Get my adn or lpn? Newbie here

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello nurses and future nurses..... So I am here finally posting after lurking the boards for quite some time now..... Ahhhhh! Feels great anyways!

I am dealing with a huge toss up between going to LPN school (12 mo. 29,850) in my area or just get my ADN (24 mo. Unsure of the cost) but I am sure it's less than almost 30G's. I am almost certain I just want to get my ADN and go on to get my BSN after working for sometime as a RN with a ADN. My questions are below:

1. Would a RN with a ADN get jobs as a LPN before a "LPN" if I chose to go that route? Just so I am atleast able to work while trying to obtain my BSN? (as I hear ADN's are being phased away)

2. Can you get your BSN without getting your ADN 1st? Or do you automatically recieve that after 2 years of school?

A LITTLE ABOUT MY BACKGROUND:

I started out as a home health aide at 18 and did that up until around 20 I focused my work around working with TBI & SCI patients in group home settings as well as doing private home care on the side. At 21 I registered for a accelerated C.M.A program & recieved my certification as a Certified Medical Assistant in August of 2016. As of now I am working for a big organization with over 5 speciality doctors.... So I am ready to further my education :) it's been 6 months since I graduated & I want to be enrolled in a program for the spring of 2017 I am currently 23 y/o btw ☺👋

Your CMA certification has no bearing towards a LPN or RN program.

Any reputable school will not accept you into the spring program.

We are not academic advisors. Consult with counselors at accredited colleges. Agree that 30K is outrageous for LPN, stay away from for profit schools. You will not get your ADN in 24 months. ADN requires 2 years of study, after acceptance to a nursing program.. following successful (or concurrent) nursing pre-requisites.

You are saying we aren't academic advisors is kind of rude... I'm asking a nursing community for advice... that's what these boards are for but thanks!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
You are saying we aren't academic advisors is kind of rude... I'm asking a nursing community for advice... that's what these boards are for but thanks!

I believe the poster stated that because programs are very different; there simply is no universal answer as to what program requires what prerequisites or other criteria for admission.

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Awesome! Thanks I keep hearing a lot about wgu acter the fact.. What exactly is that? Thank you again for the great advice I will be talking to my local community college tomorrow.

WGU is an online university that offers an RN-BSN. You pay a flat rate per semester and self-pace your classes, so it works well for independent learners who have time to make the most of a semester.

Regarding another comment, you came to a nursing forum asking questions that we cannot fully answer because each college and region is different. You were given an honest and well-intentioned response. People here will be frank with you; think twice before insulting them.

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I went to my local community college today & the nursing program there is indeed 24 months 52 credits are needed to finish. 4 additional pre reqs are needed to enter a long with your hesi. Program cost is 9,000 that's with everything included.

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Specializes in Infusion.

I got the LPN first, I could do it part time and didn't want to commit to 2 years full time with small kids.....now I am trying to finish up prerequisites to get back in for LPN to RN and it's tough. It's been almost 4 years since graduation for LPN and I am struggling to get back into school mode with working, kids , husband.

that is my biggest regret, that I didn't get it all done before marriage and kids. So please, heed this 45 year olds advice and JUST DO IT. Get it done while your young.

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Specializes in Infusion.

Absolutely. I am an LPN, almost 4 years experience, and only $17 per hr. RN wage here is around $28-30. Only LPN jobs are nursing homes and clinics, but I notice more and more clinics are hiring more MA's, they only make $14 per hr.

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Specializes in Cardicac Neuro Telemetry.

My two cents: Skip the LVN/LPN route and go straight for an ADN or BSN program. More opportunities and more money. Stay away from the for profit schools charging enormous tuition. Many aren't accredited, carry less prestige, and will leave you in massive debt.

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Specializes in hospice, LTC, public health, occupational health.
I'm guessing you are looking at for profit, commercial schools? $30k for an LPN is absolutely crazy. Stay away from these schools. They are scams!!

Find a reputable school. You take some prereqs, then apply to a program. Once admitted you attend the program and graduate, then you take your licensing exam.

You need to look at your local job market and see what is being hired in your area. LONs are generally not hired into acute care anymore. I know some places do, but it's rare due to the scope of practice a LPN has. It's more limited than an RN.

The bigger cities these days will generally only hire BSN RNs. It's imperative that you research your market because none of us on here know what it is.

But please don't pay $30k to become an LPN. That's ridiculous and you won't make enough back to justify it.

Yeah, my LPN program cost literally 1/10 of that at a community college in 2015. I saw that number and thought "holy **** Batman!" In no universe does the starting pay of a LPN justify that kind of cost for the program.

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Specializes in hospice, LTC, public health, occupational health.
I got the LPN first, I could do it part time and didn't want to commit to 2 years full time with small kids.....now I am trying to finish up prerequisites to get back in for LPN to RN and it's tough. It's been almost 4 years since graduation for LPN and I am struggling to get back into school mode with working, kids , husband.

that is my biggest regret, that I didn't get it all done before marriage and kids. So please, heed this 45 year olds advice and JUST DO IT. Get it done while your young.

I went LPN for the same reasons, but also because I didn't come to nursing until my late 30s. I already had the husband and kids. I may get to RN someday, but yeah, school is hard with other obligations plus work. I know RNs make more, but where I live there's no shortage of LPN jobs so I'm not sweating it.

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Absolutely. I am an LPN, almost 4 years experience, and only $17 per hr. RN wage here is around $28-30. Only LPN jobs are nursing homes and clinics, but I notice more and more clinics are hiring more MA's, they only make $14 per hr.

I make 18 & I am a CMA right now.

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I went to my local community college today & the nursing program there is indeed 24 months 52 credits are needed to finish. 4 additional pre reqs are needed to enter a long with your hesi. Program cost is 9,000 that's with everything included.

That sounds great! You might even be able to enroll in some of those prereqs for this coming semester if classes haven't started yet (though in many cc's the nursing prereqs fill up super fast). If not, you can probably enroll in some of your general ed requirements (English, psych, things like that). And depending on when the application deadline is for the nursing program, you may be able to apply for the fall program start, but don't be surprised if you are not accepted/get waitlisted. Often you have to have prereqs done just to get in, which is why it can take 3-4 years to complete an ADN. Does your cc offer both spring and fall start dates for the nursing program, or just fall?

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Hi the route I took was getting my LPN first which took 15 months and yes I was one of the ones who paid a lot of money to get my LPN just make sure it's accredited school I used my LPN license in several different states with no problem got jobs quick than I bridged over which took another 12 months I took the LPN to RN route because I wanted to work to make a little extra cash while in an RN program I was an LPN in a lot of states and It was not hard at all to find a job It's up to you the route you take my opinion either way you will always find a job Good luck on your decision

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