Help! CNA, LPN, RN, BSN.....?

slynotshy · Mar 13, 2009

I'm not sure that there are any CNA to RN programs, you'd have to go CNA->LPN->RN

and the differences between the three are length of school, the salary, sometimes even the hours you'll get..

There should be a few threads on this forum that can answer your questions

such as the ones below.

Good Luck!

https://allnurses.com/lpn-lvn-corner/how-transition-cna-270710.html

https://allnurses.com/lpn-rn-nursing/

LilGumble · Mar 13, 2009

Thank you so much, I did find a couple threads on there that were very helpful =)

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2009

If you don't get into the accel. bsn, look into direct entry RN programs. You don't have to do CNA to LPN to RN, though working as a CNA first might give you some insight on the nursing career to see if it's what you really want to do. The schools I am looking into give no preference to experience, its strictly academic based, so being a CNA may not give you the "foot in the door" as you say. On the other hand, the local LPN program requires you have your CNA, so it really just depends on what program you want to do.

sunray12 · Mar 14, 2009

If you don't get into the accel. bsn, look into direct entry RN programs. You don't have to do CNA to LPN to RN, though working as a CNA first might give you some insight on the nursing career to see if it's what you really want to do. The schools I am looking into give no preference to experience, its strictly academic based, so being a CNA may not give you the "foot in the door" as you say. On the other hand, the local LPN program requires you have your CNA, so it really just depends on what program you want to do.

OTOH Many RN programs either require or prefer to see some patient care experience. You can get it as a volunteer or a cna - but its hard to find substantive volunteer experience so in that case the better bet is to start with a cna - then you'd actually get to work with patients and get paid for it. Also a lot of programs will give you points for having a cna license so your application would get a bit of preference. In any case it's something you can't lose with.

LilGumble · Mar 14, 2009

I've also read some posts by CNAs/LVNs that resented RNs/BSNs that just came in without any prior experience and were put in charge over them. That got my attention because I'm 22 and I look really young so I was thinking it may be better for me to have the extra experience anyways rather than just going in completely inexperienced.

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2009

I've also read some posts by CNAs/LVNs that resented RNs/BSNs that just came in without any prior experience and were put in charge over them.

I wouldn't let what others think determine which path I choose :wink2: While I can definately understand where you are coming from, and I can understand why some CNAs/LPNs might resent new RN's who don't appreciate the knowledge and skills of an experienced CNA/LPN, I still wouldn't make that the reason which path I choose to get to RN. Everyone has to pick the path that best suits them and their life situation.

I've worked places where I've been treated like a pee-on by experienced folks and by non-experienced folks. It feels terrible either way. That alone reminds me how I should treat my coworkers, regardless of position :)

LilGumble · Mar 15, 2009

Yeah, I guess it does all come down to the individual. A person's attitude can make a world of difference. I was just thinking that while I'm waiting to get into an accelerated BSN program I might as well be working so I can get experience and be making some money. My friend said the CNAs at her hospital can make $20/hr. The program I'm looking at is $900 and only takes 19 days. I figure any job is better than no job. Plus the wait to get into an ADN RN program around here is booked till Fall 2010 and LVN/LPN takes 14 months and $20,000 - $28,000. I have a great GPA and I was wait listed because I don't have experience, so I'm hoping working as a CNA for a year will do the trick.

2bNursevaldez2 · Mar 23, 2012

I have a question I'm curently a patien care technician working in the emergency room Which mean i have my phlebotomist , ekg, CNA , certification i also have my associate in health care adminitration ... And i took my intravenouce certification which mean i can put iv .. But im not allowed to ... Lol.. Im also a medical assistant and biller and coder .. Well the question is since i have all of my nursing pre - req i would like to know which would be a smarter route for me ... if going to lpn school then BSN or just going straigth in to RN - school then to BSN .... I was also wondering since i have my associate in health care would it shorten the lpn to bsn process ... Lpn is 11 moth RN 2 years Lpn to bsn 2 - 4 years RN to BSN 1.5 year But i would like to know if having an associate plus lpn plus Rn pre- re would only mean i have to go,for school for 11 moth plus 1.5 year to get my BSN. .? Is that posible ? Because i heard of people who has a BA in what ever concentration and obtain a master in nursing so lpn plus Ass degreed would be a short cut rigth ?

maddiem · Mar 23, 2012

There's not really a cna-rn program...cna is not a degree its a certificate. So you will just have to start a completely new program like an lpn, rn, or bsn program. There a few routs you can go. You could get your lpn and then do an lpn-rn bridge program and then do a rn-bsn bridge. Or you could just go straight for your rn and then do rn-bsn. Or if you're really motivated try and get into a bsn program from the start. I'm doing lpn-rn and then rn-bsn. Mostly because I need to start working asap and I'll be saving money. Eventually I do want to go to grad school so getting my bsn is really important to me. lpn program is about 1 year long (at my school it is) and an rn program is about 2 years. A rn-bsn program is about a 1 1/2 years. What I find intriguing about doing my lpn first is that I can work as a nurse during rn and bsn school so I can start getting experience. This is VERY important because finding a nursing job w/no experience after graduation can be hard. Even though I'll just be an lpn, I will have professional references and some experience under my belt which is more than some other grads can say. Also, if you are working as an lpn somewhere, once you get your rn you could try and apply for a different position at your current work place. I think that getting your lpn first is totally worth it.

Good Luck!

- Maddie

punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2012

I have a question I'm curently a patien care technician working in the emergency room Which mean i have my phlebotomist , ekg, CNA , certification i also have my associate in health care adminitration ... And i took my intravenouce certification which mean i can put iv .. But im not allowed to ... Lol.. Im also a medical assistant and biller and coder .. Well the question is since i have all of my nursing pre - req i would like to know which would be a smarter route for me ... if going to lpn school then BSN or just going straigth in to RN - school then to BSN .... I was also wondering since i have my associate in health care would it shorten the lpn to bsn process ... Lpn is 11 moth RN 2 years Lpn to bsn 2 - 4 years RN to BSN 1.5 year But i would like to know if having an associate plus lpn plus Rn pre- re would only mean i have to go,for school for 11 moth plus 1.5 year to get my BSN. .? Is that posible ? Because i heard of people who has a BA in what ever concentration and obtain a master in nursing so lpn plus Ass degreed would be a short cut rigth ?

I think a lot depends on your state and the schools. I am an LVN currently in a BSN program and if I had it to do over, I would have just gone straight BSN.For me, the LVN school was one year and I had the intentions of taking the LVN-RN transition, which is an additional year of schooling.The BSN program that I am in is 2 years, 4 semesters. So I went with BSN because it was one semester longer than the LVN-RN transition.However, I came in starting at ground zero. I got no credit for my LVN. Nada. So my first labs in BSN were learning how to make and occupied bed, give bed baths and take vitals. My entire first two semesters were reviews from my LVN course. I don't think having and associate in health care will shorten any nursing course.I have to be honest, your post seriously confused me. But if you have your pre-reqs needed for BSN, I'd just go that route. It's two years, 4 semesters. RN is 4 semesters. LVN is 3 semesters, and LVN-RN is 3 semesters. (again, that is how it works in my area)