LVN vs BSN.

[dess.]

I'm a senior in high school and I'll be graduating this May (yayayayay!!). My dream is to become a nurse. I've been accepted to University of Texas at Arlington and I plan to apply for nursing school there after I get all my prerequisites done. Their nursing school is one of the top in the state. But it's recently entered my mind to go to a local community college just to get my LVN instead of BSN just because it'll take shorter. So what are the pros and cons of both of them? If you could go back, would you change your choice? Should I just plan to stick it out the whole 4 years for my BSN? I know money doesn't matter in something you love but I do want to be able to support myself. I just need details to help me side.

--Thanks!! :)

[jcgrund]

Congrats on finishing high school and being accepted to college! I can only speak from my own experiences and perspective. I went into the military after school, then got married and had a kid, then made it back to nursing school. If I had it do over, knowing what I know now, I would have gone straight to college after high school, if I had the opportunity. School is a lot harder when you have a full time job, a husband, and a child at home. If you know that you would like a bachelor's degree you might as well start on it now. My four year degree is going to end up taking me about 14 years. It was great for me to go to LPN school first. I was able to get through school and start working, while I finished my pre-req's for the nursing program at the community college. I plan to finish my bachelor's degree, probably on-line.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Go straight for the BSN. It will open mny doors. And congrats on being accepted into Arlington!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I agree - go for the BSN. And yes, congratulations on being accepted at Arlington!

Let the adventure begin~!

:yelclap:

[dess.]

Thank yall so much! I guess I'm just gonna mad down and go for the BSN! :)

[yuzzamatuzz]

Really depends what you want to do as a nurse but I would highly recommend going for your BSN. If you want to work in a hospital (peds, adults, OB, med/surg, ICU, etc.) you'll likely need to be an RN to get there. My hospital and many others will not hire LPNs onto inpatient floors. Outpatient clinics in my hospital (such as oncology, hematology, GI clinics, etc.) only hire RNs with >5 years experience. For the most part, LPNs nowadays work in primary care offices and long term care. One of my family members is an LPN in long term care and loves it, she has no desire to be anywhere else. However, I used to work in long term care with an LPN who had 10 years of experience and so badly wanted to do OB but couldn't because she wasn't an RN. Obviously there are exceptions, and it really depends what you are looking for, but I feel like being an RN opens up more opportunities. My recommendation, especially if you aren't sure what specialty you want to do, is to get your BSN now.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Congratulations! I highly recommend just going for your BSN. LPNs are being phased out and most places are requiring a minimum of a BSN to get hired. Most LPNs work in SNFs (skilled nursing facilities) or in primary care offices. Where I work, we have LPNs on the medical-surgical units and a small handful of LPNs work in the ER, but on my unit (progressive care) and ICU we only have RNs. Getting your BSN/RN will open many doors for you. Good luck!