Considering LPN program; Eugene, OR

[britanie_michelle]

Hi (so sorry for the long post),

I am 22 years old and for the last year I have been working on completing my prerequisites for admission to an RN program. However, I recently discovered that I am unable to continue classes at my local community college due to some personal events that occurred within the last year.

This most recent spring term I took on a reasonable 8 credit hours, however I added a non-credit CNA class on top of this, so I could begin working as a CNA. I really didn't even stop to think about how much I would be investing in my CNA class and clinicals, not to mention I was still trying to maintain a full time caregiving job at this time. A few weeks into term, I hit an absolute wall. It was close to the 1 year anniversary of my grandmothers death, and I was completely overwhelmed with school and work. After one of my darkest moments and a suicide attempt, I focused solely on my CNA class, unfortunately letting my other two classes slide.

Now, I have learned that due to not receiving credits for the two classes last term, I have an unpaid balance on my account at school that I cannot afford to pay at this very moment. The school will drop me out of the classes I've already registered for, for fall term.

I've done some shopping around and I am considering applying to a local LPN program at another school. (I live in Eugene, OR so i really only have a few options for nursing programs near me) My plan, if I get accepted to the LPN program, would be to begin classes and along the way pay off my unpaid balance to the community college, if/when I am able to work as an LPN, apply to the community college's LPN-RN Bridge program and attain my RN that way. Then move on to get my BSN.

I've also considered just taking the time off from school completely to work and try to pay off the school that way, but I'm really afraid that I'm the type of person that if I stop now, I won't go back.

My point in all of this is that I have approached a few of the nurses I work with (LPN's and RN's) and almost all of them have either told me to not get my LPN at all, or to just make sure I get my BSN and don't give up after I get my LPN. I was just hoping to get a few more opinions on whether or not it's worth it to get my LPN then my RN-BSN.

Personally, I am really excited at the prospect of being a nurse within a year, and being able to make a decent wage as I go through an RN program. I just don't want to make a bad decision and screw myself over... again.

Thanks in advance!!!