Lpn route or RN route?

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Ok. So I recently passed my GED after studying my butt off for so long. It's a big accomplishment for me. Now I'm ready for my next goal, to become a nurse. I'm confused on how to start my nursing career. I don't know if I should go to school for Lpn or just go straight for my RN. Should I start at a community school or go straight for my bsn? I heard that community schools are harder to get in their nursing program but it's a lot more cheeper, where in a bsn program it's easier to get in but more expensive. If I go for my Lpn, it will only take 10 months to complete, but I heard that its very intense. What should I do? Where should I start?

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Specializes in L&D.

What's your ultimate goal? LPN or RN? If you want to be an RN I see no reason to go the LPN route unless you need to graduate as an LPN and then get advanced standing for the LPN to RN and also be able to work at the same time.

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I think you should first take some general education courses at your community college. Get a few of those under your belt.

Personally, I opted to go directly for my ADN. I've spent the last year and a half taking gen ed courses though and i'm just starting nursing school next month.

Whatever your decision, good luck!

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I agree that if your ultimate goal is RN then to work your way towards that. But i also suggest that you get some one on one patient experience to decide if nursing really is for you. Try doing CNA or even MA to get a feel for patients. As a CNA you have a better opportunity to get a feel of what the life of an RN is like, particularly in a hospital.

As far as getting your RN you need to weigh the pros and cons for yourself. CC=cheapest way to go, but it is also going to take you the longest. BSN= still going to take quite a while since you'd have to get an AA at a jc in whatever before you could even transfer to a 4 year and hope to get accepted. I don't know how the schooling is in your area but it varies greatly by location. Here in so-cal the average wait list at CC is 3-4 years, not including 2 yrs of prereqs and 2 years of the actual program. Attend an orientation for the nursing program at your local jc to see what their nursing program process is like.

Good luck

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The difference between LPN and RN is one semester. Go right for RN at least, BSN is a better move as most facilities want either BSN or RN enrolled in BSN program. Get a CNA job in the mean time...

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Thanx for the replies.I'm an HHA already, but i know it's nothing like nursing. I don't want to wait so long to get in nursing school since I have kids. I think I'm going the Lpn route, gain experience and at the same time make money. I think in the mean time I'm going to community college to get some classes out the way because the Lpn program that I'm interested in is already full. What do you guys think? Another option that have is to take my acts, score high enough and go straight in a bsn program. Idk what do you guys think. There's so many options!

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I was going to do the LPN program at first, then I realized that I wouldn't meet the deadline for that particular year and by the next deadline I could finish all of my RN prerequisites.

I've also been a CNA for longer than I'd care to mention lol.

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Go all the way RN's make more and get a lot more respect in the end!! Go ahead for the RN you will be glad you did!!!

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Specializes in ER & ICU.

With all the changes coming in 2014 to nursing I'd enroll in a BSN program. More and more hospitals are wanting to go Magnet status and requires a RN/BSN for all front line nurses. I've spent three years getting my RN and now gonna have to go back and get the BSN where as If I'd done BSN to start would have been 4 years and done. The NCLEX test is the same for both btw.

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From the bit you where saying about your financial situation and your kids, first you need to find out all you can about the programs in your area and the requirements and length. Before applying you will have atleast a year or a year and a half of prerequisites that you will have to take before applying, and you might have to take an entrance exam as well. If you don't have enough financial support for you and your kids it may be a good idea for you to go for your LPN first, so you can start working and make more money, the programs in my area are 3 semesters/or a yr long and ADN program is 5 semester which is about another year long. At some universities you can get a BSN for the same length of time it will take to get an ADN at a community college but they are extremely expensive. Just do your research and you think about the situation you are in and what's going on in your life, and use those things to help you make the best decision for you. Because what's best for one person may not be what's best for you. And if you have faith in God, pray for help with these choices you have to make and peace of mind, because I know how you feel, and for something as big as this your mind is never at ease and its running in all different places. Good luck!

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From the bit you where saying about your financial situation and your kids, first you need to find out all you can about the programs in your area and the requirements and length. Before applying you will have atleast a year or a year and a half of prerequisites that you will have to take before applying, and you might have to take an entrance exam as well. If you don't have enough financial support for you and your kids it may be a good idea for you to go for your LPN first, so you can start working and make more money, the programs in my area are 3 semesters/or a yr long and ADN program is 5 semester which is about another year long. At some universities you can get a BSN for the same length of time it will take to get an ADN at a community college but they are extremely expensive. Just do your research and you think about the situation you are in and what's going on in your life, and use those things to help you make the best decision for you. Because what's best for one person may not be what's best for you. And if you have faith in God, pray for help with these choices you have to make and peace of mind, because I know how you feel, and for something as big as this your mind is never at ease and its running in all different places. Good luck!
Thank you so much for your advice! I will take it into consideration. In the mean time, while I'm waiting to enter Lpn program, I going to community college to some requirements. I hope god stays with me all the way in the choices I make!
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You're welcome and you are on the right path, keeping God first is the key! Good luck!

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