LPN before RN Program??

Published

I have healthcare experience, but I am not a CNA/MA/LPN. I am almost thinking about just doing an LPN program and then bridging? I am so discouraged now--like, what if I get all my pre-reqs done for the RN program, which I have planned out to be done in almost 2 years and then I get rejected??? then do I just go to an LPN program? iah yayah??!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thats what happened to me. I have been done with my core classes for at lease three yrs. I had issues I had to finish buying a house before starting. Now the past two yrs I been applying adn bsn and nothing so I applied to both got denied all rn spots not enough points or gpa lower than 3.5 3.2 so I decided to take a lpn spot then bridge to rn this is whats working for me. Its a step closer to rn so what u feel will get you closer. To your rn degree. Go for it if it works for you. Best wishes

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have healthcare experience, but I am not a CNA/MA/LPN. I am almost thinking about just doing an LPN program and then bridging? I am so discouraged now--like, what if I get all my pre-reqs done for the RN program, which I have planned out to be done in almost 2 years and then I get rejected??? then do I just go to an LPN program?

To see the number of posts we get on this subject you'd think that everybody had to have something special to go to nursing school (other than the usual requirements). Not true. You don't have to be a CNA or LPN to go to an RN program. Sometimes, an instructor will confide in you that the students they have the most trouble with are those with CNA or LPN experience, believe it or not. Not all, but some-- they think they know everything a nurse knows and they just need the credential and they are harder to teach and get out of bad habits and attitudes to get them to assume the RN role, because it's so NOT just the hands-on tasks we all do. Many, many, many nursing students enter college from high school or other nonclinical backgrounds and learn how to be nurses there.

As to the "what ifs," didn't your sweet old grandmother ever tell you not to borrow trouble? Do well in your prereqs, mindfully and intentionally tell yourself three positive things every day, banish those negative self-descriptors the instant you hear them creeping into your consciousness, and, well, go to nursing school. Don't screw around wasting your time with lower levels of practice on the off chance that you might ... well, you know. Now stop thinking that and get to it! Stay in touch.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

A large majority of the time, bridge programs cost more than the straight BSN or ADN programs. I highly suggest just applying to community college ADN and state college BSN programs in your area and cut straight to the chase. Look at all your options. Pick 4-5 ADN and BSN programs in your area and compare costs, prerequisite requirements etc. Most times a lot of the prerequisites are the same, with 1-2 prereq requirements that may be different between the 4-5 schools, so that will make it easier to apply to multiple schools. If you go the community college route and get your ADN, once you get your RN license a lot of hospitals offer ADN RN-BSN RN on site programs for their employees and/or new hire RN's and/or tuition assistance/tuition reimbursement programs, so you could apply for one of those programs.

I know it's tough out there and a lot of schools are full and people are being wait listed. IDK where you live but check out some online BSN programs, if you can't get into any local nursing schools. Also if the LPN-RN bridge is the only route that works for you because you can't get into a local ADN or BSN program, then so be it. Just look at all your options and keep an open mind...

Additional note: If you get 3.5+ GPA in all your science, math and general ed prereqs that will make you a stronger candidate for admission to a nursing school and a high TEAS V score that will help you as well. Volunteering at a hospital or community clinic will help also. **But there are no guarantees but it doesn't hurt to get the best grades and highest TEAS scores that you can to make you a more competitive candidate. HTH!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.

I went to an LPN program first and although I grumble that I could have been finished a few years ago, it's working out pretty well for me. There are advantages to being an LPN first. You learn the job from the inside out. You learn a ton about working with support staff and allied care professionals. I guarantee you that no graduate of a bridge program starts the first day of their RN job thinking that they know everything with their newly minted RN in hand. I have a good-paying job to help me pay my tuition so I don't have to rely on loans. That's a wonderful thing (although I was there for a shift and a half last night. Ouch - my aching feet!)

The LPNs in the program that I'm finishing right now hit the floor in clinicals knowing a ton of things that the other students dont. Plus, we are comfortable working with patients. We know how to approach them because we have been doing it. We know how to transfer them because we have been doing it. I'm finding a level of trust that I did not experience during my LPN clinicals.

The only mistake I would caution you about is wasting time on classes like medical terminology and "Anatomy light" that will not count towards your RN degree. It's kind of frustrating to sit through(and pay for) an A&P class and then have to do it again to learn it in just a little more depth. If you can count RN pre-reqs as LPN pre-reqs there is very little downside to it.

It's a long road, and there are shorter roads to the same destination. You have to figure out what you want, how you are going to pay for it, and how much time you have to devote to this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thank you everyone---I am going to my local community college and so far am doing well(A's). I do try to plan on doing a CNA program just to show initiative. thank you all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, mbtsab:

While I have been accepted into a RN program to start this coming January 2015, when I was working on my prerequisites I did take the one LPN class that didn't overlap in case I needed a plan B. If your goal is to become an RN, go the RN route, see what's required for any prerequisites for an LPN, take those if you think it might be helpful, but stay the course of your dream. I'm going to a local community college to get my AD with plans to get my BSN (either after a job or before a job depending on the market at the time).

10 Things Highly Productive People Don't Do might be a good read. Push forward.

Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

@mbtsab I am currently in a CNA program that I am not paying for! Do a search for FREE CNA training in your area, there are some organizations out there(it takes a little digging to find them), that will pay for your CNA training. Check it out. I think CNA training will be a great help with bedside patient care and nursing foundation skills and experience etc

Up Vote Up Vote ×
@mbtsab I am currently in a CNA program that I am not paying for! Do a search for FREE CNA training in your area, there are some organizations out there(it takes a little digging to find them), that will pay for your CNA training. Check it out. I think CNA training will be a great help with bedside patient care and nursing foundation skills and experience etc

A lot of skilled facilties in your area are short of staff. They will train you for free with the benefits of you getting paid and hired on while you learn. Check out the long term care faculty first see who offers in house certification.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion