RN vs. LPN: Need lot's of help, please. LONG!

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dear nurses aqnd nursing students,

i am emotionally and psychologically sick trying to decide what to do re. a ns. i posted before, briefly, but this is my situation, and i would appreciate any info or support:

i need to choose between an lpn 2 year program in billings, where i live, at montana state university, and a 2 year asn program in miles city, which is 148 miles from me, and it's an rn program. i work ft, and want/need to keep working. i really want to go to the rn program, but the more i research, the more i think it's going to be very expensive (meals, lodging, gas!) plus, working ft in billings, how the heck am i going to make it to 5 a.m. clinicals in miles city. plus, the communication is difficult: when i have a question i can't just make an appointment, i have to email, or call, and wait for the miles city college to respond. here in billings, i can drive to the advisor, sit down and talk. i am married, and don't want to move to miles city alone, we have a house here, a business, family, friends.

should i just choose the lpn, and then transition into rn? or should i try rn, despite the expenses, distance etc. what would you do?

i am just very anxious, i want to start school already, start something, but with the rn prog. i just wait and wait. nln is in october, application deadline is april 08, and the actual school starts in september 08.

finances are alo a big consideration: will i be able to make decent money as an lpn, or will it be considerably less? will i be able to work in er/icu setting (my dream)

;) thanks for letting me vent. thanks for listening. ;)

I'm doing it the other way. B/c of a BS in another field I didn't want to back track by getting an ASN or an LVN. For me and my educational goals it wasn't right for me.

I opted for an entry level Master's of Science in Nursing program that will finish w/ me as a FNP. I will get my RN in December (finally), will be able to work part time at that point and pursue the FNP portions of the program w/ an income.

My husband lives 250 miles away. I maintain a seperate (tiny) apt in Oakland, CA and visit as often as I can. He is entirely supporting me right now so that I can pursue my dreams. It was harder in the beginning but we are both used to it now. We always joke that the secret to a happy marriage is living apart.

I don't know what your finances are, but I do know that the cost of living in Montana is about 1/20th that of it here in California. A studio apartment w/ a part time job in another city (ONLY 150 miles away) seems like it might be worth it for two short years.

Or you could go even cheaper and move in w/ some roomates. You'll be gone every weekend, a huge selling point when sharing space w/ someone else.

You are 27. Yes, that's young, but it's not 17. And in 2 years time wouldn't you rather be living your dream instead of still working towards it? Just my take on the situation. Partly it depends on how strong your marriage is. Mine is strong, through thick and thin we are in it together, so 4 years of school for me really isn't that big of a deal for us. We have plans and they include me being an FNP, so I want to get there ASAP.

In the end it's up to you. As someone els on this board says "If your heart is in it, the sky's the limit."

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Specializes in ICU, ER, PACU, LTAC,.

Figure out how important it is to you to finish the RN program that soon. If its that important then talk to your husband about moving closer to the school. If thats not a possibility then just do the LPN. the money is not that great at first but it does get better. Just dont get caught in a rut when you get out and stay an LPN for to long. And BTW I think you already know what it is you need to do from the sound of things.

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hmmm i am usually the sort to encourage the rational, think about it route, but when i saw the commute, my immediate thought was no way! it isnt safe never mind doable....but then you thru in the facts that you have a masters and there is one person moving there to do the school.....since you have a great deal of time to prepare, I would have a sit down with the RN school persons and see what your schedule would/could be......and check wth the person moving there to see if rooming in would be possible....if you can do school in three consecutive days, i think it mght be possible, but your work would have to be flexible....and i wouldnt attempt to work full time either. i think 24 would be the limit on that.......good luck

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The CNA pay looks in-line with this rural area's.

Look. I drove 140 miles a day round-trip for nursing school. No job. At the end of the second term I was driving on the highway and thought to myself, "If I close my eyes I'll fall asleep." I was tired enough that it seemed like a great idea. I got home and my husband told me we'd had a fire in the master bedroom and that it was uninhabitable. I looked at him and asked, "Did the guest room burn down? No? Then I'm going to sleep."

Three semesters. You already have a masters. Get the LPN then get into an Accelerated BSN program on-line.

No, you might not be 17, but you're certainly not my age when I went back to school, 52. Keep working towards your goals. But realize that you don't have to achieve them all in the next 20 minutes.

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thanks :) i really appreciate it, everyone's input and advice. that is my problem, i just want to achieve everything right now :) god give me patience ...right now! :)

i really hate the idea of being away from husband. i have no family whatsoever in the us, my huge support group, mom dad, crazy aunts :) are all in asia, where i am from. hubby is pretty much my biggest friends and support group. he also has asthma, and i hate to be away from him. i just have this absurd idea...that something will happen to him (healthwise) while i am away. i think our marriage is strong, and he certanly wants me to do what is important to me. i am happy he is very supportive.

i think my plan will be: to meet with an advisor from the lpn prog on monday. talk about everything, in details. get all the info. like i said, it's a 3 semester program, but there is a so called "health core" classes, such as basic anatomy, math, microbiology etc. i had some math, but no chemistry or biology or pretty much any science since hs, so that's a huge thing for me. but i will be ok.

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thank you to everyone who took time and shared their advice and experience with me.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Well, I also say to take the LPN route for now. First, it will give you an idea if you even wish to continue with nursing as a career and also, it will give you a foundation for the RN program. If an RN program were closer, and that is your ultimate goal, then, I would do it, but if it is too far, expensive and tiring to the body, take what is available and see what happens. Good luck.

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