Am I crazy? Divorced/single mom, going LPN to RN...

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2004

Nope, go to the student nursing board and post this thread and you will find many crazy people doing just that.

Good luck to you.

hypnotic_nurse · Dec 15, 2004

I did the same thing you did only with 2 kids and a VPO from my exhusband...only I did the RN because I could get in the semester I applied. :) It's doable as long as your employer works with you and you don't expect to always make the top score in class (I was an honors student too and liked competing for the top score in my previous educational experiences; in nursing school I got mostly Bs). It was very stressful; it would have helped if my family had been closer and could have helped me more with the kids (if you had a friendly divorce this part will probably be much easier for you).

Good luck! I am so thankful that I managed to get this degree.

nurse_wannabe · Dec 15, 2004

Hi. I am a current LPN student. I think you are making a wonderful decision! You will be so happy when you are able to follow your heart and enjoy your career every day of your life!

I would seriously rethink the working full-time strategy though. I have class 4 days per week, do NOT work at all, have only 1 child AND a husband to help me out, and I still get stressed at times. It would really be stressful for you when you start your clinical rotations. I made sacrifices so I wouldn't have to work and could concentrate on school fully. I realize that this probably isn't an option for you since you are divorced, but maybe you could cut back on hours. I no longer have a cell phone or cable, and I really think about whether or not I need things before I buy them.

Now, about the RN. I had plans to attend RN school right after LPN school too. However, all of my instructors are RNs and have said that RNs do mostly paperwork and admin. I've since decided to work as an LPN for a couple of years and then make the decision, as my interests really lie in bedside care. So I guess it really just depends on what you want to do.

:balloons: I wish you all the best! :balloons:

crb613, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2004

My daughter went through LPN school while going through a horrible divorce & child custody battle. She has 3 children they were 2,3 & 7 at the time. She lives in another state & had no help she graduated with a 4.0. In Jan. she will be going back to school to get her RN bachelor degree while working full time & caring for her children.She will do it & i'm sure you can too. Good Luck to you!

newnurseinkansas · Dec 16, 2004

I've also got a bachelors degree and decided to go back to school once again and become a nurse (my husband says I'm a professional student). I have a house full of kids but I did the LPN first so I could work as a nurse during my second year of the RN program. The regualar RN students will be looking to you for guidance -

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Dec 16, 2004

As a nurse, I often thought why the heck go through with the LPN and not go into the RN...but since I have been working with some wonderful LPN's, I have found they are very happy with their positions, and wouldn't change a thing! They didn't want the extra duties a nurse is responsible for, and wanted to do more direct patient care instead of doing all the theory, admin, careplanning, and other duties. They are simply awesome and I adore them!!! (they razz me all the time..ohhhhh time to do deligations missy, or hey time to do some boring paperwork and be a nursie! LOL!!!!).

They do complain often that when they say "I am an LPN" they get the "ohh you didn't make it through nursing school?" or "why didn't you go on to become a nurse?!?!"...and they say you just kinda get over that and let it slide. In fact, I never asked and let them talk about it one day when a Home health nurse realized she was talking to an LPN (she thought my LPN was RN) and had a mini cow saying "get me a REAL NURSE". I listened to them and found out just how much they love their jobs, and wished people simply wouldn't treat them like that..but par for the course, and actually happens less than people think at my facility.

A few weeks later I made them some pins from Fimo clay that had a big red cross symbol on them..a big pink heart in the center with the letters LPN in the center of that...and used those lettered beads on a large safety pin that said "REAL NURSE". They loved them and still wear them today! (and everyone in the facility...staff and residents knew the story behind what we call "the REAL NURSE fiasco"!).

They love their jobs, and are glad they didn't go RN! The only sucky thing is they do just as much work as I do, know as much as I do (they are very experienced...15+ years!!!), work their fingers to the bone..and make less than me ...but they say paychecks aren't everything...it is the job making you happy that does! :).

