Lpn Or Rn

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Hi everyone!!

I will quickly introduce myself. My name is Stacey and mom to a three-year-old little girl

I am going through a separation (possible divorce) and wanted to look into schooling for either LPN or RN.

I have a BA in Psychology from UNH and Certificate in Clinical Counseling from Rivier in Nashua.

My plan was be a LNA then apply to the LPN 11-month night program they have in Manchester to start in January of 2007 (I forget the school's name). However, my friend is a RN and she said better getting a RN because hospitals are not hiring LPN's anymore because they require so much "babysitting." She did not mean it to be demeaning, but more that all paperwork has to be signed off by a RN.

She said they only tend to hire RN's in the nursing home setting or occupational setting. The woman I used to nanny for runs a nursing home and starting LPN is $22 where she works.

I was hoping to work in a a hospital setting that had some flexibility for my work hours (maybe work 3 12-hour days, EOW, etc.) and make at least $20 a hour.

The problem is can not afford RN school and the LPN school is only $12 Grand. I called Rivier and in the second clear of clinical it would be something like $28 just for that year! And already have $24 Grand in school loans :o

Right now I nanny and bring my daughter with me so she is not used to being away from me all day (which RN programs require). Plus, her dad has her 35% of the time so do not see her all weekday nights!

Please any help would be greatly appreciated.

Can I go to school part-time for a RN and take prerequistes? And when does it become full-time. I live in Derry, but would like to know about schools in the Manchester/Nashua area. Confused as to what I should do!

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I say RN. Look into the NHCTC or NHCTI. Much cheaper than the bigger schools with the same quality education. They have great financial aid also.

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Have you looked into the UNH Masters in Nursing program? I think they have a campus in Manchester. The first year is intense but you get your RN in one year where you have a bachelors already then after that you can work as a RN while attending part-time to complete the Masters program. If I already had a bachelors degree in another field this is the route I would take. It sounds scary at first with the Masters title, but really to me it sounds like a faster route (1 year vs 2+ to get RN).

Also, there is a lot of resources out there for single moms. I know NHTI has a great program that also includes counseling as well as financial assistance.

BTW, I am a single mom of three (two in college) and it is possible with some sacrifices. I don't have much support but want this so badly failure is not an option! Sometimes dishes sit in the sink for a day and on days off I have been known to stay in pajamas and study all day and nite. Not uncommon for me to stay up until 2am when I need to learn something!

Good luck in whatever career path you choose!! COntact me if you need any help!

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Specializes in Maternity, quality.

Hi Stacey,

Lots to respond to here... first off, hi neighbor! I'm in L'Derry.

Personally I would recommend going straight for the RN, too. The cost of that LPN program seems rather high. I would imagine that you could get your RN through NHCTC-Manchester for around that (maybe a little higher). You can still earn money during school. There are nurse extern programs at CMC, Elliot, and Parkland that you'd be eligible for after the first semester of clinicals. Alternatively, you can become an LNA after completing the first semester of clinicals. And I believe you can take the LPN boards after completing fundamentals, med/surg, and parent/child clinicals.

And yes, you can go part-time. It's still busy, but if you finish all the pre-reqs before you get into clinicals it's more do-able that trying to do it all at once. NHCTC-Manchester does offer some of the pre-reqs at Pinkerton, if that helps you at all. I see that they are offering A&P I there this summer, actually.

Also, as kukukajoo mentioned, there is the direct-entry MSN program at UNH. Unfortunately it is only at the Durham campus. And it sounds like it probably wouldn't work with your current situation (you'd be in school pretty much all day, four days a week for the first year), but it would get you to the RN in a year. They're having an info session Tuesday at 6:15 if you were interested.

Sounds like you've got a ton on your plate right now and lots to consider. Don't feel like you need to rush into anything at the moment, just think about your options and go with what you feel will work best for YOU. And please feel free to post any other questions. Best of luck to you!

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I started with my prereqs and have taken all but Micro which I AM NOT TAKING THIS SUMMER! :)

You may even be able to take some online classes as I did to keep your pt or ft status for financial aid. I am home with the kids doing homework on the pc and that makes a difference. I matriculated first as a liberal arts major so I could take any courses and got some out of the way that are not relevant for my program but are for an advanced degree and will transfer nicely (Med term, la & ethics for med. prof, PC classes, etc.). This worked well for me. So the only other classes I need are the actual Nursing ones.

I can not imagine doing the whole ball of wax how the semesters are set up.

There is another option if you decide LPN- St Joe's in Nashua has day and nite, full and part time.

Rivier does part-time as well and may be worth talking to about their part time program as it may be more affordable. There are tons of scholarships out there with deadlines fast approaching so you may want to checkout that.

Also is Concord too far for you? They have an evening program as well. If I remember correctly you dont have to sit for NLN's for the lpn program and the cost can't be beat.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

Actually, there is no LPN program at Riv, but they do offer day, night and weekend options. They offer ADN and BSN programs - in fact, all BSN students are awarded an ADN so they can take the NCLEX, which is a requirement for the BSN program.

