2nd semester or 3rd for bridge?

[AmieCooney]

Hi all,

I'm in a major dilemma. I just got accepted and completed the transition program over the summer with saddleback college to do the LVN to RN program and I am currently taking mental health to get it out of the way for 3rd semester. I have the option to do 2nd or 3rd semester. 2nd semester is the 2nd half of med surg and 3rd semester goes right into peds and ob. I really can't afford to go into 2nd semester but I'm faced with the dilemma that I've heard LVN'S don't do well going into 3rd right off the bat. Are there any LVN'S that have been successful going into 3rd ? I was a great high honors student in LVN school and during the transition, I scored high on ATI. Anyone have any tips???

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I really can't afford to go into 2nd semester but I'm faced with the dilemma that I've heard LVN'S don't do well going into 3rd right off the bat.

If you know you're a fairly high caliber student who has done well in the past, I wouldn't place a great deal of stock in what others have determined to be 'difficult.' Some would say that nursing school is the hardest thing they've ever done, but it was not that difficult in my opinion.

SInce I did not attend a transition program that dealt with semesters, I cannot provide firsthand knowledge regarding entering in second or third semester. However, I wanted to wish you the best of luck with this pursuit!

[Raviepoo]

I am in my final semester and doing fine. I entered my RN program at the 3rd semester after doing a really brief transition mini-mester. The cultural knowledge at my school is that many LVN/LPNs fail out because they have not learned some of the things taught during the first two semesters of the program. I have found this to be a minor issue and not something I'm too concerned about. If you can't afford the extra semester, don't do it.