Help! Need Advise - Lpn V. Rn?

originally posted by nrs2bme

hi all!

ok i need you guys.... i saw the counselor at the school i want to get my adn at. i won't be eligible to start any nursing classes for the rn program until fall of 2004 graduate in 2006. i thought mabey i could get in for 2003 while my pre-reqs were still in progress... needless to say i was a little disappointed. however, for the lpn program i only need one pre-req... and then i could start in 2003 and finish spring of 2004 (one year prog). i really thought i had made up my mind but now i'm confused! i live in the los angeles area of so. california, is anyone else from my area that might be able to shed some light on what the differences are for lpn's and rn's if not where should i research this? the department of labor only gives national info. also,to consider is that if i get the lpn and then decide to get the rn would i be able to work at the same time? ahhh! please help!

thanks...

s

is this the only program in your area? to answer one of your questions, yes you can work as an lvn after you pass the course and pass your nclex while you get your rn. all the best to you!

I'm from NY, so things may be a little different. Once you get your LPN you should be able to work and also go to school for your RN- I got my LPN first. I would recommend going on for your RN because it seems to me that LPNs do just as much work, but are given significantly lower pay. Just what I've personally observed. Being an LPN first may also let you know if you like the field and if you want to go on. It also made the RN course easier for me because I had practical experience. Good luck!

I also think it would work for you to get your LPN then bridge to RN. You would be able to get a good job and work through the clinicals/classes you will need for your RN. Also, I would go ahead and take some of those classes this fall (Micro, Bio, A&P, Human Lifespan, Psyche). Then you will have a jump start on your bridge program when you are ready to do it!

:)Good luck!!

I'm bridging to an RN program after my LPN. At my school the classes are concurrent and I save a year from what it would have taken me part time to complete the RN because of pre-reqs

Thanks and a big (((hug))) to you all!!

Im defenitley going to do the LVN and then bridge to the RN... Im not so dissappointed now that I've had time to think about it... And regardless of which way I did it I knew that I would have to work so this is good for me... Now I'm just worried at my "emotional" issues... see my post on the general board.

S

I personally think that being an LPN is a waste of time because here in Dayton, Ohio it doesn't count towards anything the length of the program is still the same, the need is more for RNs we have too many LPN's in Ohio, LPN's can't do as much as an RN they are starting to cut them down in the hospitals so the only places they can work is basicly for nursing homes. Why be a LPN when you can be a RN? to me that would be lower my standards! You could consider taking more general classes while you wait. I think being a RN is definitly worth the wait... but that's just my opinion!!

Originally posted by getbabygirl

I personally think that being an LPN is a waste of time because here in Dayton, Ohio it doesn't count towards anything the length of the program is still the same, the need is more for RNs we have too many LPN's in Ohio, LPN's can't do as much as an RN they are starting to cut them down in the hospitals so the only places they can work is basicly for nursing homes. Why be a LPN when you can be a RN? to me that would be lower my standards! You could consider taking more general classes while you wait. I think being a RN is definitly worth the wait... but that's just my opinion!!

I couldn't agree more. My student advisor wanted me to take the LPN test and the ADN test in case I didn't get accepted into ADN school. That's like me accepting a "B", when I've worked so hard to become an "A" student. It is possible to challenge the first year of ADN school by taking a test after becoming an LPN, but there's not many people that I've heard about here that pass the test. Then, they have to go back and take the PSB test and try to get into the ADN program. It is very tough to get into ADN schooling where I live, but I was able to get in on the first try ( thank you LORD!). There's nothing wrong with becoming a LPN, but if your long term goal is RN, I personally would go that route. Just like the lady above stated, LPN's are getting "phased out" at the hospitals around where I live, and RN's are your basic nurse at our major hospitals. LPN's mostly work at nursing homes and administer medications to the residents. I hope that I can make it through ADN in good order, and I will probably continue some kind of schooling after that point. I'm already 40 y.o.a., so I don't know when I'll be satisfied with my education. Actually, I've just got started a few years ago, and I'm very hungry to learn all that I can. For the first time in my life, I really like going to school. I wish you well on all your decisions. Take care. I'm outta' here. Darby Oh yeah, PEACE!

very interesting thread...it seems like a lot of us have faced that predicament, myself included.

i was (am) a healthcare worker and really wanted to change professions, but had very limited routes to take seeing as i need to continue working right now (no choice there!) so i decided to go the excelsior route and am plugging through, am confident and am prayerfully hoping to see this thing to the end.

other options were a university away from where i live and they have a one-year accelerated program--great choice except it costs thousands and thousands of dollars i did not have...and the cost of living expenses would be too high. also i have committments and to move away from where i live now wouldn't be easy....

the other option was a local university that offered a 2 year program--i got accepted for this sept 2002--pretty good except again i would have to be off work for a while and simply can't afford it right now!!!

yet another option was a 1- 1 1/2 year lpn program , most of which is distance ed with 2 rounds of consolidation. i had enrolled in this school before i got accepted at excelsior, but somehow i knew i would be unfulfilled as an lpn in the future with very limited access where i live to bridge onto the adn degree.

so you think you have got a situation! you have no idea, girl (laugh)!

so i'll stick with excelsior and i have the local university for my back up plan next september; thank god, i should know by early this year whether or not the program i'm in will work for me or not!

if not, at least i know that if i do have to go back next september i would have saved quite a little bit of money and can probably live quite comfortably for the 2 years while understanding the nsg material very well (since i would have covered all the basics through excelsior!!!)

thanks for listening everyone!