Should I accept bridge or generic program?

[izzobobizzo]

I need your input!!! I graduated LVN school in 2011, worked for a little, and have been a stay at home mom for over a year. I was accepted into a bridge program which is 1 year and I would graduate Dec 2016. This program has a good passing rate, less time vs generic but is almost 40 miles away from me. Our family has already accepted this fate and we chose a daycare for our 16 month old that would allow her to start early mornings. The issue is I also got I accepted into a local 2 year generic program which is 7 miles. This program is longer because it's not a bridge so I would graduate a year later in Dec 2017. I feel nervous doing the bridge because I feel like I have no acute care, don't remember everything and just down on myself. Would it be better doing the 2 year program that is close, less passing rate (5% difference), and longer? Would doing a 2 year vs bridge make me a better nurse? I'm so afraid to do bridge program because I feel so behind!

Help please!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

There's no way in heck I'd enroll in a generic program when the bridge program will facilitate graduation one year earlier. Time is money. Time is finite.

I started out as an LVN with no acute experience when I enrolled in a bridge program. I still have no regrets about my decision. By the way, my commute to the bridge program was approximately 225 miles across state lines.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Not telling you what to decide, but I'm just going to help you filter out what's important and what's not.

5% difference in graduation rate is negligible. Not important at all.

Time with your daughter while she's two years old is important. You can never get it back. I'm not saying stay home, I'm saying consider the amount of time you will have with her carefully.

Time it takes to finish the program is important. Calculate the cost in lost wages to really see the cost difference.

I don't want to build your confidence or tear it down. I think you need more info. Call the dean at the bridge program and tell them your concerns about not having acute care experience, about not remembering things. Ask her how people do in your position. Then listen to her advice, let her build up your confidence, or direct you on another path.

Good luck! I know you will make the right decision.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I asked an instructor at the community college if she thought the bridge or regular program would be better for me as an LVN hoping to become an RN. She advised me not to do the general RN program, but to do the bridge. I'm over halfway done!

[Xlorgguss]

I am in an ADN program and we have a bunch of LPNs in our class. We also have a few LPNs who are joint our class second semester (Med Surg 1). In order to join the second semester they had to check off on all their fundamentals skills. Our lab skills have been hand washing, bed bath, vitals, physical assessment, oxygen administration, sterile gloving, dressing changes, medicine administration, and Foley cath. I don't know if the lpn students had to know all of these skills 100% perfect though. Our first semester has been all fundamentals. At least from what I get from the lpn students that are already in my program, most I believe find it beneficial to start at the beginning especially if it's been some time since they were last in school