CNA to LPN to BSN to MSN , Whew!

freetobeme82 · Jul 8, 2011

I worked Nights in a Nursing home as a CNA while going to LPN .... then as a LPN while going to RN... It took 3 years. 1 semester was just Pre-reqs and co-reqs for the RN Program. It was tough but it was worth it.
I owed $23,000. of which $15,000 was forgiven by a State Loan forgiveness program for working in a rural Nursing home.

Was it hard working part time CNA while focused on LPN school work and clinicals? I am asking because someone on here said she wish she had not done it that way . She found it extremely hard to do both. She said to take some easy breezy job part time instead and she wish she had done that different. I was thinking about office cleaning at night. I have done this before and its very easy.. your on your own. Its not a no brainer. I don't want my brain to fry on both ends LOL. Please email me @ [email protected]

Shirley Shin · Jul 18, 2011

A friend of mine took the same steps that you are about to do, because she could not work so she worked her way up through first taking CNA, then and an advanced nursing assistant, now she's currently a LPN working towards my RN.So keep doing what you're doing it will pay off in the long run. GOOD LUCK

stef0721 · Oct 11, 2011

Hi everyone,

I am new to this & soo confused right now lol, I need help!! :) Ok first of all I'm currently working as a CSR (customer service Rep) @ this insurance place. The pay is not good for a job that is not even related to what I want to do($9.50) I was reading this and I noticed that some CNAs get paid $9.00 so I know I get $0.50 more but its not even related to health care( by the way live in Houston, Tx). I wanted to go the LVN-RN-BSN....way but I'm actually thinking of becoming a CNA and then LVN. Someone said that some agencies even pay for the tuition if you sign a contract for 1 yr or so. As of right now I only live with my bf & I dont have kids, and I really want to start this as soon as I can. People tell me that it's better to stay at my job because I will have to do much more work as a CNA for less pay :confused: Also, I can't afford to stop working for 1 yr for the LVN program (if i get accepted) because like I said I only live with my bf, and I dont get any financial help from my parents. So can anyone give me any advice on what I should do??? Please

Thank You

studentinnursing · Oct 12, 2011

Hi everyone,
I am new to this & soo confused right now lol, I need help!! :) Ok first of all I'm currently working as a CSR (customer service Rep) @ this insurance place. The pay is not good for a job that is not even related to what I want to do($9.50) I was reading this and I noticed that some CNAs get paid $9.00 so I know I get $0.50 more but its not even related to health care( by the way live in Houston, Tx). I wanted to go the LVN-RN-BSN....way but I'm actually thinking of becoming a CNA and then LVN. Someone said that some agencies even pay for the tuition if you sign a contract for 1 yr or so. As of right now I only live with my bf & I dont have kids, and I really want to start this as soon as I can. People tell me that it's better to stay at my job because I will have to do much more work as a CNA for less pay Also, I can't afford to stop working for 1 yr for the LVN program (if i get accepted) because like I said I only live with my bf, and I dont get any financial help from my parents. So can anyone give me any advice on what I should do??? Please
Thank You

First, you don't have to pay for school until you graduate. No matter if it is hrants or loans. School will pay for itself. Call yours local community college. Talk to ank advisor. Call a couple private schools. You wouldn't believe what we are capable of til we want something bad enuf. School pays for itself. In Texas RNs makes about 30/hr. I'm in FL and they start at 20. With 20th kids and renting a house, working part-time, barely making it, but you will makes out much better :) If you want to do it, call around and see what you come up with. If I get a BSN, I'll have a loans payment of $500? Month when I graduate, and with 2 kids I am hesitant, but even then, if I work at Veterans' hospital or something like that., and this is a dream, I pay for 10 years and the government forgives the rest. May never happen, but point is there are so many options....Good Luck!

studentinnursing · Oct 12, 2011

Woops...grants....you dont get much sleep and only proof your care plans....LOL.

stef0721 · Oct 25, 2011

First of all thank you for your response, and you are totally right I will look into it!

2bNursevaldez2 · Mar 23, 2012

I have a question I'm curently a patien care technician working in the emergency room Which mean i have my phlebotomist , ekg, CNA , certification i also have my associate in health care adminitration ... And i took my Iv certification which mean i can put iv .. But im not allowed to ... Lol.. Im also a medical assistant and biller and coder .. Well the question is since i have all of my nursing pre - req i would like to know which would be a smarter route for me ... if going to lpn school then BSN or just going straigth in to RN - school then to BSN .... I was also wondering since i have my associate in health care would it shorten the lpn to bsn process ... Lpn is 11 moth RN 2 years Lpn to bsn 2 - 4 years RN to BSN 1.5 year But i would like to know if having an associate plus lpn plus Rn pre- re would only mean i have to go,for school for 11 moth plus 1.5 year to get my BSN. .? Is that posible ? Because i heard of people who has a BA in what ever concentration and obtain a master in nursing so lpn plus Ass degreed would be a short cut rigth ?

2bNursevaldez2 · Mar 23, 2012

I have a question I'm curently a patien care technician working in the emergency room Which mean i have my phlebotomist , ekg, CNA , certification i also have my associate in health care adminitration ... And i took my intravenouce certification which mean i can put iv .. But im not allowed to ... Lol.. Im also a medical assistant and biller and coder .. Well the question is since i have all of my nursing pre - req i would like to know which would be a smarter route for me ... if going to lpn school then BSN or just going straigth in to RN - school then to BSN .... I was also wondering since i have my associate in health care would it shorten the lpn to bsn process ... Lpn is 11 moth RN 2 years Lpn to bsn 2 - 4 years RN to BSN 1.5 year But i would like to know if having an associate plus lpn plus Rn pre- re would only mean i have to go,for school for 11 moth plus 1.5 year to get my BSN. .? Is that posible ? Because i heard of people who has a BA in what ever concentration and obtain a master in nursing so lpn plus Ass degreed would be a short cut rigth ?

chevyv, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2012

What!?!

2bNursevaldez2 · May 3, 2012

I want to know what is a smarter route here in the us... I receive a letter from a school and they said i need to have an associate dgreed or just 64 credit plus the nursing pre requisit and i can aplyed for the BSN program ... So i was wondering if i should do this or do lpn to bsn .. Because every time i go to sing up for the pre reg classes they are taken .. I already have associate in health care adminitration and back in my country i was a lpn

studentinnursing · May 4, 2012

If you do LPN first, you will still have to do 3 of 4 semesters of the RN program in any school I have checked out; I am in Florida. So being an LPN only lets you "skip" first semester of an ADN/ASN/Associate of Science in Nursing in this state. However, being an LPN lets you make some money while in nursing school, but I work AT HOME doing medical transcription and barely could get in 8-10 hours a week during SOME semesters or on break. But, I do have 2 little ones by myself, so I have less time than others; it is very hard to work while in nursing school, in my opinion, but the LPN route would let you make a decent wage while in school if you can swing it; otherwise, I would not go that route because you are only skipping that first 4 months of the 2-year degree. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!