Choose LPN, RN, or RN/BSN?

[AllieSparksRN]

happy holidays! at the end of december, i can take my boards and earn my lpn license. one question: where do i stop? i am working in addtion to going to school and my work is very flexible around my classes and clinicals (however, it is not in the health care field). i could quit my job and start practicing as an lpn while i finish my next year of classes to become an rn but i don't think i want to. i have medical insurance now and flexibility and i think those are two key things to consider. would you make the switch if you were in my position?

secondly, i am doing a 2-year rn program. i started at a 4 year university but switched because the wait was less for this program. once i earn my rn through this 2 year program, i have about 1 year left at the university and i can finish my bsn degree-and i think most/all of the classes are available to me online (all the "on-campus" classes i've taken already). i have over 100 credits-it's a long story-but i didn't realize nursing was my "calling" until i was a few years into college.

i'm 25 years old, not married, and i have zero kids...i'm just looking for some advice from anyone who may have some experience/thoughts/ideas? am i crazy for wanting to finish my rn and then jump straight finishing my bsn while i'm still in "school mode?" is it okay i'm not working in the health care field now even though i want to do that the rest of my life? i know it's possible to earn a bsn while married with kids, etc., but i would like to do it now if i can...what do you think? thank you for any responses!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Sounds like you have a good plan for getting your BSN, definately keep going and get that BSN out of the way, so you're not like me 48 years old just graduating from an RN to BSN program. You will probably find a job as an RN that will pay tuition reimbursement for those classes. So keep on keeping on.

Using your LPN license to get experience as a nurse and getting into the field is a good idea if 1) you don't have to take a pay cut, 2) you find a job that is close to your goals for being a nurse (i.e. you want to work in a hospital as an RN, you might find getting this type of job is not easy) and 3) they offer you the flexibility to finish up your RN (many facilities are willing to do this because they want RNs and offer flexible schedules).

Maybe you should put out some inquires and applications just to see what's out there. As I said getting a hospital job as a new grad LPN won't be easy.

Good luck!