LPN/RN question

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Ok, I've searched the web and done a fair amount of reading on here. I truly don't know where to post this because I'm kind of a pre-nursing student, but I need input from current nurses. Bear with me please!! I graduated with my ADN back in 2004. Truthfully, I never should have graduated. I'm one of those folks that slipped through the cracks somehow. I was fresh out of high school and newly married and thought it would be as easy as high school, WRONG! I had no previous CNA experience, so I didn't have a clue what I was getting myself into. I failed the NCLEX twice and pretty much gave up after that. From what I had found, NC required a license to take a refresher course, and I am not a "sit down with a book and learn it yourself" kind of person. I need a class, with instructors, and listening and so on. I kept on working as a CNA (in both hospital and long term care facilities) and had two kids.

Fast forward to 2013, I was tired of feeling like a failure and decided that I wanted to get my life back on track. My head and heart are in the right place now and I know exactly what I want. Knowing that I needed the education all over again, I decided to apply to another ADN program because 1) BSN program is too far away right now 2) cost. I applied for that and the LPN. I got alternate for both, and was just offered a spot in the LPN program. Now, my goal is to gain as much knowledge as possible so I can pass the NCLEX-RN and take a refresher course. I have a few days to answer for the LPN spot because the ADN calls have not all been made yet. I am fully aware that the PN and RN NCLEXes cover different scopes of nursing, but in your opinions, would the LPN course help jog my memory and get me close to, or ready for, the NCLEX-RN? Things may have changed, but last I saw there was no time limit to take it in NC. I guess I ought to look into that as well!

Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

I'm glad for you that you've set yourself a goal and are motivated. I bet you will fly through the program since you have a familiarity of the material and perhaps much will come back quickly. Just have to say though, I don't think I'd have the strength to redo nursing school again. The thought makes me almost hyperventilate. So I totally respect your strength and dedication.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.
I made an appt for this coming Tuesday with an advisor at the university. Hopefully I can get a better idea of what track I need to be on. There's no way I will make the spring admission, but hopefully I can get stuff done to make it for fall '16.

I do wish you all the best! One thing I can tell you from experience: school doesn't feel like such a chore when you are older and more experienced in life. By now, you've learned to prioritize time and responsibilities better, so you'll do better now. You've got this!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm glad for you that you've set yourself a goal and are motivated. I bet you will fly through the program since you have a familiarity of the material and perhaps much will come back quickly. Just have to say though I don't think I'd have the strength to redo nursing school again. The thought makes me almost hyperventilate. So I totally respect your strength and dedication.[/quote']

Thank you! It doesn't quite make me hyperventilate, but I'm not skipping through a field of daisies either lol. I remember many of the anxieties that I had before, but I know a lot of them are long gone. I think what will make me the most anxious/scared is going into a BSN program.

I do wish you all the best! One thing I can tell you from experience: school doesn't feel like such a chore when you are older and more experienced in life. By now, you've learned to prioritize time and responsibilities better, so you'll do better now. You've got this!

I'm a good multi-tasker/prioritizer for sure, with a serious dash of type-A. My kids and husband know that all too well lol.

Thanks for the info/advice/encouragement everyone!! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't waste your time, money and dignity going through another nursing program. I suggest you take a RN NCLEX refresher course as well as a practice testing platform such as Kaplan Q Bank or purchase the Saunders NCLEX RN book with CD and know those questions inside and out. You would be surprised how much you learn with those test prep questions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Don't waste your time, money and dignity going through another nursing program. I suggest you take a RN NCLEX refresher course as well as a practice testing platform such as Kaplan Q Bank or purchase the Saunders NCLEX RN book with CD and know those questions inside and out. You would be surprised how much you learn with those test prep questions.

My dignity concerns are pretty much gone after all of the years of shamefully answering everyone's questions of "I thought you were a nurse? Didn't you go to nursing school?" A NCLEX refresher is not going to help me. I eeked by the first time and I did not retain much of what I had learned. I KNOW that I need the critical thinking skills, and without the base knowledge, I won't get where I need to be. The BSN makes the most sense because that would be the long term goal anyway, right? With the push for BSNs, I may as well get my butt in gear and do things right this time. I will absolutely be getting review books before I take the NCLEX, whenever that happens, but they won't cut it where I am now.

I know a lot of people are thinking the same thing, if I passed nursing school, I should still have the info somewhere in my brain. Welp, that would be true if I didn't half-ass my way through a fair bit of it. I screwed up, but I'm not giving up!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment