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+--- Thread: Nusing route options - questions.... (/Thread-Nusing-route-options-questions)
Nusing route options - questions.... - CM1999 - 06-18-2015
Hi
I'm working on my own path (TESC/Psych) but wondered if anyone has some clear information about using one of the Big 3 for nursing.
Here is the situation: my son is 16 and wants to be a nurse. He has looked at many options (we are always looking for the least expensive route). The last thing he looked at was doing an EMT course at the local community college, then doing something like LPN, then doing a LPN to RN program and then doing a RN to BSN kind of thing. ---doing this in stages.
Is there a better way, using one of the three schools? I know I could research this but I thought maybe it would be worth tossing it out here to see if anyone has already done some research from "ground zero" (my son does not have any college credits at this point, was hoping to maybe do running start after next school year).
THANKS!!
Nusing route options - questions.... - bluebooger - 06-18-2015
CM1999 Wrote:... we are always looking for the least expensive route ...
The last thing he looked at was doing an EMT course at the local community college, then doing something like LPN, then doing a LPN to RN program
why wouldn't he just do an associates degree in nursing at a community college
skip the EMT, skip the LPN, skip the bridge program and go straight for the ASN
he can get the associates degree and become an RN in less time than it would take to complete an EMT, LPN and LPN to RN bridge program
and he can do it more cheaply
he'll probably have to do the LPN at a community college anyway
might as well just go for the full ASN
there's really no reason to do the EMT no matter which route he chooses
Nusing route options - questions.... - sanantone - 06-18-2015
There are also paramedic to RN bridge programs. I don't know why he would try to go from an EMT to LPN. Do EMT to LPN bridge programs even exist? One issue that might come up at a community college is a long waiting list.
Nusing route options - questions.... - CM1999 - 06-18-2015
I just asked him and he said his chances of being accepted into the LPN program (or associates in nursing) are higher if he has worked in the field - and apparently they consider EMT and CNA as the two options for working in the field (for young people)...and he's not all that interested in working as a CNA - not as interested as EMT.
Nusing route options - questions.... - GoodYellowDogs - 06-18-2015
I would get into a RN program. It is very hard to get into the LVN to RN bridge programs.
Nusing route options - questions.... - smf6824 - 06-18-2015
Well.... if you want it cheap and on a budget. Join one of the armed forces ie (Army, Navy, Air Force), train to become a medic/corpsman in the respective branch. After the training he would basically be a paramedic/LPN and have tuition assistance and the GI Bill. Go to any college he desires to finish the nursing degree and become an RN. If motivated enough he could finish his bachelors and get commissioned as well. Unless the rules have changed he can join the national guard at 17 and start his training to get ahead of the curve. If service to his country is out of the question just take a bunch of CLEP or AP test to knock out some general studies, get good grades, and apply to an RN associate degree program at the local community college. You don't have to be a CNA or EMT to get in, but volunteering never hurt so that is a route to consider. Dependent upon the admission requirements references are nice too. Overall don't worry too much about this. Most applicants don't get in the first year they apply and just focus on their general studies and other courses in the program such as microbiology, A&P, etc. My advice is do not go with the Big 3 for this one, focus on your local community college, state schools, or the military route. Good Luck.
.... Oh and by the way if you want a cheap EMT course become a volunteer firefighter
Nusing route options - questions.... - cookderosa - 06-18-2015
From a practical point of view, at 16 he can work as a CNA if he does that program. Those programs are typically non-credit (non-financial aid) non-degree seeking and short term. He can probably do one at your local CC over the summer. As a working CNA, he can get a feel for the field as well as still focus on getting good grades in high school and cementing his plans. If you are interested in him pursuing college credit in high school, focus on the things that count no matter what his path- history, math, literature, etc. and keep him working. Besides his hours looking GREAT on his ADN application, many schools now require a CNA as part of the application process anyway, so he'll be ahead! Furthermore, if dual enrollment is an option, he can start his nursing pre-reqs if he's ready. You have to earn VERY STRONG grades in the prereqs to be competitive, even at the community college, but if he can knock out his Anatomy & Physiology sequence in high school (plus bio or chem or whatever they want) he'll graduate as an excellent candidate.
My 2 cents is CNA in high school while earning college credit in gen eds if reasonable --> local nursing program through your community college that awards an associate degree. Later, as a working RN, he has a LOT of options to get the BSN online for cheap or free using his employer's reimbursement option.
EMT isn't a road to RN, it's a different pathway, so unless he would rather work as an EMT, I'd say skip it. It's going to be more expensive and more time consuming plus he'd have a hard time getting a decent job without his EMT-P and that's a whole year+ program.
Nusing route options - questions.... - Lindagerr - 06-18-2015
These days most hospitals only want BSN's it adds to their rating as a top hospital. I agree with going for the CNA because it will give him some intro to working in a hospital and what it entails. If he takes the Bio, A&P maybe Micro and a chemistry for health sciences before he applies to an RN program he will have a better chance of getting in.
Nusing route options - questions.... - cookderosa - 06-18-2015
Lindagerr Wrote:These days most hospitals only want BSN's it adds to their rating as a top hospital. I agree with going for the CNA because it will give him some intro to working in a hospital and what it entails. If he takes the Bio, A&P maybe Micro and a chemistry for health sciences before he applies to an RN program he will have a better chance of getting in.
Yes, if he can earn high grades. Of course things may have changed, but 5 years ago, a "B" wouldn't have been enough to get you into a community college nursing program- everyone earns "A" or retakes it until the do. So, as a high school student, my caution is to ONLY do the prereqs dual enrolled if he's ready, because CLEPping the history, math, etc don't hurt your GPA whereas a B in biology would.
Nusing route options - questions.... - dmjacobsen - 06-18-2015
I disagree with those that recommend against getting the EMT. If choosing between a CNA program and an EMT program to get healthcare experience prior to going into nursing, I say EMT all the way. You will learn more pertinent patient assessment skills, use those skills, have a more flexible schedule, and (typically) make a couple bucks more an hour doing a much less physically-demanding job. All of these points can be argued, depending on what region of the country one is in, what type of job one gets (hospital vs. nursing home), etc.
As for the rest -- skip the step-like fashion of getting the RN. There's no need to bother with LPN school first. In fact, it may actually be a hindrance to moving on to RN school. I say this because once you graduate LPN school, you get into a moderately comfortable income bracket, with plenty of opportunity for overtime. Before you know it, you're so busy working and making more money than you've made before that moving on to RN school goes to the back burner. This happened to me and many of my LPN classmates. 30 of us graduated LPN school in 2006. I've kept up with the majority of them via Facebook, and I know of only 4 (not including me) who went on to get their RN.