I am thinking about pursuing a nursing career. I have already looked into becoming a LPN but it doesn’t seem to pay much and the LPN jobs are not as abundant as RN jobs. Plus, I want to work in the ICU because I love high pace atmospheres and the ICU seems to have that. My question is how long does it take to complete nursing school? Can I complete nursing school faster if I take more courses or do you have to follow a certain outline?
-Nikki
This question was asked in the Nursing Forum section.
Jamie says
Hey Nikki! Welcome to the community! First off, do you want to complete a BSN or ADN degree? If you want to obtain a BSN degree it will take you 4 years at a university. The first 1 ½ years you will be completing pre-requisite courses and the next 2 ½ years you will complete nursing courses. The ADN degree length is two years total (it’s an associates degree). You’re right about the job outlook for a LPN….it isn’t growing as fast as an RN. If you have the time, effort, and money, it is best to go with the RN degree.
Usually no you can’t complete nursing school faster. Once you are in nursing school you have to follow a certain outline and class load. The people you start nursing school with are the people you finish with. You may be able to enter nursing school faster if you take a lot of pre-requisites at once because you don’t have to follow a certain outline for pre-requisites like you do once you start taking nursing classes.
Nikki says
Thank you so much! I plan on getting a BSN degree. Do you know of any nursing schools in Utah or where I can find a list of them? Sorry I’m new to this nursing school stuff lol.
Jamie says
You’re fine! That is why you are here asking questions…that is what this community is for. Here is a list of nursing schools in Utah: https://www.registerednursern.com/utah-nursing-schools-and-colleges-registered-nurse-rn/
I was surprised to see Utah doesn’t have that many nursing schools…guess it is a small state?
Nikki says
Yeah it is lol! Thank you so much. Once again you helped me out again
Natalie says
Nikki you are right the job market is more favorable for RNs. I work as a staff nurse on a Progressive Care floor and my hospital doesn’t hire LPNs because of their limited scope of practice. I think I have worked with may be 2 LPNs during my 4 years of nursing and that was just on a medical surgical floor where patients are not that sick. So getting an RN degree is definitely the way to go. It takes 2-4 years depending on what degree type you go with.
Nikki says
Yeah I was afraid of that and that is why I decided to go with the RN degree. Thanks again you guys have been very helpful!