Perhaps when you were attending LPN school, your plans for the future included attending one of the LPN to RN programs. You were successful in becoming a LPN and getting a position practicing your new nursing skills. And then, life happened.

You got married, had a couple of children, and were too busy paying the bills to even think about adding school tuition to your budget. But, soon, dreams of moving on in your career started to resurface.

As a practicing LPN you are fully aware of your LPN job description. With spending some time working with RNs, you have a very good idea of the RN job duties and the extra responsibilities RNs have. The draw of the RN position is perhaps strong but you’re just not quite sure if you should commit the extra time and money.

To determine if continuing your education is right for you, you need to do some contemplating and research. First, if you are married and have children, is your spouse supportive of your return to school and willing to pick up your share of the family workload?

Are your children of an age where they don’t need you as much as when they were younger? Are they old enough to help out around the house and yard and perhaps help with younger siblings?

Another question you need to ask yourself is whether you can afford the LPN to RN programs. Do you have any idea how much they may cost? Do you have the money it takes to pay your tuition, your books and fees, for the gas to and from the school and clinicals and for childcare, if you need it.

If you have the time and the money or, if you are willing to make sacrifices for a year or more, then perhaps the LPN to RN programs are right for you.