Is the LVN program as challenging as the RN program?

[scootersuz, ASN]

I am a 45 Yr old single mom of 16 month old twin girls without any financial support from the father. I am doing my pre req's right now and have finished anatomy and am just finishing Physiology. I still need chemistry and Micro which means I can put my name on the three year list next January. I want to become an Rn. I am trying to decide whether to get on the three year wait list for the Rn program or do the LVN program next January and do my step up program for RN later. I am torn. I am wondering if both the LVN program and the RN program are just as challenging. This coming January could be too soon for such an intense schedule. I could wait the three years and do my some of my BSN pre req's to get a BSN after the RN. The girls would then be about 3 to 4 depending on when I really got in. I would be living with my mom the whole time in addition to the time I am in Nursing school. I would have more time with them the next three years but don't have much in the form of work. My mom lives in a vary economically depressed area. I am 45!! so living with my mom after living on my own for so long will be challenging. And waiting three more years for the 2 year Rn program seems like another lifetime! Any thoughts about the LVN program? Is it just as hard. Is there a high drop out rate? Can you do the step up program and work?