Nursing school advice?

Is it better to go to a 4 year college and get your RN or to go to a community college to get your LPN and work as an LPN while you get your RN at another school? Does it make a difference in the amount of education you receive? If I get my LPN should I get my associate's or do an accelerated program?

I'm only asking because I know that I could probably save time and money by getting my LPN first. I don't want to skimp on my education though because I want to get a master's degree. Please help!

Nope, it takes longer to get an LPN and then bridge over to an RN.

Here is one option you didn't mention: Getting an associate's degree as an RN and working as an RN while working on your BSN.

As a new grad, BSN-RN's, and ADN-RN's get paid the same at virtually all hospitals. You won't qualify for charge positions until you gain experience.

Exactly. My sister went this route and my mother was an NP and the DON as well. You can also get your BSN paid for by most hospitals. Report It

I would go for the LPN and get your feet wet. Then RN if that is still what you want.

It all depends on how much you want to be a nurse. I am an LPN and enjoy it. I am learning alot from other RN's so when I go back to school to get my RN, then I will have more knowledge and the work will come easier to me. I decided to become an LPN first to see if nursing is what I really wanted to do. I didn't want to waste time and money for my RN and then decide I didn't want to be a nurse. Hope this helps!

Oh no, DO NOT DO LPN!!! Just to a 2yr RN degree. That's what I have, an associates degree. You'll get paid tons more and it will be so worth it. Other RN's don't like working with LPN's much. So, I would recommend doing a 2yr RN program.

Good luck to you!!!

You usually don't go to a community college for your LPN - you do it at a technical college. It's not a degree program like an associates degree. It's only about 9 months to a year long.

You can earn either a 2-year associates degree or a 4-year bachelor's degree in nursing which makes you eligible to be a RN. Although the 2-year programs usually take you 3 when you factor in pre reqs you might have to take like biology, math, chemistry, etc. And you want to get as many general education requirements done prior to starting the nursing core as possible.

I would say if you want to be a nurse, plan on going the distance to be a RN. It's up to you if you want to go the LPN route first. It can have its advantages - work experience with patient care, possibly tuition reimbursement for your future RN program, and also if you want an associates degree in nursing, it's only a 1 year transition program at most schools for LPN to RN.

Once you're an RN, it's another 2 years (if you go full time) to complete a BSN, but that program is much less stressful than the initial associates program which earns you the license. The completion programs are a piece of cake.

The best thing I can recommend that I cannot stress enough is to take as many non-nursing graduation requirement courses you can before starting nursing school, or plan on going to school year round and take those courses in the summer when most nursing courses are not offered. If you go the two year program route first, start thinking ahead to how many credits and courses you'll eventually need for your BSN, too, and take extra classes when you can that will apply for those requirements also.

And don't rush it. So what if it takes you 6 or 7 years to finish your BSN? Only take as many classes are you are truly sure you can handle. Challenge yourself a bit, but not to the point of stressing yourself out. Take a semester or two off if you need it in between earning your 2-year degree before completing your BSN if you want.

It's great if you can go to a 4 year college and go straight through, but usually those programs are more expensive than the 2 year.

Plan early, no matter which route you take, nursing programs are competative and spots fill quickly. Good luck!