How hard is LPN school?

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Hi I just wanted opinions on how hard LPN school is? I currently work full time in a hospital in the lab and I was in school to get my associates in laboratory technology when halfway through I found out I didn't care for it and wanted to do something where I didn't sit in a chair and stare at bacteria/cells all day with the same 5 people. I didn't want to be a CNA and I heard getting your RN is really hard but I was thinking if I get my lpn I might bridge to RN. I was also looking into respiratory therapy as another option but that's 2 years vs 1. I already have A&P 1,2 and an advanced cardiopulmonary A&P so I'm not worried about those as much as the nursing classes required. Can you give me an opinion on how hard the nursing classes are? And if you've ever or are bridging from lpn to RN how hard it is?

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Will your program be online? 

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I don't know yet. I still have to take the TEAS test I'm studying for it now. The hospital I work at has a diploma program for RN. They will probably both be online since they probably have labs.

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I'm sorry I meant in person

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Definitely search on here test taking techniques for beginning nursing students. Nursing exams are NCLEX format exams designed to measure knowledge, nursing judgment and critical thinking. Many students struggle with this.Most programs are 4 hour lectures, simulations, care plans, 5 chapter tests, quizzes, 12 hour clinical shifts, dosage calculations, pharmacology etc.  You should look into asking yourself questions such as: How many hours are you working during school? Do you understand nursing judgement and critical thinking ? Nursing school grading scales are different and most schools you need 75% to pass. 

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I'll decently check don't of those out. Thanks for your help!

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Your welcome. Find a mentor if you can.  Someone on here or in your program to help guide you along the way. Utilize this forum. We have stellar nurse educators, Nurse professors, nursing managers, clinical instructors, etc on here FULL of knowledge from old and new posts. Make yourself at home on this forum for educational purposes ☺ 

Are you becoming a CNA? 

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I don't think so, I like where I work now so I want to stay there. It's a childrens hospital so they want you to be certified to be a nursing assistant and I'd rather just stay here and work towards getting my LPN or RN. I'm undecided on if I should do their RN diploma program I'm afraid it's going to be too hard but I also don't know the differences in classes between LPN and RN. If there pretty close I think I'm just going to go for my RN if RN is harder I think I might go for my LPN.

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Whichever you decide Im sure you will make the right choice ☺

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
On 1/1/2021 at 3:31 PM, Naomi M said:

I don't think so, I like where I work now so I want to stay there. It's a childrens hospital so they want you to be certified to be a nursing assistant and I'd rather just stay here and work towards getting my LPN or RN. I'm undecided on if I should do their RN diploma program I'm afraid it's going to be too hard but I also don't know the differences in classes between LPN and RN. If there pretty close I think I'm just going to go for my RN if RN is harder I think I might go for my LPN.

Hi there!

I think the level of difficulty is based on the individual learner. I found my LPN program to be far more difficult than the RN program simply because the LPN was my introduction into nursing. Twenty-four years and loads of experiences later, I found the RN program to be much easier (with a couple of close calls) because of the ‘dumping’ that was placed on me repeatedly during my LPN years. I acquired many skills that LPNs were not supposed to be ‘competent’ of having, and the knowledge that accompanied those skills. What I didn’t acquire was the pay and acknowledgment that went along with it. (Long story....back to the question at hand?).

The ease of learning unfamiliar subject matter depends on several factors: instructor’s teaching styles, student’s learning styles, academic weaknesses, motivation, moral support or lack thereof, distractions...you name it. 

If I had any influence over your decision, I would suggest the RN pursuit. Don’t get me wrong; I was very happy as an Acute Care LPN. But my life would have been so much different back then had I been able to walk through just a couple of those doors which remained closed to LPNs. Nursing school (LPN and RN) is hard and given the option, you would only want to do it one time. Good luck with your decision. 

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Personally, for me, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. We started with 30 students and 7 of us graduated. I just graduated 12/3/20 and was finally approved to schedule NCLEX and I’m taking it the 3rd. I’m debating on going back for RN because my dream is to work at a children’s hospital. 

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