Need some straight forward advice about picking between RN and LPN and doing prereqs

[Skylarslaughter]

At my community college there's a Generic RN program, LPN, and LPN-RN bridging program.

I have 2 optional plans, apply for LPN in the Fall and do all 21 credits of my pre reqs during and after my LPN and then do the bridging program...OR...take a year to do all my pre reqs and general education (only 21 credits over all) and apply for the generic RN program for Fall of next year...both options will take a minumum of 3 years to get me my RN...

Now here's my siutation. I am 17 and eligible for a full pell grant because my single mother doesn't have nearly enough income to pay a cent to college for me. I have two younger siblings, one of which is my little sister who cannot take care of herself due to certain disabilities and sometimes my home life can be really distracting...however I am extremely smart and a hardwork and have fantastic memorizationb skills when it comes to studying. I believe I can do either of these options. The only reason I'm thinking of LPN first is so I can work, but I don't want it to slow me down from my RN...PLUS I think once I start working I won't be eligible for a full grant any longer...so should I take advantage of my financial aid to just go straight for my ADN , even if it means not being able to start actual nursing school for a YEAR and not being able to work for 3 years?

[Emilynn09]

If RN is your ultimate goal, I say take the pre-reqs for that because eventually you will need to take them anyway.

If it were me, I'd apply to both the RN and LVN programs and then decide what to do once I was accepted to one. I know with wait lists now the way they are sometimes it can be faster to become an LVN, then apply to a bridge program.

Good luck with you decision!

[dstevens]

I agree with the above post, wait to see what you get accepted to. It's not the easiest thing in the world to get into university or an LVN program either.

[Moogie]

If you're eligible for a full Pell grant and are certain you want to go into nursing rather than another health discipline (i.e., medicine) you'd be better off to do a BSN program rather than either an LPN/LVN or ADN program. As you can see from other threads here, many LPN/LVNs are having difficulty finding jobs in hospitals and many if not most end up working in LTC, home health, or doctor's offices. Of the hospitals that are hiring new grads, many are preferring to hire BSNs over ADNs.

You point out in your original post that it would take you a year to get into an ADN program (and finish the prerequisites) and I assume you're thinking that this would mean it would take 3 years for you to finish the ADN. Again, if you have a Pell grant that will pay for four years of college, why not take advantage of that? The BSN would take only one year more than the ADN---at least that's the way it seems from your post.

May I ask---are you limiting your options because you feel you need to stay home and help your mom with your siblings? A few years ago, I was a single mom and my older son lived at home his freshman year of college. He went to a school in town, one that had a program that met his needs at the time. Honestly, I did appreciate his help, especially since he drove his younger brother around when I couldn't. My son ended up transferring to a different school, one that had a program that interested him more, and he ended up moving out. I'm glad---I didn't want to stand in the way of his reaching his dreams. I understand that your mom needs you, but I don't think she'd want you to sacrifice your opportunities for her.

I wish you the best in this decision.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

If you're able to get some money from Uncle Sugar then you might as well take the prereqs then shove on with the RN. Why stop there? If your income still meets criteria you can go on to a bachelor's degree.

If you needed money now I'd say do the LPN, finish, work, and do the other junk while you work. You have another option apparently.

[Lee J A]

I agree with Moogie, you need to get the BSN. Go for it now, don't stop, don't get distracted and you will be rewarded. The BSN makes so much more money and if for some reason you chose the lpn road you may start working and then life takes a turn and you fall off the path.