HCA to RN or LPN to RN?

[mango skin]

Hi guys, I am from Canada, BC. I am a non-traditional student (22 years old) currently. I was on my own in high school and had a difficult time finishing my upgrading courses at an adult education centre while working a minimum wage job full-time to pay expensive ass rent in Vancouver. I still need to complete my Biology 12 and English 12 (I am aiming for at least 86% for both courses). Honestly, I am tired of working a low pay + dead-end job just to pay the living costs here. In Vancouver, care aides/health care assistants here make an average wage of $17-21. Lpns make $25-28 and Rns make $33-40. I will be taking student loans + working part-time if I get into a nursing program. The Practical Nursing at my local college is roughly 16 months to complete and the fees are $19.5k. As for the BScN program, it takes 36 months to complete but there is a long waitlist (minimum of 2 years). The cost for the RN program is roughly $28k. I'm wondering if I should go straight into the LPN program or just work as a care-aide to complete the pre-reqs required for the RN program. The pre-reqs will roughly take me 2 years to complete. Any suggestions would be helpful.

[Adelinna, CNA]

I'm attending the RN program at UFV (Chilliwack). No waiting list, it is competitive though. You don't need any pre-reqs (though it is suggested you at least complete Eng 105 before starting and if possible the other 3 non health science non nursing classes you need to take) There is a fast-track RN program where you can complete it in 3 years instead of 4. If you take English 105 (or equivalant at someother university, double check it transfers) they will count the English 105 as your Englsih 12 grade. So if you didn't do so well in English 12 its okay.

What I'm trying to say is it an option to go to another school? Rent in Chilliwack or Abbotsford has got to be cheaper than Vancouver. Several of my classmates drive from Surrey or Port Co. for classes.

I'm sorry I don't know your situation really...

If you want to be an RN in the end I'd say it is easier starting at the bottom. School's do a LPN bridge in program UFV included that is super hard to get into...

I know 4-5 of my classmates are HCA. And as for non-traditional I'd say 1/4 of my classmates are 24 or older.

I don't know if this helps any if you have any questions just let me know.