BSN or LPN? soon to be mom

none the wiser · Jan 17, 2011

Did you rule out an ADN program altogether?

4-5 courses in college is a full load, trust me...lol. That'd probably be labeled as 12-15 hours, but really you spend a lot more time in class and studying than they give you credit for.

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Jan 17, 2011

Have you considered getting an Associates Degree (ADN) along the way? You take the same RN exam whether you have a BSN or ADN. With an RN license, finances would be much more workable if you wanted to get the BSN too.

purple10 · Jan 17, 2011

can you get state aid to help with expenses? why not talk to your parents and find out how they feel, they may be willing to help. like the other post said look into a ADN program oull get your RN in 2 years instead of the 4-5. Good luck to you, and congrats on the baby.:redbeathe

peppapig123 · Jan 17, 2011

There aren't many 2 yr programs around. At the community college, they're already placing for 2012. So by the time I finish my pre-req's, I could still be waiting 1-2 yrs to start...Bryant +& Stratton has a 2 year program, but it's kind of far from me, and so is the other ADN school. Would it be worth it to do my pre-req's and shoot for the ADN program at the community college?

My mom would be able to baby-sit for me, no matter what program I pick, but I don't want to depend on her for money, since I'd be staying with her for free and everything.

purple10 · Jan 17, 2011

alot of colleges have online courses for prereqs now, you said a few schools are a lil ways away but in the end it will be worth it. I have a friend we went to nursing school together she drove 45+ each day just to get to the school and thats not counting clinical sites. This girl even had 3 deaths in the family during school, we (me and a few instructors) had to talk her into going home for atleast a day afterwards. But you know what she made it through, as class President and she recieved many awards from the instructors. I on the other hand had two toddlers to take care of and pay bills and on top of that had to plan my wedding.

So yes it can be done, have faith in yourself, have confidence in yourself. Your unborn baby is the reason you need to go to school to make life better for you both, it will be rough at times but you can do it. You need to atleast try, you dont want to look back and go "what if?".

Sorry I got all preachy but I believe you can do it!:heartbeat

HonoluluBSN · Jan 18, 2011

Community colleges are a good place to build your foundation. The cost per credit should be less than your state university or a private college your credits should be transferrable. Take advantage of any financial aid, scholarships, grants. There are loans of course but there a multitude of grants and scholarships out there, do your research! also you could work for the college while attending as student to help with bills-whatever works and will get you the desired degree. As a young mother you could earn your ADN and get into the "work force" earlier and later do a ADN to BSN pathway.

You have options. It will be challenging at times because you will be a mom and as you mentioned will be getting much help from your mom (Thank God for MOMS!!!) but it will be worth it! Good luck in your endeavors!!

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2011

With the community college wait-list, it sounds like it would take just as long to get the ADN as the BSN, so it seems like a no-brainer to get the BSN if you're going the RN route rather than the LPN route. As a single mom you'll likely qualify for grants and scholarships that will help with the cost of the program, and you can work per diem as a CNA during school and pick up more hours over the summer.

LPN would get you out of school faster; what's the job outlook for LPNs in your area/

SweetBabyLPN · Jan 18, 2011

I'm an LPN and I say if you can afford to do the BSN AND have support while doing so. . . GO FOR IT!! Absolutely! My circumstances didn't allow me that option but if I could've, I would've.

I enjoy being an LPN and I make a very good income but one thing I can tell you through experience is that once you are an LPN, you're not likely to get your BSN as quickly as you would be if you had just gotten it over with from the beginning. Especially since you will have a young child by the time you start working, you'll likely enjoy the income and decide to do "just a couple of things" (financially) that you may not have been able to do before and next thing you know, you have a car notE, and credit card bills to pay down, etc. So you say, "OK, I'm just going to work some extra shifts to pay off these bills and then I'll enroll in the fall". This can be a very viscious cycle! Lol. That's not to say it will happen to you, but you run that risk so it's best to do it while you can and you have the economical and moral support of your family.

I understand that you want to be around for your child as much as possible but it's best to complete your schooling while he's young so that you can be around when he'll really need you and notice your absence (assuming you don't continue with the BSN immediately following graduation). I also understand that you don't want to be a burden to your mother but if she is willing to help you in this capacity then it's because she wants you to do what's best for you and the baby and it would be wise to take advantage of that opportunity (not many people have this as an option).

This is just my opinion of course. Only you know whats best for you. Good luck making your decision!

Loveangel1316 · Jan 18, 2011

I really understand what you are going through because I am a teen mom as well and Im working towards becoming a nurse. I battled the same dilemma LPN, ADN, or BSN. I've flip flopped so many times. Right out of highschool I went to community college to get my CNA and I have been working in a hospital per diem (I was a part-time CNA there but with school and a baby it was very hard). Im getting my foot in the door and Im positive they are going to hire me when Im done. But to my decision, I ended up going to BSN route. My reasoning is because you might get your LPN and start making good money and you might not feel the need to go back to school once you feel you are making enough money for you and your baby. I know you dont feel that way now, but people's train of thought changes as time goes by. As far as ADN goes, I live in Chicago and most hospitals are making it a requirement to get a BSN in order to work there and they dont even look at LPNs. I just feel you should get it done in 1 step and if you dont want to continue with school after your BSN, then thats absolutely fine because you would have reached your goal and will definitely have enough money to support you and your child.

CarolinaGirl1112 · Jan 18, 2011

I'm in a situation right now where I am depending on family to help me quite a bit. It sucks to be 30 and living at home with parents, but that's what happens sometimes when you get divorced.

I would say go for the BSN or ADN. You only have to do it once. Sure, you may have to rely on your Mom to help you out a lot, but when you're finished you'll be financially stable enough that YOU will be able to help HER when she needs it in the future!

In my area, there are a few schools that offer an LPN one-year program, and then a one-year LPN-RN bridge. If you do it that way, you can work as an LPN while you're working toward your degree. Just a thought...this is what I'm planning on doing.

I wish you the best!

st4rl4dy · Jan 18, 2011

Go for your RN, you will have more options in the long run. If you are worried about depending on your mom for money, talk it over with her. You can always workout a system where she gives you money and you pay her back later. Also the money situation can be resolved by continuing your nursing assistant job through school. I am sure your mother sees that school is the best option for you in the long run so get your RN go through school once and be done. Now if you have decided that their is a specialty you love and an LPN license will do for a couple of years you can do that also. But RN just seems better in this situation. One of my classmates got pregnant during the first semester and had little to no help until her baby was about 3 months. So you can do this especially with your mom so willing to help.