LPN or RN waiting list

Nurses General Nursing

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I need some advice. I am taking pre-req's for a second degree BSN. However, I am being placed on the waiting list at my community college for the ADN program, as a backup--it's cheaper and I might as well. The waiting list is three years. Should I switch to the LPN waiting list which is 1 year instead? Then I would have the option of starting a nursing program in a year?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

Can you be put on both lists? I applied for PN & ADN and was accepted to both. I think working as an LPN will give you good nsg experience along with having an income from it. If ADN is truly a 3 yr wait, you certainly have time...

I am a LPN to RN and future BSN..

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Unfortunetly you cannot be placed on both lists at the same time :( so I have to choose.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

I see, that makes the decision harder. So what's your first priority, time or finances?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Since you already have a bachelors why don't you check out universities that have the accelerated BSN program? I think they are tough but you are done in about a year and they probably don't have the waiting lists. Good luck.

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finances are more of a concern.

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Do you plan on going beyond the BSN for a masters or a doctorate? Do you want to be the one on the floor making the decisions, or would you rather just focus exclusively on patient care?

If you think you'd rather go on and want to advance faster in the profession, it's probably more practical to hold out for the BSN program. You'll just end up doing it anyway.

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If finances were a concern and I had to make your choice then I'd start with the lpn. You can get in faster, graduate faster and be working as a nurse while you take bsn or msn coursework.

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I would eventually like to receive a MSN. Would having a LPN help you with admission into a direct entry MSN?

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Do you plan on going beyond the BSN for a masters or a doctorate? Do you want to be the one on the floor making the decisions, or would you rather just focus exclusively on patient care?

If you think you'd rather go on and want to advance faster in the profession, it's probably more practical to hold out for the BSN program. You'll just end up doing it anyway.

I just graduated from an LPN program due to a wait list to get into the RN program. I start the ADN immediately in January (a regular program). I hope to begin a BSN right after my ADN, just as I did with LPN-ADN. My goal is to be a nurse practitioner.

I'm going to be earning valuable patient care experience while I earn each step of my degrees, not to mention a tolerable salary as a LPN that improves when I earn my RN, and then BSN (don't know if will change too much from ADN). Importantly too, I won't be racking up a ton of debt, as I hope to at least pay a good portion of my tuition or get tuition assistance from an employer (?). It makes complete sense for me, as I believe the best "decision-makers" have patient care experience.

I'm so happy about my decision. It's been a gift in disguise that there was a wait list, and I think I'll be a better nurse practitioner due to these days of working directly with patients.

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Wow! Your waiting list sounds just like my community college. I'm sure its probly pretty competitive at your community college also. If I were you I would stick it out 3 years for the ADN. I know your finances may be tough on you. But, try to get loans and financial aid to get through the rough times. And after you get your ADN and a job pay them back.

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