LPN to ARN or right to ARN

PurrRN · Feb 16, 2007

Alot of your questions depend on your location, and the institutions that you have available at your fingertips. I suggest you research ALL of them so that you have the specific answers that pertain to your situation.

However, I'll give some example that I've found in my general area of the country. Most LPN schools are 9-12 months. My RN class is 4 semesters (not counting the pre-req's) long. Basically two years.

Each nursing school is going to have specific to them pre-req's that they may or may not accept from other schools (you have to ask each and every time). Whenever I had a question about whether my school would accept other credits, I'd call just to make sure.

I transfered from NC to MO and all my pre-req's transfered with me (which was lucky). Some people aren't as lucky as I was in that respect.

If you decide to go LPN first, I'd suggest knowing what the requirements are for you RN program so that you could be working on those at the same time (to facilitate your tranfer quicker to the RN program).

Good luck in your quest.

ukstudent · Feb 16, 2007

Does the college that would bridge the LPN to RN have an LPN program? That would probably work best for you. If no, then find out from the bridge program just what credits form the LPN schools they will take. If you go to a private LPN school (expensive) then from what I understand their credits will NOT be exceptable. Good luck in whatever direction you decide to go.

catzy5 · Feb 17, 2007

All right have made a decision to go into nursing as a career change at 30. Have looked at several options and not sure which direction to go in.
I would love to get a BS RN in 4 years and have someone else pay all my bills while I attend school. won't happen
I would like to quit my job and go to school full time for 2 years and get my Associate and become an RN. However I have two children and I need money to live.
I'm considering going to an LPN program which due to the much lower tuition I may be able to stop working and just go to school for the year.
After the year I could work in the field in some compacity probably PT and apply my LPN toward an advanced placement Associate RN program immediately.
Does this make sense I'm hearing diffrent things such as:
my LPN won't matter due to lack of experience with it.
A lot of programs don't apply credit from an LPN.
It will still take me over a year to obtain my associate RN.
I will still need to take a lot of specific General classes to earn the associatem and it will cost almost as much and take almost as long as the original Associate RN program.
My question is if I can save a lot of $ and get my LPN can I then transfer right into an Associate RN program and graduate the next year, as a result not having wasted time and money.
would It still only take two years:
1 to earn my LPN,
1 for Associate after I have my LPN
Any thoughts?
Please Advise

These are questions I thought about and have worked toward as well. At my CC they offer both LPN and ADN I started off working toward my LPN there were less prereqs and the program is 3 semesters and I could bridge after that and do one more year for my RN. As I started working toward these pre reqs I realized it would be only another year of pre reqs and I could be eligible for my RN so seemed to make more sense to go directly to the degree I wanted. In the long run it saves you money and more importantly your time. LPN is a great job but if you don't have time to work and go to school now you probably won't as a brand new LPN either.

best wishes.

katiem · Feb 17, 2007

I was in the same situation, trying to decided between LPN and RN. Ultimately I decided to focus on my goal, which was to become an RN. None of the LPN credits would apply to an RN, so it was like a year wasted to me. It was very tempting to get done in a year with the LPN because I need a career/money, but in the long run it just wasn't the right decision. I can suffer for an extra year because there are more benefits for me.

I think it is worth it to go the extra year, there are more job opportunites for an RN and better pay...Hope this helps and goodluck!:)

DesertRain · Feb 17, 2007

Could you possibly look into hospitals in your area that do like an "adopt-a-student" program where if you took your acceptance letter to the hospital for the RN program they would cover your tuition expenses as long as you sign a contract to the hospital. That way you would only be paying for your prereq's for the RN program which might be equivalent to the cost of your LPN studies. Or, do some research and see if hospitals might sponsor your studies as an LPN for and LPN-RN bridge, probably with a contract as well but that could be an option. I know of people who have simply done research on grants and have gotten most of their prereqs paid for by other means (remember you don't have to pay back alot of grants and scholarships) and got their actual RN education paid for by signing hospital contracts. In the end they are making good money and it barely cost them them to get their education. Just some thoughts for you. Good luck and remember where there's a will there's a way.

MB37 · Feb 18, 2007

What about getting a CNA license, then working as many hours as you can while doing prereqs and going for your ADN immediately? Depending on your state, the LPN credits may or may not transfer over. CNA is usually a pretty short course, and many schools require it before you start an RN program. It pays less than LPN, tho I'm not sure how much...are you a single parent, or do you have a second income to help out?

dijaqrn · Feb 23, 2007

Go to RN school!!!!!!!!!!!

It took me almost 30 years of being an LVN before life allowed me back in school full time. Times a wasting..... Good luck!!!!!!

butterfly88 · Feb 23, 2007

Anthony, I understand your dilemma. I am in LPN school part time evening weekends and it will take me 18 months to finish. I'm 7 months in and I love it. My suggestion is make sure the LPN school you choose has National League Nursing (NLN)Accreditation or the same accreditation as the RN school you wish to transfer to. You may have issues with transfering credits etc if not. I made the choice to go LPN with the intent of RN bridge for similar issues as you, as well as, a HUGE waiting list to RN programs. You can work as an LPN while attending RN school with more flexibility. I choose to look at it as lots of experience with patient interaction etc. That's my favorite part so far. Good luck no matter what you choose. Nursing is awesome. BTW, I'm 37 and starting this as a 2nd career! It's never too late, and it's not WHAT you do, It's HOW you do What you do! Carpe Diem!

caliotter3 · Feb 23, 2007

Every consideration that you listed in your post is valid. Will go along with what previous posters have said. You have to work with what is available to you. Investigate each and every RN program in your immediate area assuming you are not planning on relocating) and keep track what you are told (make sure you collect the informational brochures/packets from each). Compare them before you make your final decision. Because of the difficulty of getting into any program, for everybody, you will probably end up applying to all of them at some time anyway. Your best bet is take your LPN schooling at one of the programs where you can bridge to RN at the same school. It is a given, that if you decide to go to a private LPN program, that your courses will not transfer. So only choose this route last, unless you will have the income to pay for the convenience. Good luck with your decision.

Transient · Feb 27, 2007

Go to RN school!!!!!!!!!!!
It took me almost 30 years of being an LVN before life allowed me back in school full time. Times a wasting..... Good luck!!!!!!

I agree. Go straight to an RN program and this is coming from an LVN.