CNA with One Year of Prerequisites for Nursing

[Vsantucci]

Hello everyone.... I'm 34. I have a year of nursing prerequisites at a local community college. College is tough but I'm getting okay grades...gpa is ok. I took an entrance exam for the LPN program just on whim... and I passed and did exceptionally well. I did not do well in college ten years ago so my grades suffered and that's why I decided maybe just maybe I should do LPN. I brought my grades up this year though. This is the most confusing and important decision of my life to date. I do not know if I should do LPN or RN track. LPN I'll graduate next July 18 which is super attractive....but RN is where my heart is. Any thoughts or recommendations? Anyone in a similar position? I'm in NJ

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

If you got into the LPN program- my advice is take it! There are a HUGE number of bridge programs you can take advantage of once you complete LPN.

I started as an LPN and today I have a DNP- just kept crossing those bridges!

Good luck!

[KariT]

I was actually in a similar situation such as yours....2 years ago I had the opportunity to go to LPN school for FREE. So my mom kept telling me to do it now so I don't have to waste years on trying to become a BSN RN but I chose not do it because becoming a RN was where my heart was to. Becoming an LPN would have set my goals back another year or so.

Fast forward these past years, I will now be starting nursing school in the fall after two years of prerequisites and my mom couldn't be prouder that I chose this route and I am too. So this shows that with a little patience and hard work you can set your mind on anything and achieve it.

[TBohmRN, RN]

I got my LPN about 11 years ago at a community college. I continued on for my RN immediately, but ended up dropping due to other things going on (attempting to work full time and raising a child). The timing just wasn't right for me. I am now 33, and graduated from the RN program at the same community college in December. Start with your LPN. A lot of community college programs bridge to RN easily, so once you have your LPN you can decide if you want to continue on right away, or maybe work for a while first. I will say that the most beneficial thing when I went back for my RN? My experience as an LPN. I had a much easier time with pharmacology, and pathophys-related things in school. Everything just came so much easier this time around, and I know it was because of my experience in healthcare.