future nursing student looking for guidance

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so im planning on starting some prerequisites this upcoming spring 2011 semester.

i live in southern california and im confused as to which prerequisites i should take.

and if i should do cna or go straight to lvn rn bridge.

i have many great cna and lvn programs in my county i just don't know which way to go

and which way is better. or faster and more hands on experience

can i take general classes like math A&P I and II.

and THEN after this semester enroll in the lvn>rn bridge.

OR keep doing prerequisites in community college, then cna, then rn.?

im so confused..:confused:

any input or comments would help me so much.

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Why not just enroll in an RN program right off the bat? Also, every program has different requirements so you should make an appointment with a counselor at the school you are planning on attending.

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Specializes in ICU/Emergency Room.

This is the advice I give to people who ask me questions similiar to yours. First, what is your situation? Can you simply take the pre-reqs and apply to nursing school or do you need the "shortest" route to making a good living. For example, a young lady asked me what she should do. She's a single mom, waiting tables not really making enough to get by. She has no college education thus far and really needed to improve her finanacial situation as soon as possible. My recommendation to her was to go to LPN (LVN) school (in Florida at our local college) there were only 2 pre-reqs for the LPN program and the program is one year. She would be making enough to support her and her children in about 1.5 years. she could the take the LPN to RN bridge after she finished the pre-reqs. Now thats the long way to get to your RN because the bridge program in FL in about a year.

Another person asked me the same question. She has a decent full time job has no children and is in an okay financial situation. She had little or no college and was just getting started. I recommended that she start her pre reqs which would take her about 1.5 to 2 years and then apply to the ADN or BSN program which would take her about another two years.

You just have to fiqure out whats best for you. The "shortest" route may not always be the shortest if that makes sense. If you are in a financial situation to invest the time I would tell you to muddle through your pre-reqs and apply to your RN program.

On a side note, many states will let you challenge the CNA exam. It's not very tough and there are reviews available on line. I've seen many people who really didnt need to spend a fair amount of money to take a cna course when they could have challenged the test saving themselves time and money.

Good luck.

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Specializes in CNA, HHA.
This is the advice I give to people who ask me questions similiar to yours. First, what is your situation? Can you simply take the pre-reqs and apply to nursing school or do you need the "shortest" route to making a good living. For example, a young lady asked me what she should do. She's a single mom, waiting tables not really making enough to get by. She has no college education thus far and really needed to improve her finanacial situation as soon as possible. My recommendation to her was to go to LPN (LVN) school (in Florida at our local college) there were only 2 pre-reqs for the LPN program and the program is one year. She would be making enough to support her and her children in about 1.5 years. she could the take the LPN to RN bridge after she finished the pre-reqs. Now thats the long way to get to your RN because the bridge program in FL in about a year.

Another person asked me the same question. She has a decent full time job has no children and is in an okay financial situation. She had little or no college and was just getting started. I recommended that she start her pre reqs which would take her about 1.5 to 2 years and then apply to the ADN or BSN program which would take her about another two years.

You just have to fiqure out whats best for you. The "shortest" route may not always be the shortest if that makes sense. If you are in a financial situation to invest the time I would tell you to muddle through your pre-reqs and apply to your RN program.

On a side note, many states will let you challenge the CNA exam. It's not very tough and there are reviews available on line. I've seen many people who really didnt need to spend a fair amount of money to take a cna course when they could have challenged the test saving themselves time and money.

Good luck.

What is your local school here in Florida?

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You just have to fiqure out whats best for you. The "shortest" route may not always be the shortest if that makes sense.

I totally agree. I am eligible for an ABSN program in my area (which is only a year), but I am going the ADN then RN-BSN route. The ABSN program is 35k+, but the ADN, RN-BSN route (while like 3.5x longer) will cost me maybe 1/3 the cost PLUS I can work PT (I hope :confused:) to cover living expenses. It's significantly longer, but I think it will work better for my family and my wallet. For me, cheaper and less compacted is better. Also, I'm hoping the extra time will help with the market for new grads (finger AND toes crossed:)). Good luck to you.

