Is this a wise choice??

To make sure all your "ducks are in a row".... First, are there any programs out here that will satisfy the LPN to RN? I really don't know of many, myself. Me, personally, would just do the RN program (which I currently am doing at Chamberlain College of Nursing). It'll save you more money in the long run. Good Luck! Just make sure you have all your plans laid out before you jump into them.

Just my two cents.....I just graduated with LPN from Maricopa Skill Center. Took some pre-reqs while going. Will sit for NCLEX in a couple weeks and work in home health for the next year. Work on P/T basis at $40.00/hr and keep F/T job which will pay for RN. I have three more classes left. Bio 201, 202, and Algebra. Will start Gateway RN in July. My friends at work are really mad they didn't go with me because I am a year ahead of them now. There is no waiting to get into a RN program if you have your pre-regs done. Gateway leaves openings or has a larger class to fit all who graduate. Think about all your options. This is a very doable program. And while my friends are working on getting their pre-regs done the wait gets longer. I will get advanced placement over them. This is a good way to get in. Think about it.........

Just my two cents.....I just graduated with LPN from Maricopa Skill Center. Took some pre-reqs while going. Will sit for NCLEX in a couple weeks and work in home health for the next year. Work on P/T basis at $40.00/hr and keep F/T job which will pay for RN. I have three more classes left. Bio 201, 202, and Algebra. Will start Gateway RN in July. My friends at work are really mad they didn't go with me because I am a year ahead of them now. There is no waiting to get into a RN program if you have your pre-regs done. Gateway leaves openings or has a larger class to fit all who graduate. Think about all your options. This is a very doable program. And while my friends are working on getting their pre-regs done the wait gets longer. I will get advanced placement over them. This is a good way to get in. Think about it.........

Is the program any shorter for you since you are already an LPN or do you still go for the full 2 years?

I will enter Block 3. Still have three classes to take, Bio 201, 202, and Algebra. Just started them so will end in May. Enough time to get in Gateway in July. Since the LPN program didn't have any pre-reqs, got right in and did some pre-reqs during Blocks 1 and 2. Lot of work but no wait list. Cost more than community college (7,200) but it ends up paying for itself.

I just want to clarify that even is all pre-req's are completed, there still is a waiting list to get into the RN program through Maricopa Community Colleges. Gateway is one of those colleges. That's why I chose the college I chose and am attending now. I've just heard that doing the LPN is sort of a waste of time and money when you can basically get the same time and money used for the RN program. Good Luck.

I think the no waitlist they were referring to was if you got your LPN first and had all of your pre-reqs done & got at least an 800 on the HESI you can enter into Block 3 of the RN without a wait ( usually )

Currently tho... there seems to be a short wait (1 semester) for most of the PN programs in the state as well.

OP... try Central Arizona College, Pima Medical or one of the private schools- if you want to avoid wait lists. CAC is a community college that works on a point system.

BTW Gateways PN program is the least expensive of the PN programs- and you'll end up spending less for your RN in the long run.

I finished Gateway PN in December, most of my classmates are currently in Block 3 within the MCCDNP at this time. I have two classes to take and will be applying for advanced placement for the fall. OR... U of P LPN-BSN ( haven't decided yet)

I would also recommend not doing an LPN program; Arizona, and I'm not sure about other states, are transitioning away from hiring LPNs, especially at hospitals. So if you did go and get your LPN, you'd most likely be working in a SNF.

I thought about doing the same thing... going to Maricopa Skill Center for my LPN and then getting my RN, however when I did the math the time it would take me to get my LPN- that means I would have to take the LPN NCLEX first my spot would come up for the RN program and I wouldn't be done in time so it was actually going to take me longer and cost me more even though I could "start sooner". I also looked into private schools which were WAAAAY to much money upwards $40,000 (that was with my pre-reqs already finished) for a Associates Degree!! I decided to wait and just got in for this Fall. I'm glad I waited! If you can afford to wait and work at a hospital in the meantime I would recommend that!

just my 2 cents

I am an RN, went straight through the RN program at phoenix college, home health sounds very enticing, however in my experience, it is not all that it is cracked up to be, and LPN's, unfortunetly are being fazed out, everywhere, even in a lot of nursing homes, if you are a new LPN you will be competing against a lot of very experienced LPN's, my suggesting is to stick it out and get your RN