You can get your ADN-RN in just a few months more than it will take you to go for the LPN

I'm kind of in the same boat you're in, salsamom. Part of me thinks getting an LPN, and then going back for a RN would be the best way, but everyone I have talked to says to just go ahead and do the RN. If you find a magic answer, I'd love to know too!

salsamom said:

Hi my name is Sharon and I am the mother of 5...at 37 I have decided to finally take the plunge and commit to going back to school..my goal was to become an RN but I am unable to quit my job to go to nursing school full time and there are no night classes available....I am now thinking of doing LPN and use that as a stepping stone toward RN since I since I can go to school after work hopefully once I graduate I can work nights and go to nursing school during the day.....has anyone else taken this route....I want to fullfill my dreams but can not stop working I have friends that are RN's that are telling me I am taking a detour that is not necissary but I see this as my only way to success
Looking for some input....please :)

For mscynomon: First of all-it's a wonderful opportunity for your job to pay for your nursing school. So what, if you have to give back 2 years! Do you know how many people would love to have this chance? Delay your relocating if you can and pursue this. You won't regret it. As far as LPN vs RN-I am an LPN and I so regret not going on to get my RN degree. I would tell anyone to skip LPN and go for the RN-there's alot more money in it. I believe there are RN programs where you can stop after a year, get your LPN license and work as an LPN while finishing the program to become a RN. I won't say it's not difficult to go to nursing school while raising a family but it's well worth it. Your children are a perfect age for you to become involved in schooling. You didn't say if your job would pay for you to go to RN school? If not I would go for LPN thru your job and you can go later for RN. I say GO FOR IT! Why are you even hesitating?

As an LPN of several years, I am finally going to enroll to get my RN. I want my RN for personal reason, it was a goal I had set for myself long ago and I will get there. Not that I think it'll be easy but I will have more time then I did when I went to get my LPN, My college classes will be Monday - Wed. which means 3 12 hour shifts and I get a day off! I worked 40 hours a week as well as going fulltime to nursing school which was Mon -Fri, that's no days off and it was not a cake walk it was a very intense year, but quite honestly I would not have done it any other way. I got so much experiance this way, experience that you don't get from a book or the short amount of time spent in clinicals. Do not let yourself feel that you are settling for the LPN. I take great pride in my job as well as title. Another thing you may want to consider is the fact that to get into college for a nursing degree is not as easy, generally speaking they have hundreds of applicants for a limited amount of space, however if you already have your LPN it is much easier to get accepted. Just food for thought.

As for riddlefox GO GO GO! The majority of my graduating class was 35+. If you are doing and have been doing aid work get your LPN for your bodies sake. If it's patient care you enjoy you'll still have it, plus the money is not bad either. Your still young, your never too old to return to school If your anything like myself the day I stop learning is the day I died.

I agree with everything! You are never to old for school, we have a student in her 60's and she is going to make a great RN. If I could do it again I would have gone all the way and got my RN. I'm very proud of all I've done as a LPN but I didn't understand the differences when I was younger. I've learned so much through out the years in my role as a LPN that's going to make me a even better RN. I'm not starting out as a new RN, I think the transition will be easy and I'll be able to jump right in. All these years I've had excuses of why not to go back to school. Since I've set my mind to it there are no more excuses and it is just working out...nothing is stopping me now. Go for it!