Backtrack LPN then RN

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After 1 year of trying to complete my pre reqs for ADN RN program in my county, I found out that I still am missing 3 classes that I never took in H.S, never mind that I graduated from HS twenty something years ago. By the time I finsh these I will still be placed on the waiting list for the program. I am so frustrated I have decided to try for the LPN program where there is no waiting list and then proceed after that for my RN . I feel like I am going backwards. Like a yoyo, I s there anyone who thinks this is a sucky idea. People are telling me LPN will be obselete soon, I just dont want to waist time, I have just decided a year ago to go back to school I have 2 grown children and two young ones, I want a career and this is what I want I know that it is going to be hard going to school and having kids, but I believe it it is worth it. not to mention that I am not youn anymore, I was hoping to have a least a good twenty something more years as a nurse after I finish school. Thats if I dont win the lotto first.

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Is there somewhere else you can go that isn't going to make you take classes that are high school level? That just seems ridiculous to me. After you have been out of high school that long.........those classes aren't going to make a difference as long as you can show a diploma or GED.

LPNs/LVNs are not going to be obsolete. They've been saying for years that if you didn't have a BSN that you wouldn't be able to get a job and that still isn't true. However, you may be limited in what jobs are available in your area as an LPN as there are hospitals that will only hire RNs. Thus, you may have to take an LPN job you REALLY don't like just to get a job. Ask around and see what things are like in your area. If you could get a job as an LPN, you always then have the option of getting your RN later through a self study/testing program that probably won't care that you didn't take those 3 classes in high school. Normally I don't advise going the LPN route because the pay is worse for much of the same work and often it takes just as long to complete an LPN class as it does an RN class. But if you really don't want to or can't take those classes and have no where else to go, the LPN route may be ok. Talk to other nurses in your area and see what the market is like to get a feel for things.

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Specializes in Endoscopy/MICU/SICU.

If I were you, I'd wait and enter the ADN program. It's going to take you a year+ to get through LPN school, and then another year for LPN-ADN. If you wait one more semester, hopefully you will get into the ADN program and only have 4 semesters (usually a year and a half). Just my opinion. Good luck to you, whatever you choose.

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Here is my Mom's story.

She was 41 with an 8 year old, a very troubled 13 yr old, and a rebellious 16 year old.

Her husband was deployed to Iraq, South Korea, and twice to Honduras during NS.

She had to retake her courses upwards of four times because we kept getting moved by the Army and her credits didn't transfer.

She also was working during school.

She graduated top of her class.

Whenver I think my life is hard I think of her.

That said she went straight for the RN because she knew no matter how long she had to wait or what she had to do it was worth the sacrifice. You sound just like her so I say go for the RN. Go for it!!!

Good luck!!

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i am in a similiar situation: I got my LPN in 2004, had to undergo surgery 3 days later b/c the mesh used to repair my hernia got infected ( i did 2 months of clinicals with a picc line in my arm and contually weeping abcesses from my abdomen). I then had to retake both courses of anatomy over again, statistics and english to compete to get in part time at a local college, had to go to work, then got in another distance program full time, had to take another math class (math 099), got a C-, I am retaking it now and will hopefully start a part time program this january, and won't be eligible to sit for my RN until Sept 2009. So please do not give up!!!! I will be 45 :( but I will be an RN!!!!

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Specializes in My first yr. as a LVN!.

Yep yep.. I know the feeling .. my last job of 3 yrs... my co worker had already at that time been sitting on the wait list for the RN program 2-3 yrs... still to this day she hasnt gotten in while I already went and near finished my LVN program... to me its worth taking this step because Im basically too impatient to wait around 5 yr+ to get what I want.. instead I take other routes and will still in the end have my RN next yr ... which is only 2 semesters after your LVN.. good luck whatever u decide ...

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Thanks to everyone that replied, hope is not lost, I will continue for the LPN and then proceed for the RN. At least I know that I will have the experience as an LPN while I go for my RN

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

I am going for my LVN and then will do the LVN-RN at my local college. You need to weigh all the options because there might be some that you don't see right now. I have reasons for my choice. RN needs to have all pre-reqs completed and then you can apply. There is a 4 year wait list after that but one can prolly get in in 2-3 years. I was just going to go for that but then the LVN option was presented to me. I just need to take Micro. I will graduate in January. Prolly get my licence in March. Once I am done with Micro I can apply to the step up program. Waiting will be between 6mos to one year. This is actually less time than in going straight for RN!

Some drawbacks.... 3 semesters of LVN and then 3 semesters of RN is 6 semesters whereas just RN would be 4 semesters with a summer class in Pharm so a little more education but it's still a good option. Also, I've just learned that State has a 30 unit option for the LVN to get the RN with no wait list and it's only 2 semesters. But also I've noticed that around here the hospitals want RN's. They don't advertise for LVN's. Also, student externships are only for RN's.

So weigh your options. LVN is a good way to go if it is faster for you. :)

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2 of my clinical instructors started their careers as LPN's. Occasionally admissions officers suffer from cranial rectal impaction. I have nothing but respect for LPNs. My mother taught LPN's for 35 years. Some of the best nurses I know are LPN's. I hope you can make the RN work but sometimes we all have to take the bird in the hand mentality. Best of luck...

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

how ever bumpy and curvy the road may be if it will get you to the destination you want then go for it.

i was 45 when i started. the only route i had was lpn to rn, unless i wanted to drive 3 hours a day for the bsn program. i decided to be a nurse so i worked as a cna all during the lpn program, (nights) when i graduated the ltc hired me as a lpn so i worked as an lpn during the rn program. now i work there as an rn. i am working on the pre reqs for my rn to ms. i can do most of that online... the experience was invaluable while i was going to school.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

I started my RN then left to do my Enrolled Nursing (similar to LPN). I then worked as an EN for a number of years, and then went back to do my RN. The advantage of doing this is when you are studying you already have a good grounding in nursing from being an LPN. I worked as an EN while studying, so my knowledge remained current.

There is nothing wrong with going the LPN path. There are quite a few advantages as you can see from my experience. And now I'm an RN...

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