Try to find an opportunity to shadow a LPN and RN and see for yourself what may fit best for you :). I have my ADN and wouldn't change it at all...and I get the "ohhh so you didn't make it through BSN?" or "why didn't you go on to get your BSN?!?!?!" LOL!!!! Same story, different letters..LOL!!!

JVanRN · Dec 17, 2004

I did CNA>>LVN/LPN>>>>RN route and wouldn't change a thing...i had it a lot easier cuz I didn't have kids or anything but I loved the experience...I wouldn't really say that it made schooling so much easier (LVN to RN program) but it definately helped in the workplace...I felt like I had somewhat of an edge than some of the other new RN's, like with talking to dr's and such, but at times it was hard to unlearn alot of things (like reporting to a charge nurse, now you ARE the charge nurse) but not THAT difficult.

JVanRN · Dec 17, 2004

I did CNA>>LVN/LPN>>>>RN route and wouldn't change a thing...i had it a lot easier cuz I didn't have kids or anything but I loved the experience...I wouldn't really say that it made schooling so much easier (LVN to RN program) but it definately helped in the workplace...I felt like I had somewhat of an edge than some of the other new RN's, like with talking to dr's and such, but at times it was hard to unlearn alot of things (like reporting to a charge nurse, now you ARE the charge nurse) but not THAT difficult.

loriangel14, RN · Dec 19, 2004

I am aboard the crazy boat too. I am separated with 2 kids working 2 jobs and going to school nights to get myRPN( registered practical nurse here in Ontario). I do plan on eventually going for my RN but will wait until the kids are older. In Ontario an RPN is considered a nurse and we belong to the college of nurses same as the RNs. It takes 2 and a half yrs full time but going 2 nights a week it is going to take 4 yrs. It is stressful but the further into the course I get the more things are coming together and the more sense my decision to become a nurse is making. Being an older student is a bonus ( I just turned 39) and I'm glad that I waited until even though I've always wanted to be a nurse. Best of luck to all you gals out there in school!

Fiona59 · Dec 19, 2004

LPN's are REAL nurses. Sometimes, I wish they would just change the titles to LN. But Licensed or Registered we are ALL nurses.

I've worked as a charge nurse in LTC. How many of your skills you utilize basically depends on your employer (and in some areas of Canada) and how strong the RN's union is. I've heard horror stories about Manitoba and how the RN's convinced the LPN's to join their union "better wages and benefits" and within a short period managed to eliminate scores of LPN position across the board.

I've also been told by RN's that their work is coming more and more administrative and I've certainly seen in it in LTC. The units I worked on had one RN for every three LPN's.

LPN are licensed and insured professionals. You might want to consider joining your college of nurses and working as an advocate to ensure that LPNs are seen in the correct light.

School can be done with kids and a missing husband. Mine was posted overseas as a Peacekeeper for half my course. If you explain your situation to your instructors without making it look like you are looking for special treatment they can be very accommodating. Mine found me a rotation that involved 8 hour as opposed to 12 hour shifts for clinical. Best part was that it was within 5 minutes of my home. Wound up working there after graduation.

It can be done and there is nothing to be ashamed of in being an LPN. We had several students with degrees in my class. Some found out that they werent nurses others loved it.

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Dec 19, 2004

To be quite honest, I really think more nursing programs should offer LPN licensing as you complete your RN program. I was an LPN for the better part of 17 years. I found that my LPN education really helped me a great deal as I was going through the RN program. All the years of experience I had as an LPN made the transition from LPN to RN alittle easier.

I worked side by side in my RN program with students that had never been a CNA and they really struggled with time management, global and critical thinking. I think the LPN to RN students may have had a little easier time.

I say Bravo for getting your LPN rather than waiting for another year to get into teh RN program. It gives you better earning power and a little more ability to be flexible with your schedule during RN school. Besides, everyday you work as an LPN, you are gaining more nursing experience that will eventually help you with your RN. Good luck.