Nursing Students Stuck Between Programs
Nursing students and new graduates face significant hurdles, including competitive admissions, program completion challenges, and difficulty securing employment. Many are pursuing advanced degrees or career pivots, often juggling work and school while dealing with financial pressures and a lack of understanding from others. The path to a fulfilling nursing career is proving unexpectedly complex.
SOURCES (60)
“Hello! I am a Health Sciences graduate of 2025. Considering the stress that my undergrad gave me I knew I didn’t want to go to medical school like many people in my program do. I unfortunately developed a mentality of “let me just get this…”
“If you want to be an RN be an RN, if you want to be an LPN be an LPN. We really gotta stop pretending that LPN is a stepping stone, or “pre-nursing school.” It’s not, you still will have to go to nursing school. You’ll spend money to be an LPN, and then you’ll be working part time to pay that debt off whilst you go to get your ADN after which your hospital will almost certainly force you to get your BSN.”
“LPN first is basically paying for a detour you didn't need. I watched a coworker do it because she was nervous about the NCLEX and wanted to "ease in" - ended up working med-surg as an LPN for 3 years making $22/hr while the new grad RNs she was training made nearly double. The bridge programs sound nice on paper but they're just as grueling as the regular BSN track, just stretched out longer. If nursing is what you want, go all in.”
“Go for your ADN/RN then work at a hospital as an RN, making RN money, and having your employer pay for an RN-BSN branch program. It's the most cost effective way of doing it in my opinion.”
“Do you mean ‘better’? It depends on your current situation and your job goals. I’d say if you are planning to get your RN eventually and you are financially able to swing an RN program then do that. The career opportunities are greater and the earning potential is higher. If you need to start working sooner and are not able to afford supporting yourself through an RN program then go LPN.”
“hi, i’m going to be a HS senior, and as the title suggests i’m wondering if it’s possible to get my bachelor of science in nursing during my undergrad, become/work as an RN, then apply to law school? ik that ur undergrad degree doesn’t matter for law school, but my question more correlates to the reasonableness of the situation as a whole if that makes sense? just ur opinion as either a lawyer, nurse, or someone with valuable insight to help me out with my personal dilemma to preface i have neve”
“I just graduated from undergrad and have been feeling really disappointed in myself. I started college doing well, but partway through I decided I wanted to pivot into healthcare. Between school, commuting, and working to support myself, I became really burnt out and my grades slipped. Not trying to throw myself a pity party—I just want some outside perspective on whether I'm being realistic about these career paths. PA-This was my original goal, but it feels out of reach now. I got a D in G”
“I went the MSN route and loved it. Tuition was a bit higher, but I worked throughout nursing school and had great scholarships so I only came out with ~10k of debt (which was paid off quickly!) I felt like I was better prepared and felt confident I could start on my own post new grad residency. My managers also loved that I had my MSN. I think if you plan on doing anything beyond bedside, the MSN is worth it so you can teach, do leadership, etc…”
“No np or crna, no travel nursing, no remote jobs. The career opportunities and progression you have in america in 5 years(not just for nursing), you'll have them in 30 years here. You'll make 2200 euro a month (after taxes) after decades and that's it. My cousin is a new grad and makes 1400 a month, our salaries are lower than the 90's and inflation is crazy. Having a side hustle is impossible and bureaucracy is making us poor. Houses are as expensive too, fuel is 8 dollars a gal”
“I'm hoping to hear from nurses who have been in the profession for a while and can reflect on their career progression. For those of you who began with an ADN and later completed a BSN (or higher): Do you feel like you were ever at a disadvantage compared with nurses who entered the profession with a BSN or MSN? Did delaying graduate school end up helping because you had more experience before deciding on your specialty? Looking back, would you make the same decision again? For nurses who en”
“Looks like CMS may be launching a student loan repayment program and financial stipend for RN’s and LPN’s that qualify. Working in certain areas, and then work in the SNF for 3 years. But if that is you, this could be amazing! Worth submitting your email if this program does take off. submitted by /u/justcallmedrzoidberg [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone, I am planning to apply to the EPCC ADN Nursing program as an international F-1 student. I have an important question for previous international nursing graduates. Since OPT generally allows only up to 90 days of unemployment, how did you manage the period after graduation? Did you obtain a Graduate Nurse (GN) position before passing NCLEX? Or did you pass NCLEX first and then find an RN job? Were you able to stay in legal status without any problems? I would really appreciate hearin”
“Hey Guys, I have a quick question, does online certification for either EMT or MA, considered reliable? I am asking because I will be attending UCR in the fall (I am a transfer student) and won't be allowed to take CC classes. Also, is there any places in the Riverside area where I could get clinical hours done? Thanks. submitted by /u/Timely_Milk_2811 [link] [comments]”
“ABSN. My first-degree was in psych, and I joined an accelerated program that allowed me to use my previous credits from my degree. Graduated a year ago.”
