im currently a cna considering getting my lpn's. ive talked to a few lpns, some have said that they think it would be a waste of time to get my lpns, others say its a great oppurtunity. so im just wondering, from an lpns point of view, would u, if given the chance, redo everything you have to do to get your lpns?

Why in the world would anyone think that getting your LPN is a waste of time!!!! Don't listen to them. Nursing school can be really hard at times but soooo rewarding! If you want to be an LPN, GO FOR IT....don't let anyone influence you otherwise. I'm also wondering are these people telling you not to get your LPN but go for RN? It all depends on what area you want to work in....LPN's are needed just like RN's are. Either way you go you can't go wrong.

Well, different people want different things. I would encourage anyone thinking of going to nursing school to go on for their RN. It pays more. But some people need to work (I did) and can't go to school that long. You can get your LPN license and work as a LPN while you are going on to be a RN. It all depends on your circumstances and what you want to do. I've been perfectly happy being a LPN for 27 years.

Deciding to go for an LPN or an RN first depends a lot on the needs and situation of the student. LPN is not a waste of time if the student needs to start working as soon as possible. LPNs provide valuable contributions to health care. I would, however, recommend that you move on to an RN as soon as possible as it opens up more opportunities for career growth and the pay is better. I was an LPN for 12 years, quite happily, and only went on for my RN when the ER I was working in decided to phase out LPNs. I'm glad now I have my RN: I've been able to do things I was never able to do as an LPN. But I don't regret the LPN, I did a lot of fun things as an L, too.

Blanca, you will need to look into your local area to see what kinds of nursing programs are offered. Nursing programs are competitive. Some courses you have to have taken before you start the program, but in general and in theory you could take all of your classes with the nursing classes. In practice, however, this is extremely difficult for most people because of the demands of nursing study. Students often end up taking their English, psych, and A&P while waiting to be accepted into their program and gain the benefit of not having to worry about those courses once they start the nursing program. I have students who have taken A&P with their nursing classes and they have a tough time keeping up.

Check out your local community college. Find out if your classes at UoP are transferable. Sometimes colleges refuse to accept credits from other colleges if the requirements don't meet their syllabus, and students are forced to retake classes (this happened to my brother when he transfered from Salisbury State University to the University of Maryland; he had to retake several basic freshman classes).

At a community college you should be able to take all the pre-reqs you need for either their ADN program, or for a local univeristy (those credits are usually easily transferred). You get the most bang for your buck in the community college. For example, the CC where I teach charges $42/credit hour as opposed to $126/credit hour at the local university. And the quality of instruction is just as good, if not better. I went to a CC for both my LPN and my ADN and got a GREAT education that equaled the quality of my BSN program.

If you want to be a neonatal RN, you will probably need a BSN. Specialty fields like that usually prefer BSNs, tho some of my recent grads got jobs in L&D so it is possible with an ADN. The nursing shortage is opening up fields to new grads that were closed before until you had a couple years med-surg experience.

If you are working at a hospital as an LPN or a CNA, or in any other capacity, then most hospitals will offer tuition reimbursement to employees. You will have to sign a contract agreeing to work for them for 1-2 years after graduation, but if you like the facility that's no big deal. If you decide you don't want to work there, then you have to pay the money back but you can set up a payment plan to do so.

Good luck!

No problem. Happy to help :)