Hello, I'm new here, need advice

[kellysmom]

Hi,

I'm obviously a new forum user-my name is Candace and I live in northern Ohio with my dh, four year old daughter, and four dogs. It's nice to meet all of you. I've been reading these forums for about six months now-ever since I started applying to nursing schools-and you guys are so supportive and full of great advice. I hope you can help me decide what to do:

I have wanted to be a nurse, ever since I was a little girl bandaging up my mom's basset hound while playing "Nurse". I got sidetracked when I was younger, however, and wound up going to undergrad school and law school for all the wrong reasons-I followed the almighty dollar and not my heart. I have a bachelor of liberal arts degree and a doctor of law degree. Now I finally have gotten my nerve up to go back to school one more time to do what I've always wanted to do: nursing. I have applied and been accepted to two different nursing programs. One of the programs is an RN program in which I can earn an ADN in three years. This same program also offers a FastTrack program leading to an RN for LPNs (but no ADN). The other program I have been accepted to is a straight LPN program-just a diploma, no degree-in one year. I figured that if I went that route (the LPN route), I could go back to school parttime and get my RN and BSN later while I'm working as an LPN.

My ultimate goal is to be an RN. But do I need the ADN, or should I just skip it and work as an LPN for awhile while finishing the RN and BSN. I'm in my forties, and we need me to start making a decent income asap.

Any advice is very much appreciated, and again it's nice meeting all of you.

Candace

[cnolan]

Hi,

I'm obviously a new forum user-my name is Candace and I live in northern Ohio with my dh, four year old daughter, and four dogs. It's nice to meet all of you. I've been reading these forums for about six months now-ever since I started applying to nursing schools-and you guys are so supportive and full of great advice. I hope you can help me decide what to do:

I have wanted to be a nurse, ever since I was a little girl bandaging up my mom's basset hound while playing "Nurse". I got sidetracked when I was younger, however, and wound up going to undergrad school and law school for all the wrong reasons-I followed the almighty dollar and not my heart. I have a bachelor of liberal arts degree and a doctor of law degree. Now I finally have gotten my nerve up to go back to school one more time to do what I've always wanted to do: nursing. I have applied and been accepted to two different nursing programs. One of the programs is an RN program in which I can earn an ADN in three years. This same program also offers a FastTrack program leading to an RN for LPNs (but no ADN). The other program I have been accepted to is a straight LPN program-just a diploma, no degree-in one year. I figured that if I went that route (the LPN route), I could go back to school parttime and get my RN and BSN later while I'm working as an LPN.

My ultimate goal is to be an RN. But do I need the ADN, or should I just skip it and work as an LPN for awhile while finishing the RN and BSN. I'm in my forties, and we need me to start making a decent income asap.

Any advice is very much appreciated, and again it's nice meeting all of you.

Candace

I'm 20 years old - I went to nursing school right out of high school. It's a lot of responsibility, but let me tell you - as an RN, I can say I'm glad I went that route. Yes, it might be a shorter path to an LPN diploma, but just think of it this way - if you go to school now, become an RN, then you can spend that time you'd be going back to school for the LPN-RN program getting your Master's in Nursing and being a teacher or a practitioner, etc, the opportunities are endless.

Go for it! :) Accept that ADN program offer!

[TazziRN, RN]

If your goal is to be an RN and you have the financial means to do the three years, go for that.

[HealthyRN]

Hi Candace,

If I were you, I would go for the RN. In the end, it will give you far more opportunities. Down the road, you may even decide that you would like to combine your law degree with nursing and practice health law. Being an RN would be a great advantage in that field. Good luck and let us know what you decide!

Katy