New Here (Hello, Everyone!) Need advice about education

[kellysmom]

Hi,

I'm obviously a new forum user-my name is Candace and I live in northern Ohio with my dh, four year old daughter, and four dogs. It's nice to meet all of you. I've been reading these forums for about six months now-ever since I started applying to nursing schools-and you guys are so supportive and full of great advice. I hope you can help me decide what to do:

I have wanted to be a nurse, ever since I was a little girl bandaging up my mom's basset hound while playing "Nurse". I got sidetracked when I was younger, however, and wound up going to undergrad school and law school for all the wrong reasons-I followed the almighty dollar and not my heart. I have a bachelor of liberal arts degree and a doctor of law degree. Now I finally have gotten my nerve up to go back to school one more time to do what I've always wanted to do: nursing. I have applied and been accepted to two different nursing programs. One of the programs is an RN program in which I can earn an ADN in three years. This same program also offers a FastTrack program leading to an RN for LPNs (but no ADN). The other program I have been accepted to is a straight LPN program-just a diploma, no degree-in one year. I figured that if I went that route (the LPN route), I could go back to school parttime and get my RN and BSN later while I'm working as an LPN.

My ultimate goal is to be an RN. But do I need the ADN, or should I just skip it and work as an LPN for awhile while finishing the RN and BSN. I'm in my forties, and we need me to start making a decent income asap.

Any advice is very much appreciated, and again it's nice meeting all of you.

Candace

[papawjohn]

Hey!!!

Congratulations on your new future and welcome to the Allnurses' place.

The answer to your question is really about what your long-term goals are and how much money you need to earn as you go along your path. I assume that your end-goal (at least at present) is the BSN degree and working as an RN. If you are fortunate and have lots of big checks arriving as residuals on your last few legal jobs, I don't see why you shouldn't just start the BSN program and follow it all the way. The ADN also gets you to the RN N-Clex exam--so you'd be working as an RN while taking 'Transition' courses. But why spend 2 to 3 years in Nursing School and still have to 'finish up' your BSN? Doesn't make sense. The LPN question is similar--you'd be making a decent paycheck and working as a nurse in only one year--but your goal lies far beyond that. So is the LPN pay necessary to help you along the RN & BSN pathway? If yes--it's a good deal. If no--why pause and take a circumcuitous path?

And you say you're in your 40s? Shucks--you're just a girl!!! Lots of wonderful career ahead of you!!

Papaw John

(remembering his 40s--smiling)

[jillyk*rn]

[banana]welcome!!![/banana]

[clee1]

Hi there...

I'm in my late 30s and am in LPN school now, primarily because I could get into that program the fastest.

I will bridge to RN (ADN) asap post NCLEX-PN. Immediately thereafter, I plan to finish the coursework for the BSN. My eventual goal is CCNP, requiring a MSN.

There are many ways to meet your nursing goals. The best advice I can give is search through all your options and pick the one(s) that suit your life and plans the best.

Best of luck to you.

[baambi1]

papawjohn, we are the same age and I graduate this July with my MHA. I started out wantinmg an RN, got my LPN so that I could work while going to school and never had a desire to finish. 10 years ago, I started back to school and got an AAS degree in Drug and Alcohol Counseling, then a BS in Human Services with a second in Administration of Substance Abuse Programs and now the Masters. 10 years of solid school. hhhmmmm?