What steps to take to become a LPN or RN?
Asked by octopusarecool
I will graduate high school this year, and I would like to be an LPN, but preferably a RN. Do I need to get generals out of the way first? I would be very grateful to anyone who could help me out, as I have no idea what to do! Thank you very much! Also, is it possible to be a RN with an associates degree? I read that somewhere, but i wasn't sure if it was true. Do I need to do my generals first before I enroll in a nursing program? Or can I do generals at the same time?

Best Answer:
Don't waste your time with a LPN, they don't get hired very much anymore. The hospitals now are asking for a 4yr. (BSN) degree for minimum. Yes, you can get an associates degree and become a RN. It usually is a 2 yr. program but with the waiting lists and general subjects it turns out to be 3 yrs. Your first year you would take general subjects like your Chemistry, English etc. then the second year start your nursing courses.
RN
Answered by Willow♥♥

You'll need to enroll in college. The college will put you on a course-study plan. Yes, you can become an RN with an associates degree. I'd suggest you find a college that offers that because the pay won't matter based on a bachelors or associates. (General classes usually take a year. The actually nursing training takes about a year also)
Answered by kelley406@sbcglobal.net

As the previous answer mentioned, yes, you can find an Associate's Degree in Nursing program. You will need to complete some pre-requisite courses ahead of time, but some of the general education courses could be completed either with the pre-reqs or simultaneously while taking the nursing courses. However - you would be better off completing as many of the general ed courses as you can before starting the nursing core courses because they will be very time consuming. Most people have at least one to two semesters from the time they apply to the time they start the nursing program anyway, so you might as well take those other courses during that lag time. You'll be glad you did.
Answered by Jill

LPNs normally hold only a certificate, it is typically a 10-18 month program through a tech/career training school. You can be an R.N. with an associates degree (I'm in an associates RN program myself now). You will still be an R.N. if you choose to go on for a bachelors, typically this would give you the opportunity to work more in management or advanced practice. As far as what you need to start, you should have taken chemistry and algebra, typically with grades of C or higher (nursing schools don't fail with F, typically you fail below C). Most programs require at least these two courses to start nursing coursework. If you didn't take these courses in school, you could take them at a community college, then transfer into the nursing program ( they might even have a nursing program at the same community college). Everything else you can take concurrently.On another note, nursing school admission is competitive and it would be a great benefit for you to do a job shadow/internship in a hospital to show interest. Almost all schools will have you write an admission essay asking why you want to be a nurse. GOOD LUCK!
Answered by lovemybear