nursing school jitters...maybe

[larien37]

I'm not sure if its pre nursing school jitters or something else. I start LPN school this Sept and although I was really excited about it, now I'm re-thinking the whole thing. A little background on me: I already have my BS in criminal justice with a minor in psy and I got my Masters in exercise science, along with going through the police academy. I got sick of working more than one job just to make ends meet so since medical is huge in my area I thought that nursing was the way to go. I tried getting into the local RN program but was told I'd have to take Chem and Bio again since I hadnt had them in college, once I completed those courses there was a 2 year waiting list for the school. I was bummed, so I started looking at the LPN program in the area which had more advantages for me than the RN. For instance the LPN program has a part time course schedule and a full time where the RN only has full time and since I have to work over 30 hours a week the part time fits. I have been getting a lot of slack from others whenever they hear that I'm doing the LPN program and not the RN program. They act like the LPN program is crap compared to the RN and that since it wont have the salary that comes with the RN, the LPN is worthless. It kind of made me angry and also upset. I dont want to spend another 2 years of my life in school for something thats not going to get me anywhere. The LPNs in my area make decent money even though their not in the hospitals. I just keep going back and forth on whether to go or not, I cant go to school full time, and I dont feel like being on a waiting list either for school. My mother in law was an LPN and she liked her job and she made a good living in a doctor's office with nice hours. Maybe its just other people getting in my head but has anyone else had these feelings before school started? Im not saying that the RN program wouldnt be in my future one day but for now Im sort of sick of school and just want to work and make a living. My degrees feel worthless as it is but theres nothing I can do about that now. Opinions anyone esp those that are LPNs??

[NurseKitten, MSN, RN]

No education is ever wasted, but I'd say that in your case, an LPN would only be a stepping stone for you, and you should definitely continue on.

Having your LPN will definitely open doors for you to get your RN - bridging in most ADN programs for LPN's is about a year, and you can always do things like Excelsior's program to get your ADN, as well.

Good luck, and God bless!

[Ella26, BSN, RN]

Hello,

I was in that same dilemma about 2.5 yrs ago. I tried and tried to get into any RN school around my area (MN) only to be told that I too would have to wait 2yrs. And that wasnt even a guarantee that I would get in. I was told that going to LPN school would be a waste and you would only be hired in LTC. But ultimately the decision was mine and I would have rather got the LPN since I could get in sooner and finish quicker.

So thats what I did. I worked full time through out the whole program (I found a job that works around my school/clinical schedule) and went to school part time mostly, except the last two semesters I had to go full time. It took 4 semesters instead of 3.

I graduated in May, passed boards in June. Now... because of the economy and being a new grad, I am still looking for a partime LPN position on the weekends. I still working at my full time job for now (not nursing related) and Im starting my pre reqs for RN school inthe fall.

Had I listened to what everyone else was saying, I would still probably be WAITING to get into an RN program. Now Im already an LPN and continuing my nursing journey. So just follow your heart :redbeathe and get in where you can even if its LPN, if your goal is to be a nurse you will find a way no matter what.