questions..LPN/RN programs

bizo · Sep 22, 2005

obviously u don't know much about nursing. the certificate for the lpn while the associate is for rn. by law there is a difference. the rn's legal scope of practice is a little wider than the lpn's in that the rn assumes more responsibility than the lpn. the rn is 2yrs while the lpn is 10 months. there are part time programs too if u want that. most schools have lpn-rn route which lasts not more than a yr. there is nclex-rn and nclex-pn depending on your education. hope u get it. i'm doing the lpn now and plan to bridge to rn later on. the four yr program at your school is prepares u for the rn too but u get a baccalaureate in addition. some hospitals differentiate b/n rn's with BS Nursing(BSN) and those with associate degree while others do not. but whatever it is u can bridge from associate to BSN in 1-2 yrs. a ton of schools have programs like that. the nursing field is very flexible. once u enter u have a long ladder in front of u; u can choose to climb up higher or stay down there, it's your choice. there are nurses who have been lpn's and don't wanna move up coz they're happy with their job and what they make. others have moved forward to get their master and phd's. such ppl are become nurse practitioners, anesthetists, midwives, professors but to mention a few.

there's a lot abt nursing u need to know but i can't tell u everything. i suggest u read posts in other forums and post qns that bug your mind. nursing is very rewarding and i'd like to welcome you to the field.

Hi everyone,
it was great to find this forum, I've been reading for awhile now and have learned a lot. I'm in western mass and still have a few more questions though--so I'm hoping some of you can offer some answers and advice.
guess I should give a bit of info for background...I'm 31 and a single mom. I've been going to college part time (Elms) for 2 yrs now and finally figured out that it's not what I want to do. I'm currently enrolled in a BSW program and minoring in PSY, but I want to get into nursing.
ok, so with that said--onto the part I need some assistance with. I have talked to the director of nursing at my school and was told there is up to a 2 yr waiting list to enter the program, and then you are doing 2 yrs of course work because it is a BSN degree. I don't have the time to wait, or even a guarentee that I would be accepted once the time came (was told that 200 people apply every yr for 12 slots). I had thought if I went for my LPN I could at least be working in the field, gaining experience (and very importanly, money) while I worked towards an RN degree.
HCC offers two LPN routes...certificate and associates, is there a difference when employers look at you? they both say that you can sit for the NCLEX after completion--but the certificate program is much shorter. I already have all the required non-nursing classes behind me to transfer in.
I know as a nursing student, many hospitals will hire you on during clinical as a TA...does that also apply when you are going for LPN? what is the market really like for LPN's around here? I haven't been able to find much info, many of the ads in the papers and online don't specify training or experience required...is it reasonable to assume I could get a job right after sitting/passing the NCLEX.
thanks for the help..

Amieelynne · Sep 22, 2005

yes, I know there is a difference between an LPN and an RN...I was bouncing all the different school offerings around in my head last night and wasn't paying attention enough to keep the wording straight in my post. sorry for the confusion.

obviously u don't know much about nursing. the certificate for the lpn while the associate is for rn. by law there is a difference. the rn's legal scope of practice is a little wider than the lpn's in that the rn assumes more responsibility than the lpn. the rn is 2yrs while the lpn is 10 months. there are part time programs too if u want that. most schools have lpn-rn route which lasts not more than a yr. there is nclex-rn and nclex-pn depending on your education. hope u get it. i'm doing the lpn now and plan to bridge to rn later on. the four yr program at your school is prepares u for the rn too but u get a baccalaureate in addition. some hospitals differentiate b/n rn's with BS Nursing(BSN) and those with associate degree while others do not. but whatever it is u can bridge from associate to BSN in 1-2 yrs. a ton of schools have programs like that. the nursing field is very flexible. once u enter u have a long ladder in front of u; u can choose to climb up higher or stay down there, it's your choice. there are nurses who have been lpn's and don't wanna move up coz they're happy with their job and what they make. others have moved forward to get their master and phd's. such ppl are become nurse practitioners, anesthetists, midwives, professors but to mention a few.
there's a lot abt nursing u need to know but i can't tell u everything. i suggest u read posts in other forums and post qns that bug your mind. nursing is very rewarding and i'd like to welcome you to the field.