Advice needed! LPN or RN?

[Frost87]

Im 25 and have been out of school for a few years working in the family business. I want to pursue nursing and my goal is to eventually become an RN. Im debating if I should become an LPN, then bridge to RN. Or if I should take all the pre-reqs, do some volunteering and apply for an RN program. I'm worried about being accepted since i'm older and have been out of school for a while. There are also waitlists which make me uneasy and there is some pressure from my family to get started on a career path. I live in BC. What do you advise?

[LittleIncognito, BSN, RN]

I served 8 years in the military before I started the attempt to become an RN. Was 35 when I started my 1st RN semester and I was not old at all. It is better to be a bit more mature (such as your age) because it is a very rewarding, but difficult time in nursing school. You will be proud of your hardwork. It'll fly by. Go for RN (not dogging LPN), just start off with RN for more oppotunities for one thing. Best of luck, you are young.

[Khow89]

I agree with iGlampHolly that being a bit more mature will be a benefit. I don't think schools will place a big emphasis on the age when accepting students into the program.

If you need only one year of fulfilling all the pre-requisites, then you should go do that and go straight into RN (~5 years)

If it will take you more than a year to fulfill all the pre-requisites it will probably take ~ 6 years. If that is the case, you should do LPN first then bridge to RN (~ 5 years). I'm assuming the LPN program is the same as the RPN program in Ontario which is ~ 2 years and the bridging program is 3 years.

Good luck with whatever you choose, I was actually in the same shoes as you, went into RPN at 25 and I am bridging now.

[NBolas]

I'm 30 and I am just starting my RN program (in a week actually). Don't worry about your age!

[dayandnight]

don't know about other provinces but in BC the LPN to RN bridging program have long waitlists and are very competitive. Try applying to both RN and LPN and see where it leads... A lot of my friends who have taken the path stated that at least in BC, just going into the RN program first saves a lot of time. You can also work as an Employed Student Nurse in BC as a nursing student in 3-4th year which has a high hourly wage (approx 26 bucks an hour, not 100% sure on the exact amount but it is around that) and I see a lot of students working as ESNs.