Which way should I go?

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Okay, last year, I had the pleasure of seeing the birth of my nephew. This totally changed my life and opened up my eyes to the wonderful world of nursing. At the time, I was a 25 year old junior majoring in Marketing. I realized this is not where I wanted to be at so I begin taking steps to get into my schools nursing program which is no easy task. So I took all of these classes and long story short, I still will probably be 3 or 6 credits short of the required courses I need to apply to Upper Division or the actual nursing school. That means that if I stay at this school, I would have to wait a whole year to reapply the following year ( Spring '10). If I do that, I will be at least 30 before I graduate, but I will have a BSN. Keep in mind that this would be my first degree and I don't have anything solid to fall back on, short of using the year off to get my CNA certificate. The other option is to go to a community college and get my LPN or ADN. If I do this, there is a possibility of a wait list, but I think I should get in because my grades are good, I have most of the science prerequisites, and I got a good ACT score. The LPN program seems easier to get into and I will have my licence hopefully in 3 semesters. Many colleges in the area have LPN to BSN options, but I would have to work and go to school which many say don't do because you need every moment for studying. Any advice will be most appreciated. I really don't know what I should do, but I really want to be a nurse!

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I worked and went to nursing school. No, it wasn't easy, but it is doable.

I went to a community college and worked full time as a CNA during my first year. Itook my NCLEX PN after finishing my first year and worked as an LPN while attending my second year of NS.

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

if you know you want to stay in your school that you are currently attending, i'd say during that time you are waiting to get into their BSN RN portion, do the LPN, or see how many of your credits transfer for an RN associates...who knows you might even be able to just walk right into a program...or check with Indiania State univerity...they have an online BSN RN degree, and you might not have to wait at all.

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Hi;

It kind of depends on where you are in your life. Do you have small children? Trying to start a family? If you do, you may need to do whatever makes more money now....or you may have to do whatever takes the least amount of time.

If you dont have "baggage" and are single, AND you KNOW you really want to be a nurse, I'd just work on getting my ADN or my BSN. You're going to turn 30 sooner or later so you may as well do it with a degree. Nursing school is hard, so personally I'd do whatever I could before starting a family....get it over with now while you have a lot more time.

ADN programs are good but some hospitals say they only hire BSN nurses, which isnt usually true because there's always a nursing shortage. If you want to do management or ever go to grad school, get your BSN....otherwise ADN may be a good option. ADNs and BSNs all take the same exam anyway. I happen to have my BSN but there's nothing wrong with ADN programs.

If you think you want to be a labor and delivery nurse, see if you can "shadow" one for a shift to make sure it's what you think it is....or at least talk to any labor nurses you can find and ask them what they like and dont like about their jobs. If I were you I'd just show up on the labor and delivery floor some night and explain that you want to pursue nursing and see if the nurses will talk to you....I know I would....plus night shift nurses can talk easier because management isnt' around. Good luck

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