I applied to an LPN program, run by St. Joe's, in Keene as a backup plan when applying to nursing schools. It is so hard to get into programs now due to the high interest and lack of instructors (which makes colleges have to limit the number of nursing students). I've known all along that I want to become an RN, but LPN programs are great also. Riv does have an LPN-to-RN bridge program, but I'm not sure of the requirements for that (other than being a current LPN) - like how long you've had your LPN license, etc.

My advice is to apply, apply, apply - everywhere! I applied to all the tech colleges, 2 LPN programs and Riv. I think I sent out like 8 or 9 applications to nursing schools and even to a surgical tech program! I had most of my pre-req's done (except Micro and one or two others) and had a 3.92 GPA and STILL only got into two programs. It is tough going. I ultimately chose Riv and am glad I did, but we do a lot of clinicals at the same sites as the Nashua Tech students, and they have great instructors/program also.

Best of luck to you!

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Sorry that my post was confusing. I was meaning to say that Rivier also has Part Time, not the LPN option. Rivier offers ADN, BSN and Masters.

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Specializes in Still a medic at heart but ICU, M/S, SVU.

You had a 3.92 and only got into 2 programs??!! That is nuts!

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.
You had a 3.92 and only got into 2 programs??!! That is nuts!

Isn't that insane?!

I heard that NHTI, where I did a lot of my pre-req's, is so hard to get into, that even students with a 4.0 in their pre-req's are turned down. How heartbreaking is that??!

There is such a shortage of nurses, and also given that most nurses with a Masters degree don't want to teach - that's not where the money is. It's too bad really, because the nursing shortage would almost certainly be "cured" (no pun intended!) if they could accept all the students who wanted to be nurses. The colleges just don't have the instructors. I know Riv lost a couple of GREAT instructors this year. I had one of them, and I just loved her. But teaching IS hard and time-consuming, and not only do you need a Master's, but it's not where the money is if you decide to go that far with your nursing degrees.

One of my instructors is working on her doctorate now. It will be a real loss if she leaves teaching. She is so tough, but I have learned a LOT from her. I think my skills have increased 50x what they were just since January. She is the reason I'm willing to pay $20k a year for my nursing education at Riv.

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The instructor situation really sucks all around and the $$ is one of the downsides.

I have heard that the techs weight your scores based on where you have taken your preqs but I am not sure this is true or not. I have also heard the same thing about NHTI as you have. I have heard some students say they feel like they are being weeded out and that the instructors seem bent on the failures instead of encouraging the successes and helping the students feel confident and do well. Not sure how true this is either, but I have heard from several people.

How were your NLN scores? Did that affect your acceptance?

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Specializes in Medical, Surgical, Cardiac.
The instructor situation really sucks all around and the $$ is one of the downsides.

I have heard that the techs weight your scores based on where you have taken your preqs but I am not sure this is true or not. I have also heard the same thing about NHTI as you have. I have heard some students say they feel like they are being weeded out and that the instructors seem bent on the failures instead of encouraging the successes and helping the students feel confident and do well. Not sure how true this is either, but I have heard from several people.

How were your NLN scores? Did that affect your acceptance?

Don't know about the pre-req thing, but I know at NHCTC-Stratham, where I will be graduating on May 20... :yeah: :yeah: :w00t: :w00t: they give extra points to students that have completed A&P I II. As far as feeling like being weeded out, quite honestly that is why they are there. Don't get me wrong, instructors should be supportive and there for any and all students that request help, but nursing is hard. REALLY HARD :uhoh3: :uhoh3: It is the instructors job to make sure that you can handle the pressure as well as pass the tests. Quite honestly, though I wouldn't have said it during my hardest times, I appreciate how hard my instructors could be. In fact I thanked one of my instructors for it, were it not for her I wouldn't have learned half as much, or felt as confident as I do today (we just had our final and I passed.....I passed......I passed.....sorry just feels so darn good to say that). I learned more from my mistakes, and the sometimes painful review and rationale of that mistake.

I wish you all the best in your education.

Did I mention that I passed.........YES.......

Kevin

May 20=Graduation day

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Don't know about the pre-req thing, but I know at NHCTC-Stratham, where I will be graduating on May 20... :yeah: :yeah: :w00t: :w00t: they give extra points to students that have completed A&P I II. As far as feeling like being weeded out, quite honestly that is why they are there. Don't get me wrong, instructors should be supportive and there for any and all students that request help, but nursing is hard. REALLY HARD :uhoh3: :uhoh3: It is the instructors job to make sure that you can handle the pressure as well as pass the tests. Quite honestly, though I wouldn't have said it during my hardest times, I appreciate how hard my instructors could be. In fact I thanked one of my instructors for it, were it not for her I wouldn't have learned half as much, or felt as confident as I do today (we just had our final and I passed.....I passed......I passed.....sorry just feels so darn good to say that). I learned more from my mistakes, and the sometimes painful review and rationale of that mistake.

I wish you all the best in your education.

Did I mention that I passed.........YES.......

Kevin

May 20=Graduation day

Congratulations Kevin! What a great feeling it must be to be graduating after all that hard work. I start at Stratham this fall and can't wait! I am imagining the 2 years will fly by. The best of luck with your nursing career.

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