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I agree with the above posts! Look at your situation first. Do you have a lot of responsibility out of school, such as family, kids, spouse?? A job?? Do the RN right now if you can, but slow down to a pace of LPN first if you need to. The point is...don't stop going to school! And enjoy the journey! Good luck!

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Specializes in Occupational Health; Adult ICU.

Personally I cannot overemphasize the value of doing some CNA or LNA work. You get a first hand experience, from the inside, of what it's like to be a CNA, so in your future life you'll probably appreciate them and know how to deal with them.

But more importantly, even spending four months as a CNA gives you amazingly invaluable experience in "handling people." Nursing school, be it LPN, ADN, or BSN often throws you into clinical with little preparation and you are faced with two major factors. You are faced with anything from assessment to catheterizing someone, in short the "procedures." But you are also faced with bathing, moving, and interacting with your patient. As a CNA bathing, moving, and a lot of person-to-person skills will become so second hand that you no longer really notice them.

Then while others are fretting at how to wipe butts properly AND do an assessment, you got to simply assess--since the personal care is so ingrained it involves no stress. You are free to enjoy the learning experience of the procedure at hand.

The trick to enjoy nursing, be it in school, in the Med/Surg ward, ICU, or wherever is to be able to minimize stress. If you can afford to, take your time. Moving like SuperNurse may fatten your wallet, but I guarantee it will increase your stress level.

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Specializes in ICU/Emergency Room.
What is your local school here in Florida?

I live in central florida, if you want to send me a PM Ill talk to you more about where I went to nursing school.

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Specializes in medical.
Personally I cannot overemphasize the value of doing some CNA or LNA work. You get a first hand experience, from the inside, of what it's like to be a CNA, so in your future life you'll probably appreciate them and know how to deal with them.

But more importantly, even spending four months as a CNA gives you amazingly invaluable experience in "handling people." Nursing school, be it LPN, ADN, or BSN often throws you into clinical with little preparation and you are faced with two major factors. You are faced with anything from assessment to catheterizing someone, in short the "procedures." But you are also faced with bathing, moving, and interacting with your patient. As a CNA bathing, moving, and a lot of person-to-person skills will become so second hand that you no longer really notice them.

Then while others are fretting at how to wipe butts properly AND do an assessment, you got to simply assess--since the personal care is so ingrained it involves no stress. You are free to enjoy the learning experience of the procedure at hand.

The trick to enjoy nursing, be it in school, in the Med/Surg ward, ICU, or wherever is to be able to minimize stress. If you can afford to, take your time. Moving like SuperNurse may fatten your wallet, but I guarantee it will increase your stress level.

I couldn't agree more!!! I wish to work as CNA or aide to get used to a hospital first. It helps tremendously to reduce the stress. I was thrown the first semester in RN program into everything during the clinical- assessments, baths, meds, blood sugar checks, you name it. It was so stressful, that I was ready to quit. It was just too much. But there were 2 nursing students in my clinical who already worked as techs and they felt totally comfortable and at ease simply because they were used to the environment. So definetely try to work in a hospital environment first, you might as well decide it is not for you and save yourself money and time.

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...for most things it's best to "ease" your way into it. For nursing especially, since the LPN program demands less prerequisites you should do that. Take the LPN program with the least prerequisites then after you graduate and get a job as an LPN you'll have the flexibility and $$ to go through a LPN-RN bridge. If you need help finding the best ones close to you IM your zip code I can probably give you a list and their prerequisites!

so im planning on starting some prerequisites this upcoming spring 2011 semester.

i live in southern california and im confused as to which prerequisites i should take.

and if i should do cna or go straight to lvn rn bridge.

i have many great cna and lvn programs in my county i just don't know which way to go

and which way is better. or faster and more hands on experience

can i take general classes like math A&P I and II.

and THEN after this semester enroll in the lvn>rn bridge.

OR keep doing prerequisites in community college, then cna, then rn.?

im so confused..:confused:

any input or comments would help me so much.

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