LPN school or NOT?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2008

:welcome: Welcome to these forums!

If I were in your shoes, I'd look for a 15-month accelerated BSN program. These programs are designed for people who already have previous baccalaureate degrees in some other subject. They're known for being fast and furious, but you'll be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN to become a registered nurse once you complete the accelerated program.

swttooth07 · Jul 7, 2008

Thanks, but do you think I should take out a loan to pay for me an apartment?

Jules A, MSN · Jul 7, 2008

Thanks, but do you think I should take out a loan to pay for me an apartment?

I'm rarely in favor of taking out loans for living expenses but I'm not sure how tough these short BSN programs are. If you decide to go to regular LPN or RN school though, imo, you can definitely work to support yourself rather than do loans. Good luck with whatever you decide.

HeyHeyitsMaay · Jul 8, 2008

Please don't take out a personal loan to pay for an apartment. I used to work in the financial aid office at a private school (I left 2 years ago). The private loans that are offered have interest rates at about 19%, (you're hard pressed to find anything below that..they're all the same in terms of interest) and I've seen kids removed from school when the loans come due in the middle of a semester who can't make their 300.00 per month payments.

Working during the day while taking evening/online classes is a feasible option, albeit a slow one. But I promise you, when you're hit with incredible interest and payments are through the roof with incredibly harsh terms, it hits you like a ton of hot bricks. Unless you have a VERY strong support system, or a stable, good paying job, I've never seen a student that didn't fall on their face with private loans.

Please be careful!

swttooth07 · Jul 8, 2008

Thanks for the reply I wish it was that simple. I do not want to take out any more loans since I already have some (which was a big mistake but one I have to deal with). However, I do not see how just working will fully support me returning to school, living on my own, and taking care of the loans I do have. :no:

swttooth07 · Jul 8, 2008

Or maybe I will have to just give this dream up and just work at a regular job. Meanwhile, maybe later I can go back to school for something else. However, I will feel like I obtained a lot of knowledge that is going to waste. Although the knowledge I obtained were pre-nursing and my health science classes. It might be better for me to just get certified to teach health or science. Then teach making a teacher's salary while being trained on how to teach at the same time.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 8, 2008

Or maybe I will have to just give this dream up and just work at a regular job. Meanwhile, maybe later I can go back to school for something else. However, I will feel like I obtained a lot of knowledge that is going to waste. Although the knowledge I obtained were pre-nursing and my health science classes. It might be better for me to just get certified to teach health or science. Then teach making a teacher's salary while being trained on how to teach at the same time.

I wouldn't think of it as giving up your dream, just putting it off until you are financially prepared. To me that is very smart and mature thinking. In the meantime maybe you can take a class here and there toward your bachelors etc. Good luck.

jcozart · Jul 8, 2008

I completely understand what you are dealing with. I have a Teaching License and Degree and can't get a job cause I live in a rural area where the jobs are far and few between and it's VERY political. I am applying for a nursing program at one of the Community Colleges and it's going to take a year and a half to do the program and I can have my RN license. Then if I want to take only about 5 or 6 more classes I can have another BS Degree.

Now here is my scenerio I do have a husband and kids to take care of so if I can do it you can too! :yeah:

I don't recommend doing an accelerated program cause from what I have heard they are VERY costly and you live, eat and breathe nursing while you are doing it so unless you have the money and the time it's hard. :yawn:

Why is it that you don't need to live at your parents? I understand where you are coming from but look at it like this. I am 26 soon to be 27 and my husband is a truck driver who is never at home. As much as I hate it I am going to stay with my mother until I finish school. It will just be me and my son cause my husband will be on the road so much.

I hope that this helps you and GOOd LUCK!:redpinkhe

HeyHeyitsMaay · Jul 8, 2008

My younger brother never had any one to help him out, and had to support himself while in college as well. He's a civil engineer now, and didn't even get financial aid in the beginning because he couldn't get a waiver for my mother not having tax returns for him to use to file his FA paperwork.

He mowed lawns. He worked as a waiter, fixed people's computers, at times he was working 80 hours per week AND somehow taking classes.

He didn't give up, and he had to be really creative about how he was going to get his degree with no help, no financial aid, and no family to make sure he did alright.

If you REALLY want this, it's more financially sound to take classes in the evening until you get to where you want to be while you're working. My brother is 26 now, and ended up joining the Air Force 2 years ago to help him finish up paying for school. He's been in college since he was 18!! He'll be done with his degree in a few months, and has made excellent financial decisions that took a long while to pay off, but have left him really comfortable, debt free, and college educated.

Since you don't have kids, the sky is the limit. It's really frustrating to have debt hanging over your head, but if you really want something, it's going to require a little sweat equity which you seem to know a little about considering you've already been in school :wink2: You can do it!

amjowens · Jul 8, 2008

You already have loans, and though not thinking generally okay to lightly add to the debt, but why not invest a little more so you can earn a solid career? It may take another year or two to pay off, but at least you will have good earning potential and a career you enjoy.

Some people are more fortunate than others, and either gifted with a flexible work/school schedule or excellent memory skills that allow them to work full-time and go to school full-time. I've seen students who think they are getting ahead by working full-time only to flunk out of school, then they have a huge loss in every way. Be totally honest with yourself, remembering we each have different styles that help us to thrive. Generally, nursing school and working full-time don't mix very nicely, though many on this site have done this successfully (none in my class though). As you know from your undergrad, most students take out loans for school, and a good number do so responsibly.

Move forward with your dreams because it's amazing how life just happens to work out when you have clear goals mixed with action. Don't get bogged down with negatively, cause that's all you'll get if you do. If you need loans to reach your goals, be humble and go for it. Do respect that you're with a bigger goal for the moment, though, and that sometimes includes giving up other stuff. You might want to put up with living with your parents, etc., in order to get where you eventually want to be.

Also, pre-req classes have time limits re counting as credit for NS. Be careful with the one-class-at-a-time scenario.

vashtee, RN · Jul 8, 2008

Maybe you can move home with your parents while you go to school to save some money. I believe if you have a definitive goal inmind, most parents wouldn't object.