Please Help! So Confused! =)

elkpark · Mar 4, 2008

Welcome to allnurses! :balloons: As to your questions:

-- Whether or not you need to be finished with all your prerequisites before applying depends on the individual school; different schools have different application and admission policies.

-- There is no need to become an LPN prior to becoming an RN. Some people choose that path because it makes the most sense for their specific situation. Also, some people who originally chose to become LPNs then decide, later on, to return to school to become RNs. But it's not a requirement.

-- I'm not sure what you mean by "only" take the NCLEX-RN exam ... Yes, that is the licensure exam for RNs, and you must pass it in order to be licensed. If you're asking if you have to pass both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN to be licensed as an RN, the answer is no. You would only have to take & pass the NCLEX-PN if you're seeking licensure as an LPN.

-- No one can tell you "exactly how long" it will take to become an RN. It depends on whether you're going to school full- or part-time, whether you have to repeat any courses, and a number of other variables. Most Associate's nursing programs are two years of full-time study for the nursing courses, and most people spend a year to two years completing prerequisites; so, typically, three to four years of school. Some people end up taking much longer. It depends, again, on your particular situation. Also, those figures don't include any time for having to wait and/or reapply to get accepted to a program, which happens for a lot of people ...

-- You do not need a BSN, although having one will give you some expanded opportunities within the field. There are always rumors that a BSN is about to become required, in one state or another, for licensure. However, this has been debated within nursing for at least 30 years, and it's no closer to happening than it was 30 years ago (probably less likely, in fact). The one US state that did pass legislation requiring a BSN for licensure (for new graduates), North Dakota, had to rescind the requirement after a few years, when it became obvious that it just wasn't workable. In any case, there are lots of schools/programs out there that enable RNs to return to school and complete a BSN while working full-time as an RN -- many of these are on-line. If you enter the field with an Associate's degree, you always have the option of completing a BSN if you decide later that you need (or just want) one.

-- Good, solid clinical experience and expertise in a high-demand specialty are what matter in travel nursing and will be more important for you to have than a BSN. There is no requirement that you have a BSN in order to travel.

-- Again, whether or not BSN graduates get paid more than other RNs, and how much more, varies greatly from hospital to hospital. I've never encountered a situation in which BSN grads, as new grads, got paid a lot more than RNs with diplomas or ADNs.

-- I suggest you review the Travel Nursing forum on this site for opinions about the pros and cons of travel nursing -- there is lots of good info there.

Best wishes for your career and future!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Mar 4, 2008

ello. i'm graduating from high school in june. i've been accepted to a community & technical college not far from home. i have called them but every time i've been put on hold and eventually disconnected. :angryfire so screw that. i found this website and hopefully someone will help! i've been searching everywhere but cannot seem to find the answers i need. please help me! i have a bucket full of questions:
do i need to finish my prerequisites before i even apply to the nursing program?
this is how most programs work, yes.
would i need to become an lpn before an rn?
only if that's what you want - it's not necessary.
do i only take the nclex-rn exam?
if you choose to go to an lpn program 1st, you could take the nclex-pn, but if you go straight for your rn without attending an lpn program, you would only take the nclex-rn.
exactly how long will it be before i even become an rn? (including summer courses and finishing with an associate's)
typically, about 3 years - 1 year for prerequisites and 2 years of the actual nursing program.
do i need my bachelor's in nursing? (i've heard rumors that soon there will be a requirement for new rn's to have a bsn)
it isn't a requirement, but i recommend it. rn-to-bsn programs are available online and provide a good option for this. i doubt it will become a requirement any time in the forseeable future, but it does open more doors, particularly once you are experienced.
should i have a bsn if i'm planning to pursue travel nursing?
just for travel nursing? not necessary. still recommend for reasons above
does one get paid more if they have a bsn instead of an associate's?
some places yes, other places no - you might get paid more in a non-clinical position that requires a bsn, but staff nurses are usually either paid the same or offered a very small differential for a bsn (i've seen from nothing up to an extra $1 per hour for a bsn).
cons of travel nursing?
depends where you go, what agency you are with, and the unit you wind up on. some units make a habit of giving travelers the worst assignments known to mankind. others are quite nice to travelers. some hospitals require travelers to float before staff members if unit census is low, others float travelers in rotation with staff. a lot depends on your company and recruiter. some of them will go out of their way to make sure their their travelers safe and happy, others will stick their travelers in some unsafe he** hole (speaking of working environment and/or living arrangements) all in the name of making a buck off the traveler's work. some will stand behind their travelers if things go bad (unsafe assignments, crappy housing), others will hang the nurse out to dry. asking travelers who are happy with their companies/recruiters is a good way to feel this out. there will be plenty of time for that, since any reputable agency will require no less than 1-2 years experience prior to hiring (many will require up to 5 years...especially in specialty areas).
please help! i'm desperate for answers! :bowingpur
i know it's early but i'm concerned about my future!

hope this helps

jessiern, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2008

Do I need to finish my prerequisites before I even apply to the nursing program?
Would I need to become an LPN before an RN?
Do I only take the NCLEX-RN exam?
Exactly how long will it be before I even become an RN? (including summer courses and finishing with an associate's)
Do I need my bachelor's in nursing? (I've heard rumors that soon there will be a requirement for new RN's to have a BSN)
Should I have a BSN if I'm planning to pursue travel nursing?
Does one get paid more if they have a BSN instead of an associate's?
Cons of travel nursing?

