Am I on the right track?

[Kariambs]

Hi everyone,

I'm a college freshman and I will be finishing up this semester in this month of April. I have one more year of prerequisites but I can still apply for nursing school this coming fall. However, I am a little impatient (not good to be, I know) because I just want to be in nursing school now and not have to wait a whole another year to do so. And my sister who will be going to Jobcorps next month to pursue her LPN makes me feel me a little jealous that I have to wait but I'm proud of her.

But it has also made me wonder if I should've just gone for my LPN first too. Because I already owe 5,000 in school loans when my sister gets to get her education for free (not trying to sound unappreciative). My mother is proud of me as well but she even told me herself that I should have just went for my LPN because I could've have had a career much sooner. I'm only 18 and I know I have a lot of time to pursue being a RN but sometimes I feel like nothing ever goes my way and what if I can't get into nursing school?

I currently have a 4.0 (for the year) but who knows what the next 30 credit hours will be like. I could possible fail next semester and that's what I'm afraid of. So what I guess I'm asking is if staying on the track I am now would seem like the better route instead of going for the LPN?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Although I started as an LPN, it was because I was an adult learner who needed a quick career change. I was a single 23-year-old female with a mortgage, bills and other obligations that dictated my absence from the workforce for no more than a year.

I assume you are 18 or 19 since you are a college freshman. With your grades, I'd continue to pursue the RN licensure.

[Davey Do]

I should have just went for my LPN because I could've have had a career much sooner.

I'll preface this post, kariambs, with the disclaimer that I am extremely prejudiced.

As you see from my credentials, I worked my way up the ladder, so to speak. I was considering going for my EMT-P when I was encouraged to give Nursing a try. And, like your Sister, the LPN Program was paid through JTPA. I thought, "What the heck? I'll have a license, be able to make money, and then decide what I want to do".

Nursing hooked me and I went on to become an RN and have never regretted my decision.

IMHO, the very best RNs I've worked with climbed the ladder. In fact, my LPN Instructor began as a CNA, and then went on to get her LPN, RN, BSN, and MSN. She was great at her job as a Nurse and an Instructor because she knew every facet of Nursing from grunt work to the higher degree she eventually obtained.

I applaud you, keriambs, for your decision to pursue the Nursing career and for gathering data in your problem solving process before making a decision!

The very best to you and welcome to AN.com!