Should I complete the CNA or LPN. I have beeb teaching for 15 years

LegzRN · Nov 30, 2010

Actually if you read any running programs, you will find that sit-ups and push-ups are very important in strengthening the core which makes big differences in your running performance.

Okay, well you practice your push ups and sit ups and then go run the New York Marathon.

1. There are LOADS more openings in CNA and LPN training, and the wait to get into them is shorter. Fewer RN seats, fewer schools offering RN unless you live in an urban area, and much longer wait time to get in. LPN programs are thrilled to get a college grad professional adult; those applicants are golden to them and almost guaranteed to succeed in the program AND have a professional well-turned-out appearance, to boot.
2. Not everyone can take off 2 years from work and/or family to give full attention to getting through a full time RN program. Some adults are single parents and putting lives on hold 1 year for LPN is possible but 2 years for RN is not possible.
3. Those people with degrees and / or the non-nursing prereq classes completed will not be full time students in most associate degree programs, until possibly the very end. Certain types of grant funding, like those who lose jobs to foreign competition and get Trade Act money, find using it has inconvenient strings like "Total cost of $26k or less, total time to complete it 24 months or less, and must be a full time student the entire time, and the school can't custom-tailor a degree to pad your schedule so that you're full time. You must follow their standard curriculum for that degree." Now, those full-time requirements can be easily met by a full time trade school or LPN program, but due to transfer credits making you part time, you can't use that funding for college associate degree RN. Diploma RN might possibly work but some areas lack diploma RN programs.

Accelerated BSN = 1.5 years

ASN = 2 years

LPN + ASN = 3 years

LPN + CNA + ASN = >3years

Refer to her first post... she wants to be an RN.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2010

This is something I see a lot on this forum, but I still don't understand. I can appreciate someone wanting to "work their way up through the ranks," but it just doesn't make sense to me. If you want be be an RN go to RN school, not LPN or CNA. If you want to be a better runner, practice running, not pushups and situps. I understand CNA, LPN, and RN are related, but if you have a goal in mind, why not just go for it head on?
If you want to see if you'll like the nursing world, see if you can interview a current nurse (you almost have to know one, seeing as we make up one of the largest professions in the world). You could even shadow a nurse for a few days if possible. Way quicker and cheaper than going to school.

Actually, if you look at running sites, they often recommend cross training, working your core, and doing exercises that work your full body to improve your running abilities in addition to running.

Getting a CNA makes sense because in this economy, CNA experience can set you apart as a new grad and you might get more out of your nursing school clinicals because you are already familiar with the healthcare setting. It also gives you a possible per diem job during nursing school.

I went straight to a BSN because I didn't think I'd be working as a CNA long enough to make the time and money investment worth it (plus it was not really fitting in well logistically) but that was before I realized quite how long it would take me to find a job as a new grad.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2010

Okay, well you practice your push ups and sit ups and then go run the New York Marathon.

That just kind of makes a bad analogy worse: no one's saying go become a CNA and LPN and then work as an RN without going to RN school.

Accelerated BSN = 1.5 years
ASN = 2 years
LPN + ASN = 3 years
LPN + CNA + ASN = >3years
Refer to her first post... she wants to be an RN.

The accelerated BSN will require prerequisites that likely won't be included in the program. I spent a year and a half doing prerequisites. I could have fit a CNA or EMT program somewhere in that year and a half if I'd been a little more invested in that idea.

I'm sure in the end it won't matter that I didn't, but my classmates who worked in that capacity before and/or during the program are doing better on the job hunt. I tried to get a job after my first clinicals, but due to how accelerated my program was (11 months), by that point I would only have been working as a CNA for less than 6 months and the place I got an interview at wanted someone who would be there longer than that.

I think the recommendation to do a CNA program while still working as a nurse is a good one- OP might be able to find work at a hospital or LTC that would fund her RN program. Many of the new grad residencies in my area are closed to internal applicants only.

mentalhealthRN · Nov 30, 2010

gotta jump on the band wagon here.........don't waste your time with CNA or LPN. I was a teacher (Health Ed) and changed careers to get my BSN through an accelerated program. I agree if you want to be a nurse then don't waste your time--get started with an RN program. Look for any schools near you that have an accelerated program. Not sure where you live but I attended one in Rochester NY and it was great. It was 12 months as I had no pre-reques to do. It may take a little longer for pre-reqs depending on what you have already.

And BTW.......nurses do a lot of teaching so your experience with be helpful!! and if you taught elementary your peds rotation should be easier and you will understand and know a lot of the developmental stuff already. Good luck to you! and Kudos to you for following your dreams!

LegzRN · Nov 30, 2010

That just kind of makes a bad analogy worse: no one's saying go become a CNA and LPN and then work as an RN without going to RN school.

The only reason I made that analogy is because I'm a Physical Training Leader in my Air Force Reserve Squadron and people constantly ask me how to improve their run times so they don't fail their next test. I agree push ups and sit ups are great for the core (not to mention they make up a small part of the Air Force Physical Fitness Asessment [only 20 points out of 100]), I always tell them to just run run run!