Climbing the Nursing Ladder: CNA → LPN → RN with Kesheen Curtis

Scrubs, scope, and second chances—this conversation with Kesheen is a candid look at how a nursing career really takes shape. We start with a hard detour: walking away from a BSN program that drained his momentum, then rebuilding confidence through an LPN at a community college. From there, pediatrics clicked.

We get practical about the move from CNA to LPN and the shift into leadership. Delegation stops being a buzzword when you’ve been the tech who always stepped in. Kesheen breaks down how he learned to prioritize, ask for help, and protect his bandwidth while honoring the team. We dig into the gray zone of LPN vs RN scope—initial assessments, education, IVs, and blood administration—and why the only answer that counts is your state board and your unit policy. Internet debates don’t cover hospital nuance; printed policies do.

Study tactics are straight to the point. Active recall on a whiteboard, teach-back in plain English, and question banks that mirror NCLEX logic build confidence. For SATA, flipping each option into true or false slows panic and speeds clarity. We also talk money and timeline: why an LPN-first route can be more affordable, how to weigh debt against regional salaries, and ways to work without burning out. And on social media, authenticity wins—share what you actually use, let your policy guide your practice, and tune out the noise.

If you’re navigating nursing school, returning after a pause, or trying to find your place on the floor, this story offers both compass and map. 

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