I am in the process of making a life changing decision that not only affects me but my family as well. I am currently an elementary school teacher (9 years come August 2013). Although I enjoy teaching I don't love it... its not my passion. I want to be a nurse.
Before I became a teacher I took all of the pre-reqs for a nursing program and I graduated with my BA in Gerontology. Unfortunately, I did not get into any nursing programs or I was put on waiting list after waiting list. Basically my pre-req GPA was lower than many of the other candidates (2.6 compared to 3.0 and above). Therefore, I became discouraged and I became a teacher.
Now that I am back to looking into nursing schools again I am finding that my pre-req GPA is still very low for many of the programs. I have the option to apply to a LPN program then transition to RN through a bridge program. This program is full time days, 15 months long, and is a total cost of about $5,500. My other option is being accepted conditionally into an ADN program which will required me to retake 4 of my pre-reqs in the fall and then begin my nursing core in the spring. The program will run me about 20 months and total cost is about $35,000.
I am a single parent of a 6 year of with special needs so I want to do the program that will still allow me time with my son. The LPN program is 7:30-1:30 M- F, and the ADN program is 8-5pm M-F. I will still need to work at least part-time to maintain. Financially the LPN is cheaper considering I already owe a ton is student loans from my BA degree.
Any suggestions, thoughts, alternative point of views.... ?
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
Since you asked what I would do, I am re-posting my reply to a similar question asked here on AN:
I was taking RN (BSN) prereqs, then I went through a divorce, had no real way to take care of my 3 children, so I went to a 1 yr LVN program. When I finish I plan to jump right back into taking my final year of prereqs and then entering the BSN program.
I am doing this because I will bring home more money than I earned working as a CNA while taking RN prereqs.
Plus, I'll have that LVN license to work and if financial necessity forces it, I will be employable in a manner that can support my family if I work full time as an LVN and postpone RN/ BSN school. Not my 1st choice, but an option I feel blessed to have.
I am in a similar situation as you because I also had about 25K in undergrad loans, though I had no degree. Finishing a degree in child development to become a teacher used to be a goal of mine and I could probably finish that in less than 2 years, maybe 1 1/2. But I wanted to become a nurse.
I actually could not afford LVN school, because in my area, LVN school costs what you are saying RN school costs in yours. But, I was blessed to get a grant to cover part of the cost and loans covered the rest.
Because my RN would be completed through a public college, it costs significantly less, though would take more time: 3 years to earn my BSN or 1 year to earn my LVN.
Neither program is part time and because of the intense and ever changing schedules, working more than on weekends is not feasible for either.
Before I considered switching gears to LVN, I looked at the following factors, and encourage you to do the same:
1. What is new grad LVN pay in the most likely to hire setting?
I did my own research on foot at SNF's and asked several hiring managers this question. Can you afford to live on LVN pay? I can, but it's definitely NOT my long term goal, as the pay is less than what I used to make before I decided to earn my BSN. Consider taxes, the cost of health insurance and loan repayment, also when looking at your take home pay.
2. Will you have enough money available to you to complete your long term goal of becoming an RN? This can be from money you earn while working as an LVN through RN school if you find a school to let you pay as you go, or this can be from student loans if you haven't reached the CAPS or have good credit to get private loans.
3. How badly do you NEED to earn money working as a nurse quickly? I was in a very bad situation, so it was a no-brainer to take the option of LVN school if it presented itself.
4. Even so-called "part time" nursing programs may not allow you the possibility of working your way through them. Just keep that in mind, as I have had my instructors tell me that some schools make this claim, even though it's not really realistic for students to work and be successful with the amount of homework, group projects and clinical time required and travel time to distant clinicals. If you have a job that will schedule after school is out, and if your school schedules clinicals at preset, unchanging times (this doesn't happen in my area!) then if you are a good student who typically does well academically (as I assume you might be, since you are a teacher), then there is certainly the possibility to work through the program.
vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN
2,717 Posts
Since you asked what I would do, I am re-posting my reply to a similar question asked here on AN:
I was taking RN (BSN) prereqs, then I went through a divorce, had no real way to take care of my 3 children, so I went to a 1 yr LVN program. When I finish I plan to jump right back into taking my final year of prereqs and then entering the BSN program.
I am doing this because I will bring home more money than I earned working as a CNA while taking RN prereqs.
Plus, I'll have that LVN license to work and if financial necessity forces it, I will be employable in a manner that can support my family if I work full time as an LVN and postpone RN/ BSN school. Not my 1st choice, but an option I feel blessed to have.
I am in a similar situation as you because I also had about 25K in undergrad loans, though I had no degree. Finishing a degree in child development to become a teacher used to be a goal of mine and I could probably finish that in less than 2 years, maybe 1 1/2. But I wanted to become a nurse.
I actually could not afford LVN school, because in my area, LVN school costs what you are saying RN school costs in yours. But, I was blessed to get a grant to cover part of the cost and loans covered the rest.
Because my RN would be completed through a public college, it costs significantly less, though would take more time: 3 years to earn my BSN or 1 year to earn my LVN.
Neither program is part time and because of the intense and ever changing schedules, working more than on weekends is not feasible for either.
Before I considered switching gears to LVN, I looked at the following factors, and encourage you to do the same:
1. What is new grad LVN pay in the most likely to hire setting?
I did my own research on foot at SNF's and asked several hiring managers this question. Can you afford to live on LVN pay? I can, but it's definitely NOT my long term goal, as the pay is less than what I used to make before I decided to earn my BSN. Consider taxes, the cost of health insurance and loan repayment, also when looking at your take home pay.
2. Will you have enough money available to you to complete your long term goal of becoming an RN? This can be from money you earn while working as an LVN through RN school if you find a school to let you pay as you go, or this can be from student loans if you haven't reached the CAPS or have good credit to get private loans.
3. How badly do you NEED to earn money working as a nurse quickly? I was in a very bad situation, so it was a no-brainer to take the option of LVN school if it presented itself.
4. Even so-called "part time" nursing programs may not allow you the possibility of working your way through them. Just keep that in mind, as I have had my instructors tell me that some schools make this claim, even though it's not really realistic for students to work and be successful with the amount of homework, group projects and clinical time required and travel time to distant clinicals. If you have a job that will schedule after school is out, and if your school schedules clinicals at preset, unchanging times (this doesn't happen in my area!) then if you are a good student who typically does well academically (as I assume you might be, since you are a teacher), then there is certainly the possibility to work through the program.