A dilemma! Opinions sorely needed

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Specializes in Nil..

Ok,

SO, I was accepted into my schools evening nursing program. I had planned on working full time and doing school on evening and weekends. Difficult? Maybe. Do-able? Definately. Doing it this way, I would have an LPN certificate in two years (six semesters). I currently work as a cell phone sales rep making very decent money.

However, I have really begun to loathe my job and was beginning to look into jobs in the healthcare field because many people have told me that it makes it much easier if you are exposing yourself to the environment where you will potentially work, not to mention tuition assistance from some institutions.

With this new revolution, I am now considering switching to the day program for nursing, if i did this, I would have my RN degree in two years (6 semesters), but I would have to work part time and cut my pay probably by about 50-60% per year until my degree is obtained.

So, long story short: Do I take longer route to complete the basic LPN then still have to go through the RN half, while still maintaining my awesome paying job or do I go full time to school and cut my pay, but get my degree in half the time?

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Specializes in no specialty! (have to graduate first!).

I guess it just depends on how bad you need the money. If you can survive with a huge pay cut, I would go for it. You'll make more money as an RN rather than an LPN. Not to mention, you will probably do better in school if you're not working full-time. You may actually find that working full-time and going to school full-time is not as managable as you thought. On top of school and work you also need to take time to eat, sleep, shower and so on. And don't forget the massive amounts of study time you're going to need to squeeze in.

And I also agree that if you have to work, you should try to do something in the health care field. It may make the nursing program easier for you because you'll have a bit of experience as well as be more familiar with your surroundings. And if tuition assistance or reembursement (spelling?) is a HUGE perc.

Good luck on your decision!! I hope my opinion helps you a little! :o)

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less time/better degree. Hands down. Unless you absolutely need the money to survive, I say get that RN. 2 years from now, you will be making awesome money again but you'll be doing something you enjoy.

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If it were me, and it isn't, I'd take the RN.

Same time-frame, better degree. Yes, you may miss out on a little clinical experience because of skipping the LVN/LPN all together, but if you supplement with a job in the medical field, I think you'll be fine. If all goes well, I'll be starting my shiny new job as a Unit Clerk on Med-Surg in the week couple weeks, and I know the experience is going to be priceless.

I also agree with the statement that going to school full-time AND working full-time may not be as do-able as you think. And I'm assuming that even with evening school, there would be clinicals of some flavor; where would you squeeze those in between a full-time job and everything else on your plate?

If money isn't desperate and you feel that you could live comfortably on part-time wages, that would be my personal preference. Less stress, more time to focus on school, and going straight RN is going to be much more challenging than LVN/LPN first; I think you'll need all the extra time you can get.

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Specializes in Nil..
If it were me, and it isn't, I'd take the RN.

Same time-frame, better degree. Yes, you may miss out on a little clinical experience because of skipping the LVN/LPN all together, but if you supplement with a job in the medical field, I think you'll be fine. If all goes well, I'll be starting my shiny new job as a Unit Clerk on Med-Surg in the week couple weeks, and I know the experience is going to be priceless.

I also agree with the statement that going to school full-time AND working full-time may not be as do-able as you think. And I'm assuming that even with evening school, there would be clinicals of some flavor; where would you squeeze those in between a full-time job and everything else on your plate?

If money isn't desperate and you feel that you could live comfortably on part-time wages, that would be my personal preference. Less stress, more time to focus on school, and going straight RN is going to be much more challenging than LVN/LPN first; I think you'll need all the extra time you can get.

Oh, sorry forgot to mention that it is an LPN to RN program (still in the same amount of time)

Also forgot that I do work full time and go to school full time (just finished my AA).

Thanks to every one for the opinions, now I have to convince the nursing program that there really is room for me in the day program :stone

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