How long will RN take verses LPN going to school part time?

ChasingRain · Apr 14, 2010

It all depends on what school you are going to and where you live. Here in TN if you do LPN school part-time(which is 4pm-8pm 4 nights a week and then 8-3 on saturdays) it will take you 18months, but no pre reqs are required here; you just have to pass a NET exam or a Compass. The RN program here is two years full time plus an extra year or so if you need to do your prereqs. I'm not sure how the part time RN program works.

You could always do lpn first and then bridge over to RN which takes some of the schooling for RN off( cuts of 6months worth of RN classes in my area). However, you would still have to complete your pre reqs before you bridge. But at least you could be working as an lpn while you go to school and usually the place where you work as an LPN will pays for most/all of your tution to become an RN.

I'm getting my LPN first then plan to bridge to RN b/c of having young kids. Plus I need to start having an income within the next two years. But, this is just what works best for me; you should always call around and check in your area for info about how long it will take you and then decide what's best for you and your family...Good luck with whatever you decide :redbeathe

beingthankful · Apr 14, 2010

ITA with ChasingRain, it really depends on where you live & what's offered. I'm also 30, married with child & working full-time. Here there's a night program for LPN no pre-reqs, takes 18 months. But there's also an evening RN (ASN) program that takes 22 months & is comparable in cost. So it's basically 4 months more to save another year in a lpn-rn bridge.

If there's something like this in your area, than maybe RN is the better course for you since you already have a FT job. I hear that the LPN & RN 1st semesters are the same so either way it'll be the same courseload. Good luck in your decision! :up:

cicatrixx15 · Apr 14, 2010

Even though you have to do your gen ed requirements first, I would go the RN route, it really doesn't take that much longer and there is more opportunity for jobs as an RN. (From what I've seen at hospitals in my area)

You can get a lot of the gen ed requirements done online which will expedite the process. I found that I have a lot more free time with online classes because of the flexibility of it. Since you work and have a family this could be a good suggestion.