Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
It may be easier for an RN student to take an LPN course, but that is probably because they have learned part of it in even more detail. But, do not let LPN school fool you. Most programs are very intense...usually an 8 hour a day, 4-5 days per week, including clinicals. They are piling within a year a great deal of what RNs learn in two years (RNs have more theory and their classes are more intense) with no real break in between. You may get a holiday off, or maybe a week break at best, but it is crammed with pop quizzes, exams, clinical rotations with their own seperate assignments, performance of clinical skills, studying and cramming all the way. At least the RN program may sit out a semester, or have a summer break. LPN programs usually have no breaks.
Bottom line is that if you wish to be a nurse on any level, you have to work REALLY HARD at it AND pass NCLEX. And, I'll tell you something-whether you believe it or not, the mental as well as the physical work a nurse does is even more stressful, because of the accountability and liability. You will begin to see why a nurse counts on good aides and ancillary staff, because ultimately, the nurse (especially the RN) is responsible for the outcomes of ALL of it.
