Need guidance!!! Where should I go from here?

[Hildebrandcb]

I have been researching the listing in my area.. It seems having a two year nursing degree is fine. HOWEVER, all the applications are taking about experience. Should I become a LPN first and then get my ASN? Will this ensure that once I am a RN I will be more likely to be hired?

[maddiem]

I would advise you to not take the LPN rout. Many schools in my area are phasing out their LPN programs (I'm from the Chicago area). And there are not that many LPN to RN schools around. I'm not saying they don't exist, but in my area at least, they are few and far between. LPN's are not necessarily in demand. So finding a job with an RN license is going to be much easier and your pay will be much better. Yes, lots of nursing jobs require experience. But many of these jobs require that you have x amount of years of *RN* experience. So while being an LPN is experience in the medical field, its not RN experience. I would become a CNA. Its very simple to become one and can take as little as 8 weeks. And work as one during RN school so you have some clinical setting experience under you belt. If the goal is to become and RN, just go for it right away. Its a much more direct rout and will probably save you some money instead of dealing with getting your LPN and then having to do an LPN to RN program.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

LPN experience is not the same as RN experience - two different jobs. Some organizations will grant "partial credit" for LPN experience but this is not the case for all employers. Hospitals across the country are rapidly joining the ranks of 'BSN only" hires, but this is not the case in non-acute environments. There are still ADN jobs available in LTC, clinics and community health.

[RunBabyRN]

Most jobs won't consider LPN experience as actual experience as an RN, because they're different. That's why many new grads will take what they can get for a year or two while they search for something that speaks more to them.

Going the LPN, then ADN, then BSN route is time consuming and expensive. If you can avoid it, I would. I also agree about many hospitals, particularly those going for Magnet Status, will only hire BSNs. Doing the CNA route, which many BSN programs are starting to require now, anyway (mine did), can help you get your foot in the door with a job. Even jobs that post saying you need experience should be applied for- you never know!