LPN to RN? or Straight to RN

Nurses General Nursing

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I am in the process of trying to become a Nurse. I work in accounting right now and I am really looking for a different path. I want something that is going to make a difference in my life and other. I was originally looking at going to school to become an RN. Well I have spoken to a couple of programs and basically because I have no medical field experience it is going to move me farther down the list to be accepted into the program. It is about a 2 year wait. I am paying for everything out of my own pocket because I make too much to qualify fir student loans. I have found a LPN program that is affliated with this school and if I take the program and become an LPN it goes towards my RN program and increase my chances of being accepted. Also this will allow me to get into the field and start getting experience and also it may allow me to find a job that will give tuition assistance to finish my education.

Does anyone have any advice? I am not sure if this is the way to go. I am impatient to start this journey but I dont want to start my career on the wrong foot either.

Thanks

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Are you the breadwinner ? Are you married? How old are you? Does the program you are looking at have separate section for LPN and RN or is it one long program where you can leave early and become an LPN or continue on for a few more semesters and become a RN?

Have you worked as a nurse aid or had any kind of patient care experience?

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Specializes in Postpartum, LDR.

What area do you live in? I went to a hospital school of nursing, and I had no hospital experience before I started. I think RN is the way to go. Where I work, there are not many jobs for LPNs. I work in labor and delivery, and we don't have any LPNs. It is true that you will get done more quickly if you become an LPN, but if it is your ultimate desire to become an RN, go for it. You should be eligible for stafford loans, they are not income based. I went to nursing school at the age of 40, and it is the best thing I ever did!:nurse:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Although I earn a decent middle income as an LPN, you should pursue the RN designation if that is your ultimate goal. Many people become LPNs with the intention of becoming RNs later, but life sometimes gets into the way. People marry, have children, become ill, or are hindered from returning to school by the monthly mortgage or everlasting car payment that often seems to get into the way.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I think getting your LPN is a great option, maybe because that is what I did first? :) I didn't even apply to the RN program because I wasn't 100% sure I wanted to be a nurse because I hadn't done it before. I figured I could get through a year long program even if I hated it and still have something to show for my hard work. Fortunately I loved it and immediately went on for my RN after getting my LPN.

The pros as I still see it are that you get instant gratification of being able to practice as a nurse in a year rather than two and make a decent wage usually with flexible scheduling so you can return to school for your ADN. Having my LPN license increased my comfort level when I started the RN bridge program. I knew that no matter what I had my LPN and in my RN program we lost about 25 people in their second year with nothing more than a CNA to show for it. Sadly only 8 were re-accepted into the following year's program due to space issues.

The con is that it took me an extra semester in the LPN program and a short, virtually painless summer bridge class. Good luck with whatever you decide!

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Specializes in OB/Neonatal, Med/Surg, Instructor.

If you have any core completed and can do the ADN program (get in, devote the time, etc.), sign up and do it, most of the time you are talking only months difference between the two programs (LPN and ADN) and you will save yourself a step. If it's going to be a couple years wait to get into the ADN program, get the LPN because the knowledge and skills you get in most LPN programs will put you light years ahead of most generic ADN students. Either program is going to require a lot of studying and a serious committment on your part. Good luck to you!:)

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Specializes in medical.

If you are not sure that you would like nursing, maybe you should go first for CNA- nursing assistant and work in a hospital setting for few months, you could do it partime on weekends or evenings. You could observe nurses and other healthcare professionals what they do and see if you would like it. If you would, I would go straight for RN. Nowadays, almost no hospital hires LPNs.

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