is it wise to do lpn first then rn online?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2008

You'd better check with the NC BON.

NYS will accept Excelsior. Some others won't and require that you do Indiana State, and that is LPN to BSN, not an associates. It's loooong time.

kcochrane · Jan 5, 2008

I thought about doing it that way. But I decided to use the local community college instead. You can take a lot of courses online. Back when I started, excelsior did not have financial aid available. It really depends on if you are someone that can study independent. There are some great threads on Excelsior and other online colleges on this site. You can get the pros and cons from there.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2008

i got a $750 scholarship from ec . not much but it covered 3 of my test.

i thought about doing it that way. but i decided to use the local community college instead. you can take a lot of courses online. back when i started, excelsior did not have financial aid available. it really depends on if you are someone that can study independent. there are some great threads on excelsior and other online colleges on this site. you can get the pros and cons from there.

Jules A, MSN · Jan 5, 2008

I went the CC route. I was far cheaper and my BON isn't accepting Excelsior any longer. I'd be very, very careful to make sure whatever program you decide to attend will be accepted by your BON. Good luck!

kcochrane · Jan 5, 2008

i got a $750 scholarship from ec . not much but it covered 3 of my test.

way to go!!!!

i'm thinking of using them for my bsn. i did use them to challenge my fundementals. that was 7 credits that my cc would take since i was an lpn - saved me a semester of nursing classes.

tlc2u · Jan 6, 2008

If I had known school would have been so difficult for me to juggle with family life too, then I would have started with LPN school, for the shorter length of time to complete the course.

Best of luck.

tlc2u

kcochrane · Jan 7, 2008

I am confused on this as well. I just had a poor experience with RN school and know someone else who had previously she is now going to LPN school and suggested I look into that. She stated the school was VERY--- inexpensive and VERY--- easy. So I went online to Google it and came to a site that gave status on # that enroll in that school and # that graduate. Maybe I am misinterpreting them but there was a very low number graduating compared to enrolling. I plan to wait until my freind graduates to make a decision unless I find a better option. I am wondering if that school is very easy but then has a difficult exit exam that maybe many do not pass but I don't know.
Another student I know who completed RN school and found it very challenging as a middle aged adult learner (and she was somewhat familiar to hospitals as she was a unit secretary for a while at a hospital). Anyway she advised a relative of hers to do LPN school first as the relative has no medical background at all.
Looking back right now I wished I had realized how hard school would be for me and wish I had started with LPN as well. But that is just me as school is very hard for me. I honestly now wished I had worked as a tech in a hospital and asked many staff about their experiences before making my choice and looked longer and harder at the pass fail rates etc. of local schools and the Prereq's required and which ones had similar prereq's so if I had to transfer I would have prereq's done for whichever school etc.
Best of luck.
tobrn

I wouldn't have done it any different than I am doing now. I am very glad that I went the LPN route first. As far as the enrollment vs graduating stats. I started with 43 in my class and only 27 graduated. Most failed due to absences and personal problems with the instructor (who was whacked for sure, but if you kept your mouth shut, you were ok). So those stats could be really deceiving. LPN schools are big on attendence. Hope that helps a bit.

NC Girl BSN · Jan 7, 2008

I live in NC and they accept Excelsior. I tried for 2 years to get in an RN program but the numbers were so competitive that I kept missing out. I live in the Raleigh area and trying to get into a program is crazy. So I tried to get in to a school that was over an hour away and did not make the cut on the NET test. I did make high enough to get into the LPN program and I'm so happy that I passed and now work making double what I made as a CNA. I just graduated Aug 07 and enrolled in Excelsior college and I am working on the 4th nursing test under the new curriculum. The information that I am learning is nothing but review but the challenging part is studying on our own. It takes great discipline to do this, that is why some don't complete the program. This is the best option for me because if you do the LPN route first, most nursing programs won't accept you unless you have 2 years of work experience.(Another road block) I chose excelsior because I'm eager to get my RN and will do whatever it takes to get it.

oldladyRN · Jan 9, 2008

I would highly advise to get your LVN first. That's the way I did it and I have absolutely NO regrets.

I got my LVN license when I was 35 and my RN license when I was 40. I had to work full-time both times through (but would not advise that anyone do this) AND I had a family. It can be done. I would highly advise against the online route for your LVN to RN education, though. It may work for some but I felt as though I was at an advantage by having the classroom setting.

Best of luck to you. Decide what's going to work best for you and go for it!!!

Lovely_RN, MSN · Jan 9, 2008

I just finished my LPN in Dec and (taking boards on the 10th wish me luck) I am glad that I did it this way.

I am going for the online route because I live in NYS (home of EC...woo hoo!) and after getting a B.A and then doing the LPN program (don't ask why I didn't do an ASBN cuz that's another long story) I am sick and tired of classrooms.

I think that EC will work for a person who is disciplined enough to do it. I have taken online classes before so I know I can do this and I will.

supermodelnurse2b · Jan 9, 2008

Thanks to everyone who has replied to me. You don't know how much I appreciate your replies. What I'd like to know however, is if after I've spent an intense year doing the lpn will I then be required to spend a semester doing pre-reqs to get into excelsior or another online lpn-rn program>