LPN first, then RN later

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Anyone here get their LPN before going on to getting RN? Would you recommend it? I want to start my nursing career and start making more money first, then do a LPN to RN later. I'm currently a medical assistant and want to advance to LPN. How long does it typically take to do it? Any advice or suggestions welcome.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
Anyone here get their LPN before going on to getting RN? Would you recommend it? I want to start my nursing career and start making more money first, then do a LPN to RN later. I'm currently a medical assistant and want to advance to LPN. How long does it typically take to do it? Any advice or suggestions welcome.
I was a certified nursing assistant first, then an LVN for many years before earning my RN when my kids were in high school.

LVN school usually takes about a year. Lots of clinical experience is required. That leave little time for study. I suggest a person either have childcare responsibilities or a part time job. Not both.

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Hi,

first look into what the job market is like in your area for LPNs. If it is good then I would say yes go for it and try to get a job that offers some type of tuition assistance to help pay for your continued studies. If there are associate degree/hospital program(mostly being phased out but some still exist) programs where you live it is during the first year of completion that you will be prepared to sit for the LPN boards. I took my boards many years ago so if anyone has more current information it would be great. Hope this helps.

Best of luck to you

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I was an LPN/LVN for four years prior to becoming an RN. I completed my LVN training at a private trade school; the program was 12 months long. If you complete your LPN training at a community college (recommended), it will probably take anywhere from 18 months to 2 years.

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I am currently an LPN in an LPN to RN bridge program and will graduate in May.

My LPN schooling was 15 months long at a private tech school. Monday-Friday 730a-330pm. We went straight through without any of the normal 'college breaks' such as spring break, winter and summer breaks etc. We did have Federal holidays off and I think we did have the full week of Christmas off.

My bridge program is techinally 4 nursing classes (2 classes in the Fall, 2 in the Spring) but when you factor in the pre-reqs and co-reqs it was actually 4 semesters for me. I was able to transfer 5 classes but that left the others for me to do.

Time frame of the LPN schooling is dependent on the school and the State. The State program in my State ran much longer because they did have the summer off and more extended breaks (they followed the State school calander).

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

I was originally going to follow this route. I enrolled in an LPN program. It was going to take almost 2 years to complete (The first semester is prereqs), and after doing the math, I decided to just go straight for an RN program.

It would take me almost 2 years to become an LPN, one year to do the prereqs for an LPN-BSN program, then 2.5 years to do the LPN-BSN program for a total start-to-BSN time of at least 5.5 years from Jan 2012 if I stayed in school continuously. I knew I wanted my BSN and I never planned on stopping school until I got it.

I transfered to my college Summer 2012 and finished the prereqs over the summer and fall and just started nursing school and will graduate May 2015 with my BSN. Doing this will save me 2 years.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

OP - I went to LPN school first, finished in 1991. Went to the bridge program to finish RN and graduated as an RN in 1995. I didn't have any children, but I worked full time hours. That was dificult for me, someimes if we had a project due, ect - I went for almost 48 hours with almost no sleep and I wouldn't rec. that to anyone. Depends on what kind of support system you have.

Anne, RNC

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I was an LPN/LVN for four years prior to becoming an RN. I completed my LVN training at a private trade school; the program was 12 months long. If you complete your LPN training at a community college (recommended) it will probably take anywhere from 18 months to 2 years.[/quote']

What private trade school did you go to ? I am looking into LVN schools . But I don't have a clue where to go .

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