HELP/ADVICE!? Straight to RN OR LVN/LPN-RN

cmack6 · Jun 30, 2013

Hi, I am not real sure of the programs that you listed but they should be pretty much the same as what we have here in Tennessee. If you goal is the be an RN then why even bother with the LPN/LVN path? Realistically going through the LPN path will not help you. When you do get to be a LPN/LVN you may get to skip the first year of nursing school. please understand what I am saying, this is the first semester of nursing classes not the entire first year of a two year degree. that is what most LPN/LVN here think when you graduate. but the fact is LPN/LVN is a vocational school, not a college. you will still have to do the college classes such as comp1 and 2, collage Algebra, micro biology, prob and stats, human anatomy , this is just a small example of the classes on top of the nursing classes. if your overall goal is to be a RN why delay this, most colleges have a waiting list, that is fine, get the pre-reqs out of the way while you wait. then get in and get out. the only way i would advise you to go the LPN/LVN path is if you have to earn a living. if you are in need of money then LPN/LVN program will graduate you in a year and allow you to work while going to rn school.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 30, 2013

As a former LPN, now RN...it depends on the circumstances. You are in a area with a saturation of new nurses...keep this in perspective as well in terms if waiting list for a nursing program and the job hunt post graduation.

If you need to work, by all means go into the practical/vocational nursing route. It is intense, but you learn a great foundation of nursing practice as a LPN. You also state you want to take your prereq's at the community college after your nursing school hours. You may have to delay this; I assure you that a PN/VN program is VERY intense, (most nursing programs are, just sayin' :) ) as well as the prereq's are intense as well, and require your time, so your focus will need to be on nursing for your success and to attain your short term goal.

Your tuition is free...Which is AWESOME, so when you return to school, whether it be a CC or a university, you will be ahead of the game in terms of cost of schooling. If you can do your preq's in between quarters or take one class at a time, then by all means do it, then you can pick up the rest of your preq's after graduation, study for the NCLEX, and continue on with your schooling while funding a job. If you can handle this, then you have a plan in place.

You can get your associates and go on to a BSN program. I did this with much success. I suggest going this route due to the climate of "BSN preferred" organizations when it comes to hiring nurses. It will give you the flexibility if you choose to go further in your nursing career as well. You never know what life will entail, so the best option is to aim for the BSN.

In the meantime, look at your market in terms of hiring LPNs, look at the universities required courses, and plan accordingly. Hope this helps! Feel free to PM me if you have additional questions about being an LPN and the transition to being a RN, or ask me on this thread. :)

swansonplace · Jun 30, 2013

I personally think the LPN is a great break-in into nursing. After one year you can start working and getting experience in a hospital. It breaks you into the nursing field, and when you go to be an RN you will have your basic skills under you.

After the LPN though, I would consider not going for the associates, but going straight for the BSN.

ScientistSalarian · Jul 1, 2013

One last thing, Lets say I have completed my prereqs attend the bridge program and get my associates degree,will I then be able to apply to a university like cal states or UC's for my BSN or did I actually have to complete my 2 years of general ed classes in community college.

You will of course have to check with each school you're interested in applying to, but for most CSU's you have to apply both to the university as a transfer student and then submit a separate application to the nursing department. (For some schools you have to get accepted to transfer before you can apply to nursing, and with others you submit both applications at the same time.) This means that you'll have to complete all of the required lower-division general ed classes in order to be accepted as a transfer student for an RN-BSN program. Here is the website outlining CSU transfer requirements; UC requirements (the IGETC curriculum) are a bit more in depth. Assist.org will be a great help in telling you exactly which community college classes will satisfy these requirements.

Good luck in whichever path you choose!

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2013

I agree that it really depends on what's important to you. I was burned out on school, so what was important to me was getting everything finished as quickly as possible - so I went straight for a BSN. If you're tired of school, BSN will get you done the fastest if you plan on going to grad school later. If you have no plans to go to grad school, an ADN will be fastest. If your goal is to work as quickly as possible, LPN might be your best bet - but you'll have to check the area you work in to see what kind of facility/unit you'd be able to work as a LPN. If you have unit/facility preferences, you might want to be careful with a LPN degree. In the year I worked as a CNA in a hospital, I only ever came across two LPNs and they were both in rehab, so that's just something to keep in mind if you want to work in a hospital. Obviously this varies hugely by region so calling local facilities and seeing what degrees they look for would be helpful.