Dont know what to do! Help!?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hey Im soooo frustrated right now. I finally decided nursing is what I want to do but Im having a block! have two options.. go straight for the RN or get my LVN and bridge to RN later on..

problem is!!!

I live in california and the RN waiting lists are two years PLUS (for a two year program + still have to do pre reqs)

AND

the LVN classes are ridiculously expensive!! arrgghh (BUT programs are generally 16 months)

I dont know what to do! Im 20 years old and married. I wanted to have my first baby when Im 23 and at this rate if I do an RN program I wont be able to have kids until im 26!

Im a extremely frustrated and I dont know what to do!! I asked my family and they dont know either! I think Im leaning towards doing an LVN but the price is such a turn off.. especially since I dont qualify for financial aid!!

HELP!!

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

I think you should go straight for RN! That would be my choice, anyway. I don't know about waiting lists because at my school we don't have one. Can't you do a distance program online?? I would check that out, too...

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

i'm in ca, too, so i understand where you're coming from.

you have a lot of options and the best one for you will depend on your particular circumstances.

one thing to consider is your long term goal. you're more likely to reach your long term goals quickly if you go straight to them. i considered that my long term goal is rn because it pays more. lvn would just be stepping stone for me.

from my research, the path to an lvn doesn't lead directly to an rn. it takes more time to get to the rn and the pre-reqs are even different. if you need an income sooner rather than later, then lvn (even the expensive private ones) may be a good option to consider. i'm not willing to take out (more) loans to finance my education. you can be an lvn through community college-not sure if there are wait lists, though.

my other consideration was that it's important to me personally to complete my bachelors degree. i've been in and out of college since i graduated hs in 1997. i decided to pursue my rn through a bsn program because csu's and community colleges are not as expensive as online rn to bsn classes.

you're also considering your future kids and i have to consider my existing kids. i don't want to be in school and working simultaneously for a longer period of time. the stepping stone programs (lvn to rn to bsn etc.) assume that you're working and going to school and take longer than a straight shot.

hth!

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I say go right for your RN or try the BSN. That way you are already in school and taking your pre-req's instead of dishing out the money for a LVN program which will equal up to RN education anyway. Good luck!

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I have to agree with the others. I would go straight for the RN. We don't have waitlists here but from reading around here on allnurses, it seems like the time can sometimes be shorter than you expect. People drop off the list all the time.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hello "I can't wait". Your post made me smile because you sound so excited and earnest and you have a plan for your life. I think that it is all wonderful and I wish you the best of luck. Here's my advice. Take a deep breath, and enjoy being 20. Enjoy being a new wife. Start building your life. If you want to be a nurse, do it. If that means having to wait 2 years but it's something you really REALLY want -you'll wait as long as it takes and work towards it step by step, and it will be worth it. If you and your husband are blessed with the opportunity to become parents, cherish motherhood and your kids. Life never works out exactly as we plan, the little surprises along the way are usually the best part of life, and the setbacks shape us and show us who we really are. 26 is not even close to past child bearing age. You may find that waiting a little while to start a family helps you to emotionally mature some more and strengthen the bond between you and your husband, as well as have some fun before you start the next chapter. BTW I'm turning 32 in a couple of weeks, returning to school to finish PreReqs and apply to a nursing program in my hometown, and putting off having children until I'm out of school. I will likely be 35 when we decide to start a family. I've got 10 years on you and if there's anything I've learned it's that time flies when your having fun and it's all fun really.

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I think that I would go directly to the RN program. Can you take pre-reqs while you are on the waiting list? If you could get some of them out of the way or some of the non-nursing class out of the way it would be alot easier once you get into nursing school. I wish I would have had my stuff together when I was 20 and gone into a nursing program then. cudos to you!!!

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Specializes in Hospice & Palliative Care, Oncology, M/S.

If it makes you feel any better, I'll (hopefully) be starting the Nursing program in the Spring and will be almost 38 when I graduate. We're waiting to have kids until that diploma is in my hot little hands. :)

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I would recommend going for the RN, along with the other people posting. You show the drive and dedication and I believe you will make it no matter how long you have to wait. Good luck!!!

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