Hello I'm new to the forum and I'm debating RN or LPN. I'm a CNA and I'm interested in the CNA to RN Program close to my town I live. My job also have a program that will pay my salary plus pay for school. I will have to apply to both and get accepted at one and get approved by the other (Vaneep). I will not be required to come to work and school will be considered my work. My GPA for the 4 prerequisite they are basing it on for entrance is 3.23 and I am worried that it may not be high enough to be accepted into RN program. The school brochure states a 2.5 but I think they will pick all the ones that's higher than what I have. What's anybody opinion on that? Should I go for the RN or take a chance on the LPN, I can only pick one for the Vaneep or miss out. I really need your opinion the deadline for Vaneep is Sept. 1st and its a long process. The RN and LPN deadline is Oct. 1st.

You probably should worry less about your GPA and more about whether you want to be an RN or an LPN.  Both are nurses, but each type has differing responsibilities to deal with.

My own background is that I did a 4 yr BSN-RN after 4.5 years as a Navy Hospital Corpsman.  I knew that I needed the 4 yr RN to get commissioned in the Armed Forces.  I also knew that it would take me into leadership and administrative duties quicker.  That is not to say that I did not do nursing, because I did.  It is the level of responsibility in the clinical setting that was placed on me came faster.

For me, that worked, because I had reached a point that I still wanted to do clinical work, but knew that the higher up you are, the more you can do to make things run better and that was my motivation.  It also set me up in less time, for being able to go on to graduste school for my MPH and PhD.

Talk to a nursing guidance counselor or professor at the RN school and the LPN school.  See which one has what it is that you want to get out of nursing or put into nursing.  Go see what motivates you and your answer will be there.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Tom

snafflebit,  Thank you for sharing your experiances. 

I believe that joybrow09a needs to hear as many different perspectives as possible to get a feel for what might be the correct course for her career.

Dr. Tom

Thanks everybody for your response I appreciate it, yes my job will pay but I have to get interviewed as if applying for the RN or LPN job and they will grade me according to the interview and my supervisor approval that she would hire me and I must score 80%. The deadline for the job to pay is Sept 1 but the application for the RN isn't available until Aug 31 so I have a 1 day window to get everything submitted by midnight Sep 1. That's my dilemma. I have everything I need except even though the CNA to RN program doesnt make their selection decision til November the job will wait but only if i fax a letter from the school stating I've met the prerequisites and their selection date. I will have to get that letter submitted by midnight Sept 1. I want the RN and can't afford to go unless the job pay for it and they will also pay my salary less shift differential since i work nights.

Joybrow,

Teresa is right.  You hit the lottery.

I went through nursing school after being in the Navy and went through school on the old Viet Nam-era GI Bill.  It paid about enough for rent.  I had to come-up with the living expenses, tuition, fees and books while supporting a wife and new-born child.  The RN school will involve a sacrifice and you may incur debt along the way.  The difference is, when you are through it, you will have the wages to pay back student loans.

In psychology, they call that "delay-gratification".  What that means is that you are willing to sacrifice through college to get to the higher goal and willing to accept that sacrifice.  (I did over 12 years of school after high school.)

My dad's lesson to me, when I thought of quitting nursing school, I was sitting with him and he handed me a paycheck.  I looked at it and said: "Yeah, I used to make that each month in the Navy."  to which he told me that that check was his over-time check for 2 weeks.  I got the object-lesson on-the-spot.

You have a great opportunity there that is not seen by many.  I would bust my butt to apply and interview for those programs.  And don't worry if you do not get it right away. 

I applied for a Physicians Assistant program in the Navy.  In the final interview, I was asked, "What will you do if you are not accepted for this program, this time."  The typical answer is: "Stay in the Navy and do everything that I need to get into that program."  My answer, "Get out of the Navy, go to nursing school and come back in with a full commission, instead of becoming a warrant officer."  Surprized them.  I did not get the school.  But instead of retiring as a warrant officer, I retired as a full Commander (= to a LtCol).