“Community college nursing school is often harder to get into because it's cheap, and you have access to the same jobs as a university graduate. You need at least a B average for most CC nursing programs”
“Hi all, new grad RN here. My NCLEX is next week and then I will have a month off to spend time with family before beginning my new grad orientation at a very reputable big name hospital (think Mayo Clinic, Hopkins, etc). For background, I am almost 30 and did an ABSN so this is a career change for me. I do have life experience and, I like to think, common sense. The job is in neuro ICU and I have a background in Psych and social services at the VA. I'm also a veteran and am in the reserves.”
“I was originally expecting to go back to school and get a 2yr degree in respiratory therapy. Local79 in NYC started to accept applications again and I was able to get one. I'm not one who minds hard work, and I actually prefer moving around moreso than just sitting for a desk job. Something that drew me toward Respiratory therapy was the amazing work-life balance and pay... what does work life balance look like as a general laborer in NYC? Once again, I don't mind hard work at all, I'”
“Hello, I’m 21F and I’m in my last year of college. I’m a public health student who originally wanted to do an mph out of school, however the field is getting obliterated right now and I don’t think it’s the best option. I’m a first generation college student so I’d like to start making money as soon as possible to help my family so I’ve been looking at nursing school. I’m not sure if I should go to LPN school since it shorter and I could do a bridge LPN-RN pathway or go straight through with RN”
“This is for anyone asking if they’re too old to start school here is your answer. submitted by /u/Learning-life8 [link] [comments]”
“Hi there, I hope it's ok to post this here. I am currently enrolled in the nursing program at my school, and my class requires me to interview a RN who has been working 2+ years. I don't need any personal info like your name or where you work, just your initials, length of work and area of practice! I would really appreciate if I could get the following questions from one of you? Thanks so much! What is your perception of the role of the Registered Nurse? Has that perception changed sinc”
Hi everyone! Cross posting here because I posted in the new grad subreddit and didn’t really get insight. I’m hoping you guys here on this subreddit can offer any advice. I'm a…
I reside in CT and passed my NCLEX-RN license in June 10, 2026 and have a job offer in NY so I applied for the NY license on June 12, 2026 it…
“Okay, too start off; I’m a semester 4 nursing student and I’m doing my pre grad hours at the moment. I didn’t really have an issues with my placements my other 3 semesters EVEN though I found there was always something “negative”. Example, my semester 3, the nurses on the unit were absolutely miserable and rude. Anyways, that didn’t really bother me too much! Stayed positive and was pretty happy. Now, I’m doing semester 4 and I find myself feeling so down. I have a great preceptor, the other nur”
“Hello. I'm 18, and I just graduated from high school. Under pressure from my family, I applied for prerequisites for the Nurse program, as they failed to persuade me to another medical position. A question for an RN: Did you want to be one? Do you like your job? Are there any specific indicators that can help you clearly determine that this job is not right for you? submitted by /u/Leather-Aspect4154 [link] [comments]”
“I’m looking for some honest advice from nurses who may have been in a similar situation. I earned my RN in 2020. About a year later, I completed my BSN and then had my baby. Between becoming a new mom and all the uncertainty during that time, I never applied for new grad positions and never started working as a nurse. Now it’s been several years, and I haven’t worked in nursing at all since graduating. My license is active, but I’m worried I’ve waited too long and that no one will hire me withou”
“Hi everyone. I hope you are doing well, I'm new to reddit btw. I'm a 20-year-old girl from Pakistan, and I'm honestly going through one of the hardest phases of my life. I would really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. I completed my FSc Pre-Medical in 2025. Ever since then, my dream has been to become a Registered Nurse. I never thought I could become so emotionally attached to a career. What I love about nursing is patient care, hospitals, the environment, hel”
“I'm 39F newly divorced after being a SAHM of 6 kids for the past 16 years. I still have all 6 kids in the home. I am wanting to get a degree online through WGU. I want to do something along the lines of healthcare administrator, a project manager, or an operations manager. Which would be best? I need something that would be hybrid or remote after graduating and that I can move up the chain as years go by. I currently live in small town in TN. submitted by /u/feral_but_friendly [l”
“Nursing will allow you more of everything … stress at first, growth in the middle, flexibility at the end”
“You can also go into interventional radiology as a rad tech if you want something more hands-on. After working there as a nurse, I regretted not going to rad tech school. They made just as much but were much happier overall.”
