Which Schooling Direction to Take?

[BrennaCNA]

Hello, I am an eighteen year old mother to an eight month old. I am working as a CNA currently. I am working the evening shift 2-10. My problem is that my dream has been to become an RN for the last two years and obviously becoming a parent at seventeen has put me a bit behind on that. This August I am starting my prerequisites for the Nursing Program at the nearby community college. My concern is that by the time I finish my prereqs and apply for the program I won't be able to start until January 2016. This is very far in the future and I will not be able to support my daughter on a CNA paycheck forever. I'd like to move out of my mothers house eventually. That being said, my community college also has an LPN program that requires no prereqs. Since it is only 13 months long I could get certified as an LPN and find work in a nursing home (as much as I dread that thought) and get some experience working as an LPN while I continue to work on getting my RN. With an LPN salary I could support my daughter much easier... I dont know which path I should take. Go straight for the RN or get my LPN and get experience while working on my RN

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

In your current situation, I would recommend LPN and then bridge to RN. You don't have to work as a nursing home as an LPN. There are other jobs out there (Drs. office, clinic) however many are in nursing homes.