Please Help! Need Advice!! LVN or RN????

[ravenmothermary]

Hello All,

Please give me some advice! I have decided to follow my dreams of becoming a nurse. I gave it up after having a child at a very young age(18). But now with her old enough and a husband who is totally supportive, I am going to do it!

Now here is the problem. I have a good amount of the prerequisites done plus I have an associates degree in business already. I am debating on doing a 12 month LVN program then going for my bachelors in nursing. On the other hand I have all I need to enter a two year RN program then transition to BSN. I am a CNA but not currently working as one. Goodness I am confused. I dont like the job restrictions of the LVN but it is more convenient. Any words of wisdom or experiences? Please help!

[Jules A, MSN]

I completed an ADN program, and I'm now a DON. It doesn't appear that the lack of a BSN has hurt my career in the least. I chose ADN because I had to work full-time the whole time I went to school (out of financial necessity), and the BSN programs in my area seemed to expect you to be available for classes and clinicals pretty much all day. An ADN program in my area offered night classes specifically for people in my situation.

Some employers, and some positions, require a BSN, but they seem to be the minority. I have decided that two degrees is enough, and I have no plans to get a BSN.

This is awesome but I would bet you are the minority. Its my understanding that most places do want at least a BSN for nursing supervisors and at both my facilities you need a MSN to be a DON. Magnet hospitals are really pushing for BSNs all around also. The only reason I'm getting my bachelors is on the road to my MSN but it seems to be what will be necessary to move forward easily.

[tattooednursie, LVN]

You have to look for the pro's and cons of doing both.

Personally I did the LVN first to make sure nursing is what I wanted to do before putting fourth the effort to get my RN. Also, I feel that is is good to know what it is like on every step of the ladder. I got my LVN in 2007, and next fall I plan on taking the upgrade program (RN/BSN) and it is a part time program that is done mostly on line. It is a three year program, but it is worth the time if I am still able to make a decent living and have plenty of study time.

On the other hand, there are times that I do wish I could have gone straight for my RN. I do not like my job limitations as an LVN, and the limited fields of practice as an LVN.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

One problem with being an LVNs (or LPNs) is that many employers treat then like glorified CNAs. This is a waste of a license, IMO. I worked for HealthSouth about ten years ago and they wouldn't let an LPN touch an IV, even if he/she was IV certified. They couldn't even hang a new bag or restart a pump.