“Hi everyone, I’ve been accepted into both an ADN nursing program and a Radiologic Technology program, and I have to choose one. I’m 43 years old, so I want to make the right decision because this will probably be my last career change. I already have a bachelor’s degree, and all of my prerequisites were A’s, so I’m not worried about handling the coursework. I’m drawn to nursing because of the career growth, variety, and job opportunities. But I’m also concerned about burnout and how difficult th”
“hii guys i’m a future nursing major who is looking for more schools with direct admission B.S.N. programs that don’t require HESI/TEAS or similar exams. the schools on my list now are: - emory - unc greensboro - unc chapel hill - berry college - umich i need more safeties/targets but idk where to start looking lowkey. emory, unc-ch, and umich are all reaches for me (for anyone, i’d assume). im on the east coast so i’d prefer to be close to home, but i’m still applying to umich bc i love that sch”
“Not sure if this is the right place for this, but we’ll see. I am a soon to be new grad RN with another bachelors in health science. I love nursing, but I also love research and lab work (pathology or microbio). I’m wondering if anyone has found a setting that incorporates both. I’m not looking for anything immediately, but I’m just curious if there is anything out there or additional certifications I could get. If not that’s fine, I can continue to it as a hobby. submitted by /u/rot”
“Hi everyone, I’m an incoming freshman at Howard University and my long-term goal is medical school. I’m especially interested in palliative care, but I also want a degree that gives me a solid career if I decide to take a gap year or if medical school doesn’t work out. Right now, I’m deciding between a BS in Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Laboratory Science) and a BSN in Nursing. A little about me: I enjoy science and research. I also enjoy working directly with patients and seeing the imp”
“Hello, I am 23 and was diagnosed with hEDS approximately 2 years ago. I just graduated from university this May with a BS degree. I am looking at going to graduate school, but I am worried about moving away from my parents who are my primary support system. For most of my life I was a pretty independent person, but my illness has taken a toll on me, both emotionally and physically. I’ve always enjoyed school and am ready for a change, but I am concerned about being on my own and dealing with bad”
“I started at Loma linda U last year but had to stopped because I didn’t qualify for financial aid/loans and I couldn’t afford any of the classes out of pocket.”
“Start working on your BSN, anyway. It will look good. Some places straight up require it. It’s easy to do a lot of programs are online-only.”
“I recently decided to to go to nursing school in hopes of doing CRNA after being on the pre med track for years. I have a bachelors in biology (3.1 gpa) and a masters in physiology (3.7 gpa). I would like to start working as soon as possible but I don’t know if I should do a ABSN (~15 months) or a MSN-E (2 years). Both are similar prices but I would most likely be able to get better scholarships and work/ go to CRNA school at the same place I could get the MSN at. I also have all my pre reqs for”
“I attended an ACEN accredited community college- for a fraction of the cost of private BSN. Further ADN to BSN education can be had for as low as $11,000 in my area- and that’s from accredited bridge programs. My employer will reimburse for tuition! You have tons of accredited options available to you- whatever school you are peeking into, make sure it’s up to snuff.”
“Get an ADN from an accredited program then find a job that will pay for your BSN. Unaccredited programs are often from unreliable schools that advertise fast tracking the education, like ECPI, ITT, etc. These schools are notorious for closing randomly without notice and for having high attrition rates with students being failed quickly for failures that are often the result of not having time to sufficiently prepare for the testing and skills verifications. ABSNs are also programs you have to be”
“I am starting my nursing career and looking into best options for my ADN to BSN and eventually MSN. After weeks of research and applying I found a reddit post about a school not being CCNE or ACEN accredited and therefore the bridge BSN programs or a later MSN is unattainable without your education coming from an accredited school. I've gathered that the solution to advancing education wise is you'd have to do is attend one of those unaccredited private schools to obtain your BSN or MSN.”
“Hello I am a F1 BSN student and was wondering if there were any here would love to connect and share our struggles and experiences😓 its literal hell out here.. Been applying to hospitals literally all over America hoping to get answers from ones that sponsor green card or EB3 submitted by /u/AmbitiousAd6713 [link] [comments]”
“It’s possible. Someone in my new grad class never worked as a nurse. She got her license 20 years ago. Now shes in her 40s and in the new grad program working med surg.”
“I got my lpn this summer because I wanted to get experience because I have no background in healthcare. However job hunting is hard I live in a small area and all the part time or prn hospital jobs are gone and the nursing homes I was talking to offered barely any training. I just got an offer for a peds home health position. I am really scared about it and asked extensively on their orientation program. She said they offer online learning, two weeks of in office training like a sims lab and 24”
“I wouldn’t. It’s a lot of time and hard work and money. You’ll be paying off the loans for a long time, and nursing homes are pretty much the worst paying jobs out there for nurses.”
“Do it. I went back to school at 42yo, passed NCLEX at 44yo, been at it over 10 yrs. Grab some ATI books, and learn lab values early…will save on brain power during tests. There’s a lot of different areas of nursing, but lateral violence is the same everywhere. Be willing to learn and leave all else at the door when you head home.”
“I have an almost 2 year old and am starting a CC ADN. It is a lot cheaper personally and opens up the chance to work sooner.”
“ADN 100%. It’s a shorter program and will get you working sooner. Then find an employer who offers tuition reimbursement and will pay for your BSN. This is the only way to do it.”
“I have a bachelor’s of psychology and decided this pathway is not for me. I plan to go to a local community college to get a few more pre-requisites before beginning my journey. I currently have a toddler which takes up a lot of my time, but I am very motivated to become a nurse. For fellow nurses, given that I have a child would you suggest going the pathway of getting ADN? Then getting BSN in the future, or do you think I should just go the BSN route? submitted by /u/Different_Stre”
“i’m 26 years old and i really want to be a nurse my goal is to eventually at some point become an NP. up until literally 30 mins ago i was fully going to apply to only the accelerated RN program. my problem is that i am very financially unstable and struggle to survive by myself as is. so i am more so looking to hear from anyone who has finished the program for either. would it be smarter to do LPN first to get into the field faster and then bridge to RN while i’m getting paid decent? that’s rea”