Not sure about LPN vs. RN vs. BSN!

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I'm a college student and it took me awhile to decide on nursing...the thing is I'm a bit late to the major and it would take me 5 years to get a BSN (I'm completing prereqs in my sophomore year, and most BSN programs are 3 years long.) So I was thinking ADN and then bridge to the BSN, but LPN programs seem to have fewer prereqs, and most schools have the same prereqs (as opposed to ADN programs where one school requires political science and physical wellness classes and another one requires a medical statistics class only they offer!)

I would want to bridge to ADN fairly quickly, and then work as an RN while I slowly work on an RN-BSN bridge. Does this sound realistic? How many people here have done this, and would you recommend it?

It would be really appealing to have the LPN done two years before I would have finished a BSN!

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

Many LPN and ADN programs have wait lists except for proprietary schools, whose credits may or may NOT transfer to another program. You could end up taking much more time if you go the LPN-BSN, ADN-BSN, or LPN-ADN-BSN route. Why not just do the BSN now so you don't have to hassle with bridge programs later?

Additionally, many people who intend to bridge from LPN or ADN to BSN or beyond end up staying at a lower level of education because of changes in their life situations. It's not impossible to go back to school when one is married or has children, but it is much more difficult. If you are young, single, have no family obligations, why not get the most education that you can now so you don't have that hanging over your head in the future?

I wish you the best with this.

You could also run the risk of maxing out of grant money to go to school if you do a bridge. While LPN and ADN programs in community colleges are inexpensive, you still are spending money that could have just gone toward the BSN in your current school.

The current employment situation for LPNs is dire. While all new grads are currently having trouble finding jobs, LPNs are not being hired by many hospitals. In many facilities, BSN grads are preferred over ADN grads.

I think you would be wise to stay where you are, apply to the BSN program at your current school, and only look at other options if you aren't accepted.

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Specializes in Addiction / Pain Management.

I"m in LPN school right now.

LPN are working quite successfully in doctors offices and LTC all over the nation.

Especially LTC

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Additionally, many people who intend to bridge from LPN or ADN to BSN or beyond end up staying at a lower level of education because of changes in their life situations. It's not impossible to go back to school when one is married or has children, but it is much more difficult. If you are young, single, have no family obligations, why not get the most education that you can now so you don't have that hanging over your head in the future?

I am young, single and childless, which is why I feel like life wouldn't derail my plans :) especially if I immediately went into an LPN-ADN bridge.

You could also run the risk of maxing out of grant money to go to school if you do a bridge. While LPN and ADN programs in community colleges are inexpensive, you still are spending money that could have just gone toward the BSN in your current school.
Do Pell grants max out? Also, LPN and ADN programs are around 1/2 to 1/3 cost of my school, so that would mean fewer loans (I HOPE.)

The current employment situation for LPNs is dire. While all new grads are currently having trouble finding jobs, LPNs are not being hired by many hospitals. In many facilities, BSN grads are preferred over ADN grads.
I don't expect to work in hospitals as an LPN -- I might not even work at all except for part time during an LPN-ADN bridge, to help pay for it. I don't mind LTC as a temporary thing. Do you know if LPNs are hired into hospices with any regularity? I've been fascinated with hospice nursing for a long time.

I think you would be wise to stay where you are, apply to the BSN program at your current school, and only look at other options if you aren't accepted.
What I think I will do is apply to a variety of BSN, ADN and a couple LPN programs and then see who accepts me. I think my school would accept me -- I currently I have a 3.93 GPA -- but I'm still working on nursing prerequisites, so that could easily go down. I also despise my school and feel uneasy at the thought of going to nursing school here...they are always processing financial aid late or misplacing documents, etc. :(

I'm not counting on any one program accepting me, especially in my state, which is crazy with nursing applicants.

Thank you very much for your response :)

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I've done a little bit of research with the ADN vs. BSN issue. I ruled out LPN from the beginning.

I'm currently in community college going for my ADN with the intention of doing an MSN bridge (skipping over BSN). From what I've read and talked about with other nurses, there isn't too much of a benefit of getting your BSN (pay scale difference is minimal and nothing that 3 or 4 OT shifts in a year wouldn't cover) and it's difficult to justify the extra time and money spent in school.

