Hello out there!

frann · Feb 9, 2002

lpn school generally takes a year , are paid less than a rn, and where I work do mainly the same work.

rn can get her or his liscense from a 2 year adn program. which could be 3 +yrs with prerequisites. BS rn's get paid a little more(.50 cents more here) do the same work on the floor. But with a BS you can go on to the management level.

I'm a rn and have worked part-time between 1-3 days a week. My kids now 9 & 5 have pretty much never been in day care. My hubby and I have worked the childcare out.

Good luck!

I almost forgot. If you become a lpn and then years down the road become a rn, you have to start out at the bottom of the rn pay scale. Doesn't make sense to me.

ERNurse752, RN · Feb 9, 2002

As far as I know, a school that is specifically a nursing school only, offers the diploma in nursing, which is a 3 year program.

The associate's degree and bachelor's degree are offerred at colleges or universities, and take 2 years or 4 years, respectively. Although, like someone said, the 2 and 3 year programs could easily take 4 b/c of the prerequisites that need to be done before you start nursing classes and clinicals.

Curriculums at different schools are similar, although the higher degree you pursue, the more advanced classes you get to take.

I'm not familiar with programs in MI. You can call the schools though, and request information about their programs. Then you can see which program will better suit your needs.

Nursing is a good profession b/c there are so many different areas to choose from. If you get tired of one, you can do something else.

I hope some of this helped.

Good luck, no matter which direction you decide to take!

:)

RNKitty · Feb 9, 2002

Go for the BSN. You can always train to be a scrub nurse in the OR after school, and it opens more options than scrub tech.

KC CHICK · Feb 9, 2002

I graduated from an ADN program last May and have been working in the OR ever since. The hospital I where I chose to work uses RNs to circulate only, however, other hospitals in the area train RNs to circle AND scrub.

I have to disagree with a few responses you have recieved. I finished my ADN degree in two years...not three or four. Of course, I had to really hump it....took classes during the summer and co-requisites w/my core nursing classes. IT CAN BE DONE!!

Also, I get paid exactly the same as an RN w/a BSN ...my hospital does not differentiate between ADN and BSN.

Many universities offer ADN to BSN bridge programs for working RNs. I'm planning on beginning my bridge next fall. If I go full time, I'll have my BSN 18 months from the time I start.

Sorry to confuse....options, options, options!!!

Anyway, good luck in whatever you decide.

Anne

Cryssi · Feb 10, 2002

Thank you! You guys have been very helpful! I would also be interested in hearing from those nurses with children; how your schedules are, and if you miss much of their lives because of your career. I figure that by the time I finish school, my kids would be anywhere from 9-11 years old, give or take.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Feb 10, 2002

Do you really want the whole truth?

Yes you do miss a lot of time with the kids.

If you work in a hospital full time, you will most likely work half the holidays each year. You will work every other weekend at least initially.

After you gain experience you will be able to go part time or as needed (prn). Some other options are a BAYLOR PLAN-usually 2 twelve hour shifts on a weekend..=32 hours pay on days and 40 hrs pay on nights.

All I wanted to do when I graduated with my RN was work OR. I found that RNs were too expensive to scrub, so all I did was circulate. I found my niche in Orthopaedics and stayed 22 years.

Good luck in what you choose. Take your time and study hard.

Plan for the BSN it will serve you well.