Finish Bachelors or go to LPN school?

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So, I'm positive I'm going to fail out of my RN program in a few weeks.I need advice.

After my journey to become an RN comes to an end this time around I need to decide my next move.

Do I: 1- finish my bachelors degree at Qunnipiac majoring in Health Science with a minor in Gerontology. ( I only have my associates in liberal arts and sciences)

OR 2- continue the nursing route and apply to LPN programs. (RN programs are very competitive and long waiting lists. I don't have time to wait)

I am leaning towards my bachelors because I think no matter what path I take, I will have that degree. These days you can't do anything without a degree. I think I would be more valuable and it will improve my chances of hire.

LPN route. it's an 18 month program, but I'm terrified of failing again :( If I finish I can work with the elderly that I love so much and have a job in less than 2 years.

I want my next move to be worth it. I can do both eventually but unsure where to go first. I want babies and a stable life and I feel like I'm running out of time.

:yes:If you were me, what would you do? thanks!

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Why are you positive you're going to fail out? What's up with the negative attitude? Did you not try?

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I certainly did try. I know my average and it's not of a passing grade for the course. I'm looking for genuine advice, not criticizing comments, please.

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I always read those who are LPNs on this site say how intense their program was.

I think you should evaluate how you are studying and what needs to be changed about that so you have success. See your school psychologist to help with that they aren't just there for mental health problems, but can help you realize what type of learner you are, if you aren't putting in enough of something (even if we think we are), maybe help you decide what to do next also.

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Why are you positive you're going to fail out? What's up with the negative attitude? Did you not try?

From someone who WENT to nursing school I can attest that if OP says she's failing, it's not based on negativity but cold hard facts. Most nursing programs require an average of 75 or 80 to pass. A 75 is not a C in nursing school... It's 1 point above failing.

OP- I'm sorry for your struggles. My advice as an LPN would be to finish your Bachelors in your current major and use those credits in the future. There are programs online that offer LPN to BSN.. Having the credits from your Bachelor's will move it along quicker.

If you decide to go for your LPN in the meantime look carefully on your BON at the nclex pass rates for that school. Those numbers speak volumes on how prepared you'll be after you finish the program.

The state schools, while cheaper are doing horribly.. The private schools are doing very well.. But it will cost you. Also a little FYI if your in CT(noticed the school your attending) I had excellent clinical sites through a private school. We spent most of the year in sub acute. Many state schools do their rotations in nursing homes. I love long term care- but getting hands on in sub acute gave me an edge.

And lastly it is hard, you already know that. But you'll be walking into it knowing the expectations and having the knowledge you've already gained!

Finish that Bachelors degree first!

Best of luck!!

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I always read those who are LPNs on this site say how intense their program was.

I think you should evaluate how you are studying and what needs to be changed about that so you have success. See your school psychologist to help with that they aren't just there for mental health problems, but can help you realize what type of learner you are, if you aren't putting in enough of something (even if we think we are), maybe help you decide what to do next also.

Again, nursing programs are very strict, if OP will fail in a few weeks when the class ends reevaluating study habits while important, will not fix her current situation. There are not test retakes or extra credit in nursing school..

She's asking for opinions on what to do next- not opinions on her study skills...

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Again, nursing programs are very strict, if OP will fail in a few weeks when the class ends reevaluating study habits while important, will not fix her current situation. There are not test retakes or extra credit in nursing school..

She's asking for opinions on what to do next- not opinions on her study skills...

What would it matter what she does next (like Lpn school) if she just fails again?

She said she's afraid of failing again. That's the most important thing to address imo. Hopefully it helps her but if it doesn't hopefully someone else's advice can!

I can't say what she should do if she thinks she's going to fail everything. I can't say what she should do anyway. But if she learned she can succeed. .THEN what would she chose? Maybe lpn or maybe try again for the RN.

Anyway I just am here to help and learn.

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Cream and Sugar thank you very much for all of your support and great advice in all of my posts. the site wont let me private message until I've reached 15 posts. :(

This doesn't need to turn into a battle of who's advice is better. Am I nervous to approach nursing again? yes. My average is a 79.3. My school requires an 80 average to move on. Is it failing from the program? yes, but I do think I gained a ton of knowledge even though my score isn't passing. It wasn't easy to get a 79.3 and I worked my butt off for it. For my current school it isn't good enough. At my current mental state I feel defeated and discouraged and am just looking for some honest opinions about the smartest next move between the two options I suggested in my post.

I guarantee everyone who has passed nursing school put in their blood sweat and tears to earn their degree. If you never failed, I feel you cannot relate to my situation. I just want to get my life timeline in check and take my failures as a learning experience.

Again, cookies and cream thank you for all of your recommendations :)

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

I didn't mean to come off as critical! It just doesn't make sense to me how you'd know weeks beforehand that you'd flunk out. But then again, I haven't gone through nursing school. And there's absolutely no way you can pick up the pace to where you're at least passing? If you really think you can't pass then I would just go to LPN school but that's just my $.02

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

I would finish your bachelors if your close enough (how much longer?) then do the bachelors to BSN transition. But from what I understand, most of those programs are hell to get through so that's also something to consider.

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Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.
From someone who WENT to nursing school I can attest that if OP says she's failing, it's not based on negativity but cold hard facts. Most nursing programs require an average of 75 or 80 to pass. A 75 is not a C in nursing school... It's 1 point above failing.

OP- I'm sorry for your struggles. My advice as an LPN would be to finish your Bachelors in your current major and use those credits in the future. There are programs online that offer LPN to BSN.. Having the credits from your Bachelor's will move it along quicker.

If you decide to go for your LPN in the meantime look carefully on your BON at the nclex pass rates for that school. Those numbers speak volumes on how prepared you'll be after you finish the program.

The state schools, while cheaper are doing horribly.. The private schools are doing very well.. But it will cost you. Also a little FYI if your in CT(noticed the school your attending) I had excellent clinical sites through a private school. We spent most of the year in sub acute. Many state schools do their rotations in nursing homes. I love long term care- but getting hands on in sub acute gave me an edge.

And lastly it is hard, you already know that. But you'll be walking into it knowing the expectations and having the knowledge you've already gained!

Finish that Bachelors degree first!

Best of luck!!

I am not sure what you mean by "the state schools while cheaper are doing horribly.....the private schools are doing very well."

Why do you say that state schools are doing horribly? That is none of my experience. They often times have higher standards and have faculty that are full time and tenured and provide a quality nursing education.

There is a difference between "private non profit" school and " private for profit" school. The private non profit schools are more expensive but they, like the state schools, have tenured faculty and high standards. The for profit schools are something entirely different. In fact, they are often bait and switch fly by night operations that offer a poor education at a high price and have no standards for admission what so ever. The exist to make money for their shareholders and care much more about taking as much money as possible from you vs caring about the quality of education that you receive.

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What are your job prospects after getting the bachelor's? In the US, even with a bachelor's it is very hard to find a good paying job. With my bachelor's all I could find were jobs paying around $35k a year, so it made sense to just go back for my ADN and make significantly more.

The bad thing with finishing your bachelor's is that if you later decide you want to go back to nursing school, you're going to find it hard to be in school and still work during normal business hours.

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