It worked out much, much better in the long-run.  Don't give up, EVER.  The saying goes: If one door closes, another will open.  It's true and if you are a hard-charger, it will probably be better outcome at the other door.

Good luck and God Bless,

Dr. Tom

At one time, congress even talked about doing away with it for the military. 

The Pentagon got back to them on that: "Hey, we have an all-volunteer force here.  Why would anyone want to risk their ass every day for nothing in return?"  Message received. 

Only problem is: congress changes every 2 years.  They over-pay themselves and want to take it from the military.

(Sorry, had a soap-box moment there.)

Because most of the prick-----, uhh, Congressmen, Senators, Cabinet members, Prez, etc have never been in the military.  In the 1960's and 70's there were almost none who were not vets.  You have a social elite who look down their noses at vets like we are some kind of expendable item. 

That is why I like the Swiss and Israeli system.  Everybody does 2-3 years, then you are in the reserves for the rest of your lives, no exceptions.  Our current Prez couldn't even join the military, because they check-out their people BEFORE they become a national security risk.

This has nothing to do with GPA, but it is therapeutic for one old, disabled vet .

God Bless your step-father for all he did.  If he were a Seal, he did a lot more than he could have told you.  I know how that one goes.

Tom

Joy,

Glad to hear it.

Tom

Best of luck to you.

If you get it, 2 months of waiting is nothing.

Let us know how it goes.

I had a panel of  6 people all thowing questions at me one after the other. They asked questions such as what are the RN duties, some customer services questions, some what would you do scenarios and lots of others I can't recall I was so nervous. After each of my answers they would give me a rating and thru each of them I need a score of 80% and my nurse manager has to give me a outstanding. It has to go to New Orleans and I won't know until October. I was told if I thought that was something wait til I'm approve and the real fun begin with the paperwork. I going against some LPNs that are already in the program but I was told that we were not competing against each other. It's all just a waiting game at this point to also see what the school says. My best bet is to be already accepted and I would have a better chance but I'm going to wait to see what happens. I hope I get in on both, I feel so unappreciated in my position at this point, my assignment is pass water, assist with adls, accu checks, wts,and vital signs. Last night I was pulled 3 times as a sitter and to another ward to help out but the other na's was unapprecative of that saying they had to split the hall. They already know I have to do it all, all the time being the only na at times. Stressed but looking forward to learning some new skills.

Teresa is right on. It may sound like it is just pumping you up, but it's not.

I had a secretary who I had sent to classes and she was taking classes at a local college.  She also was willing to go above and beyond the required work to prove herself.

I had a special position opening that would require someone who was well versed as an analyst, grants and management person, project manager, data management manager all-in-one.  My secretary got the job.

I had one of the other candidates challenge me.  I asked her what was she doing above and beyond her regular duties ( Uhh,  nothing, but I would if I got the position.)  and how many classes had she taken outside of her field to expand her duties (same answer).  I then explained to her, that if she wants to get a position like that one in the future, I would write up the list of courses my secretary took before the position was posted. 

Did not hear from her again.

People like to bitch and moan about not getting a "fair shake" (an opportunity like you are getting).  BUT -- none of them applied either (i.e., they did not get off their asses and get to work like you did.).

Shake it off and just do the duties with a smile.  You know something that they do not.

Thanks for your support and you all are wonderful. You all are right, I am going above and beyond to seek out a career in nursing. So many people have dropped out of classes when I continued on, some have finished RN school but had a baby afterward and went part time, I have paid off a lot of bills with the car note due to be paid off this year, I am getting myself prepared for this journey that I know won't be easy and I don't need to be concerned with other na's attitudes. Thanks again.

Bro, Very Profound... Hugs, Sis

Best of luck in allof your future endeavors... Hugs,Teresa

And also the very best of luck.. Hugs,Teresa