Help me decide between 2 Nursing schools

Fish Feng · May 24, 2009

u are so great --- congratulations !

in fact, u have maken a clear between them

and u have get a clear about what u want !

last , u seem have ur answer in ur mind ---

then , just go on and try ur best , u will get it !

good luck to u , my girl ---

www.angel29 · May 24, 2009

Hi jimmydaves, I was previously in a similar dilemma deciding which path to pursue lpn to rn or rn, ihave most of my pre reqs done, and after a dream I had recently decided to just pursue the asn degree in nursing to be an rn. If I were you I would just pusue the rn. I don't know if you are totally coming out of pocket for school but in my opinion it makes more sense to pursue an assosiates degree in nursing than to spend a year in school to become an lpn then have to go back to school to be an rn then to have to go back to get your bachelors degree which you will need to continue to practice as an rn. Just go for rn. The payback is better in the long run. But weigh it out, if u do lpn you can work and gain experience and get into a lpn to rn bridge program, you'll have experience, and can most likely get into schools that offer lpn to rn bridge program. If u go straight for rn you are knocking outt what u will eventually have to do anyway. Time is valuable just pursue rn and if anything apply to other nursing schools for rn in texas and c if u get accepted. Well that's just my advice that's what I would do. Good luck and know whatever you decide will be what is meant 4 u 2 do, and the answer will come to u in some form or another like my answer came in a dream... u will be where u are meant to be think it through be realistic, and weigh ur pros and cons and the answer will come, keep us posted

lunden · May 24, 2009

i would go with iowa

JenRN30, BSN · May 24, 2009

I would go Iowa also. Doesn't make sense spending at least 3 years to get to your ultimate goal of RN, when you could be done in two. Another option is to apply to a few RN schools near you....then you could stay in Texas!

CMCRN · May 24, 2009

Go for the RN

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · May 24, 2009

I have been accepted into two Nursing programs in 2 different states. One in Iowa and one in Texas.
The nursing program in Texas is an LVN program and the one in Iowa is an RN Program. I would like to be an RN and that is my goal.
The RN Program in Iowa seems very well put together as far as curriculum (for instance, pre-requisites are in the curriculum), but I've heard some negative feedback from RN graduates. Some have said they didn't feel prepared for the NCLEX and failed the first 2 attempts.
The LVN Program in Texas is in my hometown and has an excellent reputation. I have to take Pre-requisites to get into their RN Program. These same pre-requisites are offered in Iowa's RN Program.

Sounds like a rough choice. By doing the LVN in your home town, it might be less expensive (travel costs, at least). You know your home town, and are probably comfortable there.

The Iowa program is umpteen miles away, but it would result in you achieving your goal - RN.

You should be able to find the Iowa program's first time NCLEX pass rate (either from the school or the Iowa Board of Nursing). Don't let a few (hopefully it's just a few) bad comments sour your impression of the program.

I'd probably recommend the Iowa RN program.

Good luck, and CONGRATS on being accepted to two different nursing programs.

Jimmydaves · May 24, 2009

Thanks for the input so far, I have really learned so much and it has helped me quite a bit.

I looked up the pass rates at 2 nursing programs I've been accepted at and the Iowa RN program Pass rate for the past 4 years has been 82, 82, 69, 77. Not overly impressive but not bad.

The Texas School's RN Pass rate was between 85 to 99 percent for the past 4 years and their LVN Pass rate was in the upper 90's for those 4 years.

My family lives in Texas and I was born and raised here and it's a hard decision. I would like to spend my time in Texas because they are elderly but after looking at current job openings in my area, there are 5 times as many openings for RN's as LVN's. I also happen to be in my 40's and I feel that Nursing will be the career that I want to be in from this point to my retirement. I am already in the medical field but in a technical aspect. It's a good job, good pay, but so specialized that I have to go where the jobs are instead living where I want to and have jobs available.

I only talked to those 2 RN nursing grads who complained about not being ready for the NCLEX boards. I looked on Craigslist for students who might be selling books at a discount and found two and in the process I asked them what their thoughts were about this particular school they went to in Iowa and one of them was negative in the fact that she did not feel prepared at the end of 2 years to take the Iowa Boards. The other graduate was more "iffy" like "yeah, it was ok, but not great" so I don't know what other way to find out "honest" information about this school.

I do like the idea of having an Associates degree in nursing and being an RN after 2 years and not having to worry about completing the Texas LVN Program and then waiting a year and then applying and not getting accepted for their LVN to RN Program.

