Well I am five weeks away from starting nursing school, and am super excited! (Also super-nervous since I feel like I'm scrapping my BA degree and starting all over, but I digress...).
Do any of you have experience with the Temple College VN program? Any advice on what I can expect, both study-wise and clinical-wise? I guess I don't have any specific questions, but any comments anyone may have (negative or positive) would be very welcome.
So totally believing we will make good grades and pass the NCLEX, are you going to stay an lvn? do the lvn-rn bridge or maybe do the lvn-bsn??? I know I will not be content being "just" an lvn...I want to keep learning and building my skills partly b/c I'm really all my family has and to support them in the way I want to I want to keep going. I'm thinking of skipping the lvn-rn bridge and go for my bsn. Your thoughts??
I plan to work as an LVN for 1-2 years while I take the RN-prerequisites...then, since I already have a Bachelor's degree, I'm thinking I may enter the alternate-entry MSN program at UT.
A lot of people always ask me why I'm not going straight to the RN, since I have a degree and made really good grades...truth is, going LVN-to-RN is the fastest way from what I've seen--especially for someone like me who comes from a non-science background. Plus making a paycheck while pursuing a more advanced nursing education is more my cup of tea than being out of the workforce for 2+ years.
Anyway, yes, I am super-excited about starting nursing school--can't wait! Only a week away!!
Oh, and more on the LVN-to-BSN issue...I think it totally depends on where you see yourself in nursing. If you are interested in moving into management or research, a BSN is definitely the way to go, IMHO. However, if you have no stomach for politics/management etc., and want to remain at the bedside, there is really no reason to spend the extra time/money for the BSN.
For myself, I am like you in that I am not content to remain "just" an LVN. I graduated summa cumlaude from college with my first degree, and I know I am capable of achieving whatever level of education I decide to pursue...so going beyond the LVN level is something I want to do, just to prove to myself that I can do it. Plus, I am interested in ending up in research doing clinical trials, pharmaceutical testing, etc., and an MSN is good qualification for that.
So essentially, I think it just depends on where you want to end up. I believe LVNs will always be around, however possessing the RN license simply opens up so many additional doors and pays a fair amount more, that it is well worth the additional year or so of schooling. Like I said earlier, though, I think starting as an LVN is a great way to become a nurse quickly, begin earning some cash, and then have the opportunity to continue working and earning as a nurse while pursing further qualifications.
You so lucky to already have a degree and be moving forward at such a young age!!! I am very excited as well for next week! I can't believe it came so fast...seemed like forever! What I really want to do is get my CRNA. Not just for the money, (although that is a nice perk!), but I remember when I was starting to really think seriously about being a nurse I saw some news special on CRNA's and I was really interested/inspired...something inside me was like, "you could do that." I'm giving myself 10 years to get there. By 35 I want to have everything under my belt...10 years seems like a long time but when I broke down each program and what I have to do before getting into that program...it's really not. I have 8 more pre-reqs to do until I can apply for a BSN program... but I figure 2 years, 4 classes a year, 2 per semester... is not that bad. I may even cheat and go for summer semesters!
I did get all my books but I bought them online I have a B&N Card so I got 10% off automatically, plus you get free shipping and I saved about 100.00 buying used instead of new. I think I got only 2 brand new books.
Alia...(close enough :) ) See u on Monday?? I thought u were a graduate by the sound of it! Especially since u have 5 years of experience...or are u a teacher???
Regarding the books: I too purchased all of mine online, though I went through amazon.com. I purchased all NEW books for about $35 less than I would have paid for USED books from the TC bookstore...if there are any more soon-to-be TC students reading these posts (and who still need books), do check out online suppliers...there's money to be saved by doing so!
I have a B&N Card so I got 10% off automatically, plus you get free shipping and I saved about 100.00 buying used instead of new. I think I got only 2 brand new books.
Pretty in Ink
134 Posts
So totally believing we will make good grades and pass the NCLEX, are you going to stay an lvn? do the lvn-rn bridge or maybe do the lvn-bsn??? I know I will not be content being "just" an lvn...I want to keep learning and building my skills partly b/c I'm really all my family has and to support them in the way I want to I want to keep going. I'm thinking of skipping the lvn-rn bridge and go for my bsn. Your thoughts??