Where should I start in the nursing field?

[Tricia76]

I want to work with babies like in the L&D unit or something..but I am already 34 and need to know where to begin..LPN? RN?

[NGeorgia]

I'd go with RN. LPN's arnt as widely used in hospitals.

[Tricia76]

So a ADN would work? There is a college close to me and it takes 2 years..not bad I think

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I'd go with RN. LPN's arnt as widely used in hospitals.

I think they are, it just depends on the hospital...but RNs are more versatile because you can do so much with an RN.

As for a ADN, that could work but some places I know want their nurses to have their BSN as a minimum requirement. I would look into it!

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

Note: LPN and RN are licenses issued by the state. ADN and BSN are academic degrees. People who earn their ADN or BSN ideally pass the NCLEX-RN and become RNs.

[Bob_N_VA]

If you have the time and resources, go for the RN. It will take you farther and give you more opportunities in the long run. BSN is preferential in the long run as well, but any program that gets you the RN after you name is what you want, you can always upgrade the degree later.

[Tricia76]

Thanks everyone!! RN it is!

[happy2learn]

Go for your RN! Where I'm located LPN's usually only work in Long Term Care Facilities.

[Tricia76]

Go for your RN! Where I'm located LPN's usually only work in Long Term Care Facilities.

I know same here! Thats why I'd rather do RN and work in a hospital...what all has to be done before I can get into or attempt to get in a RN Program?

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

A buttload of prerequisites that vary by school. Most require Anatomy and Physiology, Microbio, Gen Chem I and II, and sundry other courses. Check with the schools you're interested in applying to in order to find out what classes you need to take.

[Intern67]

So a ADN would work? There is a college close to me and it takes 2 years..not bad I think

It takes WAY more than two years. The deadlines to apply for Fall are usually around February of that year. You usually have to sequentially take a bunch of prerequisites (Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry) as most schools rank entrants on their GPA in the prerequisites.

What I mean by sequentially is: Some schools won't let you take Physiology until you have taken Anatomy, you can't Anatomy until you have taken Chemistry for Health Sciences, and you can't take Chem for Health Sciences until you take Basic Chem.

So if you never had any Chemistry, your schedule might look like this:

Semester I: Basic Chem

Semester II: Chem for Health Sciences

Semester III: Anatomy

Semester IV: Physiology / Apply for the Nursing Program in February, get accepted and start in the Fall

Semester V: Nursing I

Semester VI: Nursing II

Semester VII: Nursing III

Semester VIII:Nursing IV

That's about 4 years.

During Semesters I-IV, you can knock out other prerequisites (Electives, Comp, Psych, Sociology) as needed and also knock out some classes you might want if you are going on for a Bachelor's (Microbiology, Statistics, Ethics...)

If you plan to work during your prerequisites, it might take you longer. I would suggest you check into program requirements as soon as you possibly can.

Good luck!

[Tricia76]

It takes WAY more than two years. The deadlines to apply for Fall are usually around February of that year. You usually have to sequentially take a bunch of prerequisites (Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry) as most schools rank entrants on their GPA in the prerequisites.

What I mean by sequentially is: Some schools won't let you take Physiology until you have taken Anatomy, you can't Anatomy until you have taken Chemistry for Health Sciences, and you can't take Chem for Health Sciences until you take Basic Chem.

So if you never had any Chemistry, your schedule might look like this:

Semester I: Basic Chem

Semester II: Chem for Health Sciences

Semester III: Anatomy

Semester IV: Physiology / Apply for the Nursing Program in February, get accepted and start in the Fall

Semester V: Nursing I

Semester VI: Nursing II

Semester VII: Nursing III

Semester VIII:Nursing IV

That's about 4 years.

During Semesters I-IV, you can knock out other prerequisites (Electives, Comp, Psych, Sociology) as needed and also knock out some classes you might want if you are going on for a Bachelor's (Microbiology, Statistics, Ethics...)

If you plan to work during your prerequisites, it might take you longer. I would suggest you check into program requirements as soon as you possibly can.

Good luck!

Thanks!