1. Depends on what state in which you are being educated. Some brillant idiot in our great state of Alabama has decided it is a good thing to be able to do prereq. classes WHILE you are doing your nursing classes. That means, you are possibly taking med-surg I without ever taking A&P. A BAD BAD idea IMO. So, in some states you don't have to have prereq to start nursing program, but it is basically impossible to do it all together, as many starting students have found out.

2. No, you do not have to be an LPN first.

3. You take NCLEX after graduating. Passing means you can be licsenced.

4. Usually a 5 semester program.

5. Rumors about requiring a BSN to be an RN have floated for years. IMO, hospitals can't afford it, and the current nursing shortage makes it very unlikely.

6. Some bigger facilities offer around $0.50 more for a BSN in my area. Doesn't seem worth the extra money and time to get the degree to me...

7. Haven't traveled, can't help there.

lucky1RN · Mar 4, 2008

keep trying to contact the program you're interested in...even if you have to go to the campus...your best/most accurate answers will be from them.

would i need to become an lpn before an rn? in general, no...depends on the program.
do i only take the nclex-rn exam? yes, unless you become an lpn first.
exactly how long will it be before i even become an rn? (including summer courses and finishing with an associate's) depends on the pre-req requirements/wait list. i understand it can take as long to do an adn as bsn these days with pre-reqs and wait lists.
do i need my bachelor's in nursing? (i've heard rumors that soon there will be a requirement for new rn's to have a bsn) this won't happen anytime soon (if ever!).
should i have a bsn if i'm planning to pursue travel nursing? not a requirement.
does one get paid more if they have a bsn instead of an associate's? in general no. if they do, it's not much more. the incentive for doing a bsn is 1) no wait lists to start school 2) management preparation (although not a requirement for many management positions) 3) prepartion for advanced degrees 4) student preference in focus of education (look over the forums for many many adn vs bsn discussions).
cons of travel nursing? check out the travel nursing forum https://allnurses.com/forums/f54/

good luck!

Ehope · Mar 4, 2008

Hi there, and welcome to allnurses.

First of all, you'll learn that no matter what college you go to you almost never reach anyone by phone. You will forever be playing phone tag, so if you have questions it is best to go there in person. Make an appointment with the admissions department and bring your high school transcript with you for them to evaluate.

I don't know if this is true of all schools, but in my experience if you are applying directly from high school and have NEVER taken any college classes then you do not need to do any of the prereqs before applying. They would evaluate you strictly on your high school grades and the classes you took. For exemple, in my program to be admitted directly from HS you have to have taken 3 years of math among other requirements. You would then take the non-nursing classes alongside your nursing classes. Also, at my school direct from HS applicants can only apply for the day program, no nights, no part time.

If you have taken college classes or want to get all the non-nursing classes out of the way you can do that, but once you take any college class you have to complete the minimum prereqs required by your school before you can apply to the nursing program and their decision will be based on the grades you got in those classes.

You do not have to be an LPN before being an RN. Once you finish a 2 year nursing program and get your Associate diploma you can take the NCLEX -RN which is the licensing exam. Once you pass that you are officially an RN. You can then continue to a 4 year college where you can get your BSN. This works well if you are financially limited. You can go directly to a 4yr university and get your BSN right off the bat, but they are usually more expensive and you would not become licensed until you finish the whole program.

Also, you could become an LPN and then do a bridge program to become an ADN-RN but it would take more time that way. Also, most LPN programs are not cheap.

Best of luck to you,

Ehope

mobilemom · Mar 7, 2008

Ok I am confused, too.

I am in the process of becoming a LPN, do I need to have my RN before I can get a BSN or can I go from LPN to BSN????

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2008

Ok I am confused, too.
I am in the process of becoming a LPN, do I need to have my RN before I can get a BSN or can I go from LPN to BSN????

No. But LPN to BSN programs are few and far between. Here in Florida, there's one program in Miami.

Much more common are LPN to RN-ADN programs at which time you will get an RN. Then you can go to the many ADN to BSN programs after that. Probably would take you a similar amount of time to get the BSN.