I guess it really depends on your ultimate goal. Aside from being a nurse interacting with patients, what else do you want to do? Management? Teaching? Administrative duties? Those will determine what more, if any, education you'll want/need beyond your ADN.

One thing I was not aware of until a few months ago- once you get your first bachelor's degree, a lot of federal funding is no longer available to you. So, in the interest of keeping Pell Grants available- sticking with an ADN is beneficial. You can get up to 900% of the Pell Grant over the course of your lifetime (9 years/18 full time semesters- more semesters if you're only going 3/4 or 1/2 time). I honestly haven't heard too many solid arguments for a BSN other than hospitals giving a slight edge to BSN grads. However, if you graduate from a very competitive community college, hospitals will notice that (in addition, your pay scale will be $1000-$2000ish lower/year so you could argue that they'd be getting a "deal" if they hired you over someone with a BSN).

Also, if you don't like the school you're attending- go somewhere else. College years are the best time of your life and if you don't like where you're at, change it! And with a 3.93 GPA, I'm sure you won't have too much trouble getting in to a nursing program at a community college near you. And you'll be saving a nice chunk of money!

Best of luck with your decision!

Edited to add: Also, after getting your ADN a lot of employers have tuition reimbursement programs that will pay for BSN or MSN programs to advance your degree.

Edited to add again: Depending on your school, after the first semester of nursing classes you might/probably will qualify as a PCT (Patient Care Tech)/ CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and you could secure a job at a hospital that could very well transition in to an RN position once you graduate and pass NCLEX. So instead of pursuing an LPN certificate and then going for your ADN, just go straight for ADN.

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Specializes in Public Health.

I would say stick with BSN if you can....Im going to hopefully doing ADN to MSN to DNP bridge because my goal is to become a CNM/DNP but I would definitely do the BSN if I had the opportunity to. BSN is available and it will still take you the same amount of time because many LPN-RN or LPN-BSN bridges require you to work a year before applying which would also put you at (1-1 1/2 yr of program+1 yr of work (maybe)+ 2-3 yrs prereq and bridge program=) 3-5 1/2 yrs of total time. Just do the BSN it will cost less money and time.

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I'm doing something similar to your situation. I'm looking to start my ADN program next year and go on to my BSN online. In the ADN program here, after your first 2 semesters you are able to be certified as a LPN while still in school, which is pretty cool because I can get some experience before working as a RN.Most employers have tuition reimbursement for going back to school, so again you can get your ADN and have them pay for the BSN. Most people will say BSN because that's what most hospitals want now a days, but it's a longer commitment(3 years) and on the good side, they may have fewer requirements to get in, and usually no waiting list. You will have more opportunities to advance to higher positions in nursing (for example as a nurse manager.)You will be prepared to enter a advanced degree program (for example, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist.) As an ADN, it is usually less expensive and less time consuming, you get to be an RN quicker! Generally speaking they both will start off the same, since I have two relatives that both have these degrees. I was told by one that the ADN program had more better clinical experience and more rotations that the BSN is lacking in.It's a tough decision but you need to figure it out while you have the chance to do so. Either way you are going to be an RN on both ends :-)

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I think it really depends on where you live. I'm not really flexible with moving after graduation and in my city, it's tough to find a job as a new grad with a BSN. I honestly don't know what the ADN students are doing.

Getting an ADN isn't really faster than a BSN since you'll have to work on their time frame (do the local schools admit once or twice a year? How far out do you have to apply? I had to finish my ADN prereqs in the fall so I could apply in the middle of the spring semester for the next fall semester) and there may be a waiting list. If the place works on a point system, you'll probably need ALL the possible courses done, not just the required ones, since most programs are competitive.

I'm paying more for a BSN (state school so it's not ridiculous money) and to me, it's worth it to have a killer education and knowing that it will be much easier to get a job to pay off the loans. Plus, I get to relax and take a break from nursing school for as long as I want instead of jumping back into school.

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