I have the option of doing what a couple of other people I know have done and that is to get their LVN certificate and then finish their RN training online. I know someone who did this and got a very nice RN Position, so that's an option.

The other main difference between the Iowa and Texas school (and this might give away the name of the school in Iowa even though I'm trying to be confidential LOL). But in the Iowa RN program, during the summer before the Fall start date, you are required to take a Nursing Assistant Certificate Program for 2 months and that is main pre-requisite. Now I personally think this is a great idea. Not only do you get a taste of what nursing life is going to be but at the end of the Summer, you have a Nursing Assistant Certificate and you could work as a CNA on weekends while you go to school.

The other major issue is that the Pre-requisites that I will be required to have for the Texas RN program are offered in the Iowa Program's curriculum. For Example, the Texas RN program requires Anatomy I &II, Microbiology and College Math as Pre-requisites. So even though I've been accepted into the Texas LVN Program, I am spending this Summer taking both Anatomy classes. Then after LVN graduation, I will look for a job while I take Micro and Math at night so that I will have all 4 Pre-reqs by the time the LVN to RN Program comes around the next fall.

The Iowa RN program has Anatomy I and II and Microbiology as part of their Curriculum! I wouldn't have to spend time and money getting those classes done on my own time, they would be part of the classroom curriculum. I think that's great.

So instead of spending this summer in Texas taking these Anatomy classes (which I've already taken, but are now over 5 years old), I can spend the summer taking the Nursing Assistant training. And then I don't have to worry about any other pre-reqs since they are part of the curriculum.

I think I may have been offered accepted into both of these programs because I am already in the medical field and went to a 2 year school and have 5 years experience and passed that program and passed the boards as well, so they probably assumed that I could handle this program too.

Either way, I have to jump on one ship or another because I'm going to run into a timing issue and really have to make a decision right after Memorial day. It's too late for me to look into other programs here in Texas beause the deadline for most of these programs was either Feb or March.

My parents of course want me to stay in Texas but everyone else has told me to go for it at the Iowa program. I mean, if I'm going by a student or two who didn't pass the Iowa boards twice, is that the program's fault or the student's issue? Aren't there classes, books, study groups that people can get into to prepare for the Nursing Boards? You will always run into a disgruntled student or employee but that doesn't necessarily mean the school or the job is a bad one.

OhBoy123 · May 24, 2009

Try St. Ambrose University in Iowa. BSN!!

nurselele05 · May 24, 2009

RN route is best. you can always go to a review course for the NCLEX. An LPN is fine for people who only want to provide that level of care and have no aspirations to going for the RN. also those with kids and life situations that my be complicated to do the RN route but my suggestion is to do what you want first instead of piecing together a path to the same goal. you are more likely to get to your goal if you set out to do what you really want.

Music in My Heart · May 24, 2009

Personally, I wouldn't worry about the NCLEX pass rate of the program. I'm of the opinion that pass rates are as reflective of admission policies as they are of program content.

If you use a good review guide you shouldn't have a problem.

Jimmydaves · May 25, 2009

All of you have been so helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to give some good advice. It's hard to ask a family member this question because they of course want you to stay close by.

I know that if I were to stay in Texas, that getting into an LVN to RN program is going to be difficult even if I have all the pre-requisites and everything lined up. It seems that the nursing profession and education is pretty competitive and just the thought of having to wait a minimum of a year before I can even apply to the LVN to RN Program doesn't fit well with me. I was wanting to apply to the same school where I'd be doing the LVN training, but what if I don't get into their LVN/RN program the next year or the year after that or the year after that? That would be frustrating.

I have a good friend who went to the same school 10 years ago for the LVN Program and after that she got her RN training online and her license and Associates degree and then got a great RN job as well. So that's been an option I've been thinking about but I really don't know how you all feel about the online option.

The other question I had was: If I were to get my training as an RN in Iowa and I finished and graduated, if I wanted to go back to Texas and practice, should I take my NCLEX in Iowa or wait and take it in Texas? From reading the Texas BON web page, I would have to get re-certified in Texas and take a test and get certified again as an RN for Texas.

It seems like the market is healthy here, but I did another internet search with respect to the number of job openings within 30 miles of where my familiy lives and my hometown in Texas and for LVN/LPN's there were about 16 posts and for RN there were about 160 posts.

I know going to Iowa would disappoint my parents who are elderly and my dad is disabled, but they're the only ones who are telling me to stay and everyone else, personally and professionally are telling me to definitely go for the RN school.