I am about to enter Nursing school in October. It is a PN program from a private school here in NC. Its 12 months in length and over-all not too hard to get into ( .i.e..no waiting list!!) Anyway, after passing the entrance exam, submitting all the required paper work etc, including a 500 word Essay , Having the Interview and so on...I'm in...The down side is that this school is VERY $$$,..I'm talking to the tune of $19,000. ( Its all inclusive,.meaning books, uniforms etc)
The local CC here has a waiting list so to speak, so I'm looking at another 1-2 years easily...I don't want to wait that long!! Plus I found out that NONE of my 33 credits will transfer simply because they ( the CC) has a 5 year rule I was told that I would have to start all over from scratch....By the way my credits were from 8 years ago..ugh! I'm ticked too because the local CC here is only minutes from my home while the school in Raleigh is a good 1 hour + each way...
Anyway my concern is paying for or shall I say "Investing" in this PN program... In addition to other financial aide, I am sure that I'll also have to take a student loan to help cover some of the cost....I don't have all the final "numbers" ( financial aide wise), but I am fairly sure there is no way grants will cover 100% of the cost and the thought of owing so much after-wards kinda worries me...
My question ( and concern is..) Is the cost really worth it? I mean if I were to have a debt of $10,000+ for getting my RN,...that would be fine, but for getting my LPN...well I just don't know... One thing I do want to add is that once I finish my PN, I plan on working and then going the Excelsior route for my RN....
Anyway time is running out and I really need to make a firm decision....I Love coming here and value your opinions...Please share the "pros and Cons" from your point of view......Thanks so much!!
Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.
Though you can not have any of your credits from 8 yrs ago counted is there any way that you can test out of some of the courses.
Here there are CLEP test and should one pass this is equal to a course.
They are not easy and have there is no reprecussions if you dont pass them.
Have you considered taking some online courses till you get into the RN program? Just check if the school would allow those credits. It seem this is more about the money the college will make then allowing you to prove your education and ablity if they dont offer some alternatives.
I am going to continue looking at all my possible options...Right now they are only 3..ugh...meaning the local CC ( starting from scratch) , or A BSN-4 year program....at a private College ( walking distance from my house, very $$ too)..or this Private $$$ PN school thats an hour+ away....
Nursemike...I'm "old", LOL...meaning in my 40's, married 15 yrs, 2 kids, work full time ( CNA) yada, yada....I have been putting off my desire to ( finally) become a Nurse for such a LONG time!!... The waiting lists really gets me down and the thought of attending a 4 year college seems out of reach.....I just don't know what to do?.....I have to let the school ( PN program) Know something by August or else my space will be offered to someone else.....
Any-hoo...Thank you so much everyone for all your advice! I will be sure to keep you posted..
I know where you're coming from. Started my ASN program at 46. The good news is, as everyone will tell you, time just flies by when you're in nursing school. And it does. Assignments that were due next month will be due tomorrow before you know it. The bad news is, it's only after it's over that you get the feeling of it having flown by. While you're doing it, it seems like a lo-o-o-ong time, except for the aforementioned deadlines.
By the way, have you looked into unlicensed positions in health care? My employer helped out with partial tuition reimbursement while I was in nursing school--it wasn't a ton, but it helped. Time, money, energy, sleep, and health are all vital resources for a nursing student. The more you can gather of each, the better you'll do.
Anyway,best of luck. Remember, if it was easy, anybody could do it.
nursemike...Thanks for your wise words of wisdom!!..Oh and you can call me "Wasted" any time, LOL...I TRULY feel that way, .meaning that for the most part, I wasted so much time doing this and that ( Career wise)...instead of following my heart, got serious and went back to school sooner....
Anyway I need to stop belly-aching and get on with it!!..Nursing program,..somewhere???...Here I come!!..
I am going to continue looking at all my possible options...Right now they are only 3..ugh...meaning the local CC ( starting from scratch) , or A BSN-4 year program....at a private College ( walking distance from my house, very $$ too)..or this Private $$$ PN school thats an hour+ away....
