Opinions Please: LPN school now or wait for RN school

[mariamsally]

Dear Community,

I would love to have some honest input related to a few questions.

Question # 1:

Is it better to go ahead and do LPN school, which I can start this fall, then continue on to my RN after my LPN; or wait until a spot in RN program opens up, or I get accepted at the high dollar private universities, which I won't know till next year. (All my pre-reqs for RN are done, and have A's) My thought is it might be better to work as an LPN (told by ADON I'm guaranteed a job as an LPN at the LTC where I currently work as a CNA) thereby making more $$$$ as an LPN and getting experience while I wait for LPN to RN program (which there is yet another wait list here).

OR

should I just wait to get into the university of my choice (which is insanely expensive) or sit on the wait list for RN school here at the community college.

Question # 2:

Does anyone regret getting their LPN? If so, why? Any LPN's out there who went on to RN?

Background: I am working as a CNA. Love my job. You have to, or you would not last as an aide, as some of you well know. Anyway, I have the opportunity to start LPN program this fall. My goal is the get my Nurse Practioner license. P.S.I have a 3.9, fabulous references from my CNA instructor, and ADON from where I work. Problem is, schools are very competitive and I won't know till next year. I don't want the conversation to turn OT to the ridiculous wait lists at the schools, etc. etc. I am 47 and really don't want to wait any longer.....IF I was younger, I would be going to med school, but alas, as the saying goes, no use crying over spilt milk

Thanks for any and all opinions, rants, etc. you are willing to post. :)

~ Mariamsally

[alodocios]

i just passed my lpn boards and am doing the excelsior/college network online while trying to get a perdiem lpn job, but in my area, everyone wants lpns with experience and because of economy, lots of nursing homes have hiring freezes, our hospitals don't hire lpns. But RNs can come straight from McDonald's and get a job so i am going for my lpn to rn bridge via excelsior college. With that said, i am happy i got my lpn license, i got experience and even if i were doing a local community college option, in connecticut, you get to skip the first year and start on the last year of the associate's degree. Keep in mind, that lpn schooling is hard work, and requires plenty of study time too, that's why you get to skip a year, because you put in a lot of work for that license. IF your lpn graduation date doesn't clash with rn start date, i would say go ahead and get your feet wet. Many of my lpn instructors said when they went to lpn schooling, it was a breeze because of their lpn schooling. Good luck with your choice, by the way look into the length of the program and can you get some kind of pell grant money for the lpn program. Our program was 18 months, lpn bridge is another approximately 9 months for a total of 27 months, and you still have to get accepted into the RN program. That's why i went with excelsior, almost guaranteed acceptance.

[tishluvnc]

I'm in NC and live by 2 community colleges who also terminated LPN to RN. Now you have to do either or. However, I'm not sure you may be able to work as a lpn for a while and then challenge some of your skill work when you get into your RN program later.

[CrazierThanYou]

I'm in NC and live by 2 community colleges who also terminated LPN to RN. Now you have to do either or. However, I'm not sure you may be able to work as a lpn for a while and then challenge some of your skill work when you get into your RN program later.

I also live in NC. The state's change in nursing curriculum facilitated the ending of the bridge programs. However, this year, my school has restarted theirs.

[Panful, LPN]

I would start with the LPN program first. I have friends that waited fir the RN program openings but unsure if thats what they really wanted. Only 1 went on to RN..

Ive been an LPN for 22 yrs in the same facility.

Im almost 57 so not sure if returning to school would help