Decisions and a rocky start...

[RunnerLuv]

Ok, I have wanted to be a nurse since I remember. I am currently working on my prereqs at a University for a BSN. Of course so many things went wrong from testing computers on the fritz to mean bitter professors and pnemonia. My first semester has been hell, but I am not turned from nursing!

There is a school of practical nusing where I can get my LPN in two semesters. What do you think of taking a break from the University to get my LPN, then doing an LPN --> RN bridge? I could definantly have a good job, learning so much about nursing, and they pay for school . Doing the bridge, not taking any time off would give me my BSN in four years. This is actually a year off of what it would have taken me bc my school is BEEEP and they added to the requirements for fall clinicals, so if I dont do the bridge, I will have to wait until fall 2008 to do them anyway.

So what do you guys think??

Lisa C

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

hi, lisa!

it doesn't really matter what we think, does it? what's best for you? if you are sure that you will be able to get employment as an lpn after graduation, then go for it. lpns are not able to get jobs in hospitals in some areas, so make sure you know what your job prospects will be as an lpn. in many areas lpns are utilized as charge nurses in nursing homes.

i was already an rn when i decided to go back to school to get my bsn. i was able to work nights so that i could go to school during the day. i did have to cut my work to part time during my last year because the school work got very intense. we had a lot of papers that were due in our bsn program. the nice thing was that i was able to pick up the phone when i wasn't busy with school work and offer my services to the facility i worked for on a night when i was able to work an extra shift. of course, i may have had to float, but i worked on a stepdown unit and usually ended up working on my own unit anyway.

by the way, my mother was an lvn here in california and worked in icu and ccu units. i have a great deal of respect for lpns and i was taught a great deal about direct patient care by them when i worked on a stepdown unit many years ago. you see, i went into an aa program to become an rn having absolutely no experience whatsoever in healthcare.

welcome to allnurses! :welcome:

[JaxiaKiley]

Welcome!

That's a tough call. In many places, it's really competitive to get into nursing schools. It might even been an easier path to become an LPN and then do the bridge since the demand isn't as high for those programs. It's definitely worth looking in to!

Best of luck!

[arciedee]

As others stated it depends on where you are and what's best for you. One thing to look into however... I know that programs in my state will often require bridge students to have a year of work experience in their current role before bridging (i.e. an LPN would need a year of working as an LPN before being allowed to do the RN bridge, and ADN grad would need to work for a year as an RN before starting the BSN bridge). I believe there is some flexibility in this, however the theory (I'm guessing) is that they don't want students trying to juggle a new job and all the stress that goes along with it with school.

Good luck in whatever you decide.