nursing student confused

[G2o14]

I am finishing my pre reqs in june but applying for the fall at a local community college. The thing is if I don't get into the program for the fall I have to wait till spring. I was thinking that to better my odds, is to apply to a lpn program in the fall finish that up get some experience and do a rn bridge program. Should I really do this ??? Another possibility is to wait till spring and hope to get in the program. Can someone please give me some input to what to do. It is greatly appriciated

[guiltysins]

Is the LPN program easier to get into? It depends on the school you are applying to. Since you're doing it at a community college you must be getting a ADN but if your school doesn't give extra consideration to students who have previous experience then I don't really see why you wouldn't just wait for the Spring.

[CharlieT]

I applied to both programs at my school and was offered a seat in both programs at the same time. I took the ADN seat, but the LPN route is a quicker path to a paycheck. Neither choice is bad or wrong, just do what is best for you. I see no harm in putting in for both, if you go ahead and start the LPN(3 semesters) you will wind up with the ADN just as quick if not sooner than waiting extra semesters for a seat in the ADN program. Good luck with whatever path you take.

[CrazierThanYou]

In my state (NC) the nursing requirements have been totally revamped. Currently, it is no longer possible to do the bridge from LPN to RN. That could change in the future but with the new requirements, they don't match up anymore with the LPN.

[kbm318]

I would just apply to both. When I first started applying I only applied to the main school I wanted to go to and nothing else. Well, I wasn't accepted when I applied so I had a whole year of "down time". So when the next year came around I think I applied to about 10 schools. And I got in this time but not to my main choice. So I think you should apply to both that way hopefully you can be accepted to at least one. Good luck!

[caliotter3]

Apply to both then go with the one that accepts you. If accepted at both, you can go forward with the RN option. Some people are accepted in an LPN program then are accepted later in an RN program, so they have to choose whether to drop out of the LPN program. That is a better choice to face than waiting around with the possibility of rejection later on and then still more waiting around. Good luck.

[tracyd77, RN]

I agree, apply to both. That way if you aren't accepted into the RN program, you can start the LPN program... but I wouldn't "choose" that over the RN program. We have a few LPNs in our RN program and they regret "wasting their time" with LPN stuff just b/c the pay is so much less for almost the same amount of schooling, and then twice the schooling if you decide later to get your RN, like they did.

[*LadyJane*]

Check the prerequisites for the LPN and the RN programs. If the RN program's pre reqs are harder, then you'll have to take these before bridging over to the RN program. The LPN program may be a shorter route to a paycheck, but if your end goal is RN, then just go that route and don't waste time and effort with pre-reqs that you have to do over if/when you get into the RN program.