Hi, I'm new here + trying to advance

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Specializes in Family Practice.

Hello everyone! I'm an MA trying to get an LPN, which I was told in MA school was the same thing, because LPNs are being "phased out" in the workforce and MAs will take their place. I learned through these forums that is not quite the case. I would like everyone's opinion on where I should turn from here. I can't go to a physical school, so I NEED an online school. I have found one where I could become an ADN (associate degree nurse). Or is it possible to take the nclex with my MA schooling, pharm. tech. schooling and my experience? Or should I get the ADN, then take the nclex? I have no idea what to do or where to go to get this done. :(

Please help.

Thanks.

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To take the NCLEX in NY, you have to complete a nursing program. I wouldn't worry about LPN's being phased out any time soon. There have been rumors of this for a long time, and some hospitals hire fewer LPN's than they used to, but there are still plenty of settings where LPN's work.

Excelsior College is a school that is often discussed here. EC has an ADN program and will allow you to do your classwork via distance education, but they don't accept MA's for admission anymore.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

To put it simply, the only way to take the NCLEX is to graduate from an accredited nursing school.

If you want to be a nurse and practice as a nurse, then you need to go to nursing school. Excelsior seems to be a good online option for some people (I am the classroom type of person). You could try looking into some of the area colleges and see if they offer many of the classes online, some of my RN-BSN classes only meet a couple of times a semester and all the other work is done online.

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I have only seen Excelsior work well if the student is an LVN going for an RN...in other words, has some nursing experience and is expanding on that. I have seen some great RNs come out of the program though.

No, you cannot take the NCLEX without graduating from a nursing school, sorry.

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Specializes in Family Practice.

:monkeydance: I appreciate everyone's help and advice. I guess I'll get the ADN first then tackle getting the LPN. I think I'll start studying Saunders nclex-pn now though. Thank you again.

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

I think that it would be considered a backwards move to get your ADN (which would let you take the NCLEX-RN) and then go for a LPN. RNs are paid quite a bit more than LPNs and have more career opportunities in general.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

You might want to explore options in your area:

1. See what the projected rate of growth is for LPN's and RN's in your area.

2. What schools are available?

3. What type of tuition reimbursement does your local hospitals offer?

4. Realistically consider the wait lists at the schools and how you can best optimize your time.

The way the education is:

MA - is usually sometime of tech school or community college.

LPN - more in-depth education usually obtained at vocational school or community college - not a degree - a certificate

RN - can be an associates' degree (ADN), a diplmoa or a bachelor's degree (BSN)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.

Why would you plan to take the NCLEX-PN when an ADN would allow you to sit the RN exam and work as an RN?

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