school for nursing, I am just unsure of the way to go. I have looked at starting a 4 year college for the 4 year RN degree or starting out with an LPN program and (that lasts 18 months including the IV training) and then moving the diploma RN course (grand total of about 2 1/2 years). What I really want to know is as far as employment opportunities and salary go which would be best route to take? Please keep in mind that I have been out of school (with the exception of CNA, medical math and terminology classes in 98) since 96 and am very nervous about going back.

Thanks in advance!


Share

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Reply
2 Comments
No. 1
from Slobgob
Old Mar 25, 2005, 02:38 AM

A few things to consider:

Are you starting from scratch? Have you taken bio/chem/physio/anatomy/microbio? Remeber that many colleges will not accept science courses that were taken more than 7 years ago.

How are your funds? Are the 4 year programs private or state?

There is no way that you'd get your LVN/RN-diploma in 2.5 years... let's take a look:

1) 2 solid years to take pre-reqs.
2) 6 months to apply/wait for LVN program to start (minimum)
3) 18 months for LVN
4) 6 more months to apply/wait for RN program to start.
5) 1 year for RN

All of that is considering that you get admitted to the LVN and RN programs on your first try... this is getting harder and harder. And after you graduate you'll want to get your BSN which will take quite some time.

If I were you... i'd go the four year route. It will take care of all your prereqs... not give you undue stress regarding admission into different programs... and you'll end up with a BSN!

The prereq/LVN/RN route can easily take 6-8 years without any breaks... i kid you not.. and that's just for your RN diploma with no degree.
Top
 
No. 2
from fergus51
Old Mar 25, 2005, 02:48 AM

Also, are you ever going to want to leave the US? Many Canadian provinces are now requiring the 4 year BSN. And if you ever want to go into education, management, etc., a 4 year BSN will be better for you.
Top
 
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
274 members
1,715 guests
1,989

0

Four Lehigh Valley Health Network nurses accused of...

45

lawsuit - But don't most RN's work through breaks/lunch...

0

Patient Evaluation of Retail Clinic Care

7

The hard to reach on-call doctor, and its effects on...

10

Woman charged with passing off prescription drug as...

23

Man in "Vegetative State" was conscious for 23...

2

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

13

Possible breakthrough regarding MS

63

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

14

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts






Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: