Is it worth it for me to start an LPN course?

prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 21, 2012

IT all depends on you. Just a reminder both programs will require lots of study time and so you might be up all night studying. Some night program may require day time clinical hours. Please do a thorough check to each program. There are a number of test that might have to take, TEAS, HESI, PSB,NET,NLN(im sure you get the picture). Most programs offer only one but if you are applying to multiple programs you might have to take more than one depending on which one the school requires. Lots of people bridge over to becoming an RN. I just started my LPN_RN bridge program and I only work 4 days a week for study time. Also in LPN school I only worked weekends. I have known lots of successful students that hold down full-time jobs and a family but not many. GOOD LUCK to you in your journey.

Sheryl18 · Mar 21, 2012

It's up to you to decide whether to go for your LPN now or just to start working on your prereqs for your RN while working now. Either way your working and making money while going to school, if I were only 23 I would just go right for the RN now, but that's just me. I'm older and have kids and needed to do the LPN first so I could get a job while finishing up my prereqs because I had been laid off of my other job (which had nothing do with medical either). Look around at your local community college, most of them have LPN-RN bridge programs, your right in that you usually don't have to do the 1st year of the RN program as an LPN but you still have to have all the prereqs done. As prettymica said each school has different entrance tests, my school was TEAS. They sell study guides for the test, I had math, english & science on my TEAS test.

Good luck!!!

lyndseyx3x · Mar 22, 2012

I'm facing the same dilemma right now! I'm 22, I have a decent job now, but it's not what I want to do forever. I also have no medical experience. I'm torn between doing an LPN program or starting pre-reqs for the RN program. My LPN program really suggested not working at all during the program, that's tough for me to accept. I asked pretty much asked the same question to this board last week, the overwhelming response, do the RN program or better yet go straight for the BSN. There are challenge programs for LPN-RN, but they have waiting lists of 2+ years, at least in my area. So doing an LPN program first won't necessarily get you to RN quicker. If you didn't already know, LPN's are very limited on where they work. Mostly in LTC and home health, no hospitals. The test into my LPN program, I almost felt was a joke. I worried for weeks and it was so easy. People did fail, I really don't know how though.. If you know proper grammar, basic math, and science, you'll be fine. Best of luck to you!

sakiohma · Mar 22, 2012

I'm also going through a slightly similar problem. I'm 22 and debating whether to do a free lpn program through Job Corps boces program or just jump straight into an RN program. I'm in Job Corps now for CNA certication.

drobertson522 · Mar 25, 2012

take this from someone who did all of the "necessary presqs" all of last year for nursing school and now is enrolling at a local LPN school because I did not get into ANY of the nursing schools I applied to. Please Please do the lpn program the time you take to complete it which is in a year's time you would be able to work hopefully soon after which will give you both experience and income. Which is huge when applying to the LPN to RN bridge program which is much easier to get into than as a undergraduate to nursing school BELIEVE ME!!!!. Good Luck!!

Cuddleswithpuddles · Mar 25, 2012

I was a LVN and now I am a RN. I worked full-time as a LVN through my RN program. I really do love the path I took. The time and real life experience in between my programs strengthened my foundation. It was so cool to be able to read the textbook, sit in lecture and apply what I learned the very next day to the workplace.

Also, as someone who had more of an overview of patient care, I was able to ask "better" questions in my RN program. It's kind of like how you would go about buying a car vs. how a person with zero experience in car sales would buy a car. You know the real traps and rookie mistakes people will make. You know if you're listening to the truth or a just a nice sales pitch.

A few thoughts in no specific order...

- Not every school has a LVN to RN track. Meet with counselors of the schools you are interested in to get more information. I have found that my school counselors sometimes gave me incomplete or outdated information about the schools I was interested in. It is always best to get as close to the source as possible. If these schools have counselors who specialize in their nursing programs, even better!

- Check to see if your local LVN to RN programs require work experience. I never understood why I needed experience to join students who have little to no healthcare experience. Nonetheless, six months to a year of work experience as a LVN is a common requirement in my area. This may be a very tough requirement to fulfill if the job market for LVNs is tight.

- My LVN program was also 1 year and it was a very jam-packed. Eight hour days, 5 days a week for a year straight. That did not even include study time outside the classroom or clinical setting. I do not think I would have been able to work during this time. Curiously, I found that my RN program's schedule was much more conducive to full-time work. It was a 3 day/week commitment at the most and there were breaks in between semesters. I am sure this has a lot to do with the school's individual quirks but do take it into consideration.