How hard is LPN school?

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I am interested in becoming a nurse. Because of finanical obligations, I just can't stop working, and go back to school. In my area there are several options (MSN, BSN, RN, LPN ) all require day time full time study, and can be very costly. However I did find two night LPN programs, which take about 14- 16 months, and are affordable. I planned on keeping my current job (I teach elementary school) and going to school at night. I figured I could manage both, but after talking to one of my friends I am not so sure anymore. I have never had to do both at the same time. I thought I would give it a try and see what happens. I really would like to know how hard is LPN school? Do you really have to study 4 to 6 hours nightly? Is your whole life consumed by just school and clinicals?

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Specializes in LTC.

I can only comment on my own experience and it seems everyone's experience is different. I've just completed my my first of four "modules" of a 14-month long program. First off, I don't work though I feel I could probably handle working 20 hours (I'm not because I cashed out my 401K expecting the program to be super difficult). I'd say I study no more than 2 hours a day, more on the few days prior to an exam.

A lot of it depends on your study skills. I finally graduated from college a year and half ago so my study skills are still pretty fresh. That being said, I'm not finding the program difficult (but ask me again when I start clinicals in a week!). I think everyone in my class works at least part-time and the majority of them are getting C's. Its too bad because I feel everyone in the class is capable of doing better.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.

I'm just entering my 2nd semester of a 3 semester LPN program. It is full time. I wouldn't say that LPN school is "hard", but it is very time consuming and takes a lot of dedication. There is A LOT to learn in a short period of time. I don't find it academically hard, but you definately have to know your stuff for assignments and exams. I typically spend 1.5-2 hours reading and studying during the week (per night) and at total of 2-4 hours on the weekend. Some assignments we were given take even longer amounts of homework time. And during finals, I spend even more time studying.

I'm sure you could manage if you are able to dedicate a certain number of hours per week to study.

Best of luck with your decision!! It's been a very rewarding experience for me so far!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

The school I went to in California recommended you NOT work at all, no even part time. My school was 16 months straight through, 5 days a week, 8 hours a day. I was a CNA through school and worked weekends and THAT was hard! I wouldn't say that school is hard, but the amount of studying and preparing for tests and clinical days, It was hard in that way. Also in my program you could miss no more than 2 days per level (3 levels) We had 3 care plans and 3 dase studies plus mind maps du every single level. Clinical was 3 days per week and class time was 2 (after the first level) I think it would be hard to work full time as a teacher with all the grading, lesson plans etc and try to get through nursing school. That's just my honest opinion.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

LPN school school to me was difficult at times and VERY time consuming. I went to a very good school with Excellent teachers. I remember spending 10 hours over the course of 2 days trying to complete all my clinical paperwork and write papers. We had to write at least 8 over the course of 1 year. The timelines were crazy to remember things. We had a test on 8-10 chapter(in the summer up to 15 chapters) every 2 weeks. Good Luck! It's not going to be easy.

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Specializes in Sub-Acute.
NC girl 35 said:
LPN school school to me was difficult at times and VERY time consuming. I went to a very good school with Excellent teachers. I remember spending 10 hours over the course of 2 days trying to complete all my clinical paperwork and write papers. We had to write at least 8 over the course of 1 year. The timelines were crazy to remember things. We had a test on 8-10 chapter(in the summer up to 15 chapters) every 2 weeks. Good Luck! It's not going to be easy.

How hard is LPN school? I am going into my 3rd term now (15 month course, total of 5 terms) and I find it very time consuming. I had many an RN, including my instructors tell me that LPN school can be more difficult than RN due to the amount of info you need to retain in such a short period of time. I have also been told we get more "Hands On" right away than RN's do. Also without all the pre-req's RN's get, Pharmacology etc is harder to grasp without that background. I spend the same as most, 1.5 to 2 hours a day studying, and I am maintaining a 3.6 GPA (3.47 first term, 3.77 last term) but I am working my head off to do that. Most n my class are getting by with C+ (you have to maintain a C+ or better to stay in the program) but I have noticed that those that do that do not pass the exit exam (HESI) so my advise is to keep your GPA up, and do Saunders NCLEX PN questions every night.

I would not say RN school is harder, but longer, LPN school is a good way to get working faster, but by no means easier!

Gary

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I was an LPN prior to becoming an RN. I thought that LPN school was hard. There is a lot of clinical time to account for throughout the week. You have so much to learn in a short amount of time. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Since you are an elementary school teacher, you may already have study skills because you used them to obtain your current position. It may be a different application of study, because this is involving the response to the human condition. I imagine that if you continue with your current job, you will be grading papers, preparing lessons and exams in addition to obtaining new obligations to complete your LPN program. It is very fast paced, time consuming and can be physically exhausting (especially for clinicals and labs).

I used to spend at least 3-5 hours daily studying. I did give myself breaks at times, because I was dedicated to studying. But, I had a strict schedule that I almost never deviated from. I was not working at the time, but that was because the job I worked for as an aide offered me a tuition-paid leave of absence with full salary to become an LPN. Personally, I don't think I would have been successful if I worked at the same time, but that is just me. I applied myself 100%. If you really wish to become a nurse, you will make it happen.

Out of curiousity...what is making you change careers from being a teacher to a nurse?

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Specializes in critical care and LTC.

I found LPN school fairly easy and didn't have to study much, but I went to an excellent school. Some of my class mates found it very difficult and did have to study nightly for 3 or 4 hours. Some said they pulled alnighters to study for tests. I found myself only studing for about an hour to an hour and a half only the night before a test. I was always in class and listened to every lecture so I think that helped me retain the info and not have to study as hard as others.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Hi,

If you want it you can do it! Will you have your summers off? I worked all through LPN school and graduated at the top of my class. Our school also frowned on people working which I think is ridiculous because most of us were older adults and weren't in a position of quitting work to attend school. Most of did work and our drop/failure rate included as many not working as working. There wasn't much to my life besides working and school but it wasn't that bad and I'm proud that I managed to graduate without any debt. Good luck! Jules

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Specializes in Long Term care, acute rehab.

I just finished LPN in July of 2007, I worked full time and went to school full time and I made it! I am not gonna say it was a easy road to travel thou! You will have NO life and its alot of dedication but if you set your mind to it, you can achieve!

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hi there. I'm currently in an LPN progarm at my high school. I say it's A LOT OF HARD WORK. I have almost no social life and it's very time consuming. I study at least 4 hours a day ( if I'm lucky, I have three other high school classes), keep up with the LPN program plus my high school classes is hard work. Don't get me wrong, I love nursing with a passion and even though it can be stressful at times, I know that I can do it. Also, don't forget about clincials, which you have to be there for. And I'm sure all LPN programs have a strict policy about being absent. I can't be absent more than 5 times! As for your being a teacher, I honestly don't think that you will have the time to didicate to nursing and teach at the same time. It will be stressful. Additionally, you have a lot of papers to grade and I'm sure that will keep you up. Also studying takes up most of the time. If you want to go for nursing and it is truely you're passion, then go for it. I just wanted to let you know what you're in for. I wish you good luck and I know you'll make the right choice.

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