Nursemike...I'm "old", LOL...meaning in my 40's, married 15 yrs, 2 kids, work full time ( CNA) yada, yada....I have been putting off my desire to ( finally) become a Nurse for such a LONG time!!... The waiting lists really gets me down and the thought of attending a 4 year college seems out of reach.....I just don't know what to do?.....I have to let the school ( PN program) Know something by August or else my space will be offered to someone else.....
Any-hoo...Thank you so much everyone for all your advice! I will be sure to keep you posted..
Anna
imo, i would not do the lpn program. i would stay on the course for the rn and chip away at some of your pre reqs next year.
i hope to get out of my msn program for under 25k. 19k for an lpn????? crazy, imo.
I would go for it..especially with the waiting for the RN program.......the community college where I started my college studies has an RN program BUT you either got in or you didn't when you applied...there is no waiting list..I applied 5 times & got turned down everytime.....my grades were good too so I never could figure that one out.....I was going to go to an LPN program at a college near Boston, but I got into one that is in the next state over.....I definetly would of done the LPN thing IF I didn't get into my current school.....so I say go for it.....why wait...wait for what???? Life is too short...and maybe where you find a job as an LPN they will pay for your education..you CAN do LPN to BSN ya know......I would just go for it....and on a plus you can work as a nurse while going for your RN....so I say go for it...you seem to really want to do it.....and if it makes you feel any better....it takes me 1 hour and 10 minutes to drive to my campus for lecture...and clinicals I have to get up at the bright & early hour of 4am to leave by 530 am to be at the hospital for 645 am.....I just remind myself it's not forever..and I am sacrificing today for a great tomorrow. Good Luck! And you can get your student loans usually paid by a place you work for ..I see it all the time......:balloons:
You stated that you're courses previously taken are over 8yrs old. So, that sucks... but, get on the waiting list at the cc near your home. Take you're pre-reqs over the next 2yrs (as you wait), then you'll have a lot more energy to focus on your nursing classes and clinicals. Let alone, you'll probably only spend ~$10K at cc. Then you'll be in a good position to further your education (if that's something you're interested in).
The other option is the 4-yr college. There probably isn't a waiting list. It'll take 4yrs, but you'll have your BSN & then you wouldn't have done 4yr at cc (2 of prereqs & 2yr of nsg courses).
It all depends on what you want in the end. $19K just sounds like way too much $$ for LPN. Good luck with your decision making... it's so hard to make these decisions. (I just stopped an accelerated RN-BSN degree program b/c I don't know if nursing is where I want to stay, & I refuse to pay $20K and not be happy with the degree I earn!)
Oops! I forgot to add..I don't know how programs are at different colleges where everyone else lives but the college I attend right now does have a waiting list and it's AFTER you get all your pre req's completed...so if there is say a 3 year wait list...that's 3 years AFTER you complete all your pre reqs...you don't even get on the list until you complete those pre reqs...so if you do end up doing the RN ...you better find out how that works because then you'd have to add on the time to get those done on top of the wait time for the program so everyone at my college is listed as general Studies/Liberal Arts until they complete pre reqs then the wait starts for their chosen program. I was one of the lucky few who only waited a year to get in as the list is 2-3 years to get in for most of the students but I also had all my pre reqs done beforehand....whatever route you decide on good luck!
I was told that I would have to start all over from scratch....By the way my credits were from 8 years ago..ugh! I'm ticked too because the local CC here is only minutes from my home while the school in Raleigh is a good 1 hour + each way...
:lol2: 
SilentfadesRPA
240 Posts
Though you can not have any of your credits from 8 yrs ago counted is there any way that you can test out of some of the courses.
Here there are CLEP test and should one pass this is equal to a course.
They are not easy and have there is no reprecussions if you dont pass them.
Have you considered taking some online courses till you get into the RN program? Just check if the school would allow those credits. It seem this is more about the money the college will make then allowing you to prove your education and ablity if they dont offer some alternatives.
Best of luck
Marc