In need of good direction

TexasPediRN · May 1, 2008

Go straight for your RN, BSN.

As far as beginning nursing, you can begin as an LPN or an RN. With your RN, you can get your associates or your bachelors.

Since you want to go for your Masters (the nurse practitioner), your best bet would be to go for the BSN first.

The BSN will take 4 years.

The MSN can be done sometimes in as little as 2 years full time.

You should work in between the 2 just to gain experience, although some schools do not require this.

I think if you started with LPN, then to RN, then to BSN, (there are some programs that combine the LPN- RN, BSN), then your MSN, that will take longer.

So, my advice is as above. Get the RN, BSN first.

I hope that helps!

Roberta88 · May 1, 2008

I'm currently trying to do that too! While LPN is a good way to go, if your ultimate goal is a NP, I would start doing the pre-req's to become an RN first. (or you could do a short 2 weeks to 2 months program to be a CNA- certified nurse assistant because if you work under direct patient care you usually get extra points and it's easier to get into the nursing program). To be an LVN, you would then have to do a LVN to RN transfer anyways. I heard that it is just as hard to get into both programs, whether you start as an LVN or not. So you could either go to a community college or a CSU. (DON'T go to a specialty school like heald. They are great if you just want to be an RN, but if you want to become a NP you will have to do the whole program again because it does not transfer to the school that you can get to your NP in). At a community college it would make you an RN, but if you go to a CSU it'll make you a BSN. CSU's also have a program to make RN's to BSN so if you do go to the community college first, you can practice as an RN and then go to the CSU to be a BSN. You need the BSN to get to be an NP. NP's are usually given at UC's and CSU's.

So here it is:

LVN-RN-BSN-NP (I do not think you can go from LVN straight to BSN)

or

(CNA if you want)RN-BSN-NP

or

(CNA if you want)BSN-NP

The LVN road is a lot longer if NP is your ultimate goal. If you do decide to get your RN or BSN first, you must finish some pre-req's which usually include Anatomy & Physiology 1 and 2 and Microbiology. To get into these you normally have to take 1 Biology and 1 Chemistry class. Each school differs though in requirements so make sure to check it out and talk to a school counsler. Hope this helped. Good luck! :yeah:

dixiemarion · May 1, 2008

ok, well I do have a cna. So will this help me get into a nursing school. Like would it push up the long waiting list or anything. I did'nt realise that having that would help.. Could that certification be classified as completion of any of the pre classes?

Iam so glad I found you! Thank you so much!

Altra, BSN, RN · May 1, 2008

I am trying to find advice. I am curious as to where I need to begin in order to become a Nurse Practioner.
I was told that I would need to start with first getting my LPN's. Is this correct?

You, or whoever gave you that information, is confusing "nurse practitioner" and "licensed practical nurse" (LPN).

If your ultimate goal is advanced practice as a nurse practitioner, I agree that you will probably want to start directly in a BSN program to become a licensed RN, not LPN. You will graduate with a bachelor's degree in nursing, ready to take NCLEX to become licensed as an RN in your state, start working as an RN, and then look at master's degree programs to work towards your NP.

This the most common route to becoming an NP, although there are a limited number of master's level "direct entry" programs at some universities.

Hope this helps. :)

Altra, BSN, RN · May 1, 2008

ok, well I do have a cna. So will this help me get into a nursing school. Like would it push up the long waiting list or anything. I did'nt realise that having that would help.. Could that certification be classified as completion of any of the pre classes?

Having CNA experience may help advance your application, but it will not likely fulfill any prerequisite course requirements. It's certainly not a bad thing.

I'd suggest making an appointment with an admissions representative of the school(s) you are considering ASAP. The individual school's admissions requirements are what you are going to have to meet.

dixiemarion · May 1, 2008

ok, finally I think I have the answer. I do NOT have to go through the LPN in order to get the RN. I can go straight for the BSN and save the time it would've taken me to complete the LPN. That is exactly what I needed to know. Thank you very much :)

Roberta88 · May 1, 2008

Being a CNA doesn't fill any pre-req needs but you do get extra "points" at some schools that will put you ahead of people without them. :up:

sak0176 · May 2, 2008

Don't worry about the LPN; go straight for RN - you have two available options.

You can get your Associate's Degree in Nursing (which is an RN license) and then join an accelerated Master's program (ADN-MSN). These are many times geared for the 'working nurse' as their schedules are a little more flexible, much of the theory and content part is web-based. The clinical is usually set up through a local physician / NP practice.
You can get your BSN and then progress to a BSN-MSN program. Some of these programs also have web-based theory and content and then clinical components set in local practice.

It really just depends on scheduling, time constraints, your personal preference re: your learning methods. Personally, I got my ADN, had all of the coursework completed to finish my BSN, except for one class. At that time, the class wouldn't be offered for another year at the local university. So, I joined a ADN-MSN program recently finished. The theory and content portion was very in-depth and very comprehensive. I was in the NP program for a year, and because the school partnered with a large teaching hospital, they were able to have a variety of clinical sites. (NP just wasnt' the role that I needed to be in.)

Hope that helps...I would suggest an internet search for schools that offer both programs and contact them. Just ask them your questions, and for sure, they should be more than happy to advise you.:wink2: :nurse: