Stuck between being a LVN or wait 6 years to be a RN?

U.S.A. California

Published

Specializes in Hospice.

Hello Everyone! Just wanted to see if anyone is in the same boat iam. Iam currently taking my first pre-req to get in to the RN program @ Santa ana College. Ive been told the waiting list is about 3-4 years or more. Once iam in, i still have to do another 2 years of the program. The way i look at it is its going to be about 5-6 years before i can be a RN, at the soonest! Should i just be a lvn for now, and then do the LVN to RN bridge later? Currently Iam unemployed, and need to get a start on my career...Please if anyone has been in this situation where they are SOOOO confused give me some tips, so i can hopefully start sleeping better at night:) Thank You

Take your prerequisites and apply to the BSN prelicensure program, or apply now and take their competency modules toward your BSN. No waiting lists there. The next cohort for people whose prerequisites are complete starts in September. If you are going to enroll before the nursing component, you can enroll in any month. But I suggest you take all prerequisites at a regular community college and transfer them in. That way you know the courses will transfer to another school should you run into some problem and not graduate from WGU. Online University | Online Degree | Accredited Bachelor's and Master's Degrees

Specializes in LTC, hospice, home health.

Since the time is going to pass anyway, I think it's a good idea to get your pre-reqs out of the way while working and gaining experience as an LVN. I did just that, finishing my pre-reqs in May. I had an appointment with my counselor in early June to fill out the applications for RN school, at which time my counselor told me that my school recently got a grant to admit 12 LVNs. I filled out that application and another that would admit me as an advanced placement student. Long story short is that two days later, I was called to schedule the TEAS. The following week, I was contacted by the school of nursing to inform me that I had a spot in the class beginning in August, and that I could choose advanced placement or join the grant group.

My point is that you just never know, the waiting list might not be exactly what you expect.

I was in this same situation at the beginning of 2009. I had just been laid off from my job and wanted to get back to work quickly. It would have taken me at least a year to complete the prereqs for the RN program, then apply and wait to be admitted. Instead I went through an LVN program, while doing my RN prereqs at the same time. I completed my LVN program in February of this year, and I just finished my last RN prereq, so that I can apply for schools in September to begin in the Spring. Now I will be able to work as an LVN and get into an LVN-RN bridge and there has been no real lost of time.

Now I get extra points when applying to RN school, and (assuming i get accepted) I will complete my ADN exactly 2 years after starting my LVN, which is how long it would have taken anyway had I gone the traditional route.

I think it would be a good idea to complete your LVN while taking your RN prereqs, so that you can get back to work quickly.

Specializes in Hospice.

Thank you so much! Now i feel relieved knowing I'am not making the wrong choice. SLRBERRY: Do you live here in Orange County, CA?

I am currently having the same problem. I really want to become an RN, but talking to my counselors recently at my community college really made it sound tough, and I would really like to get my career started. Being on a waiting list for at LEAST 2 years (not including the time to take prerequisites), maybe not being accepted? Overall, for someone like me and the OP, is it idealistic to become an LVN first? I researched and found a few sites saying that being an LVN makes it easier to get into RN programs, sometimes giving them priority.

I showed my parents an LVN program (since they will be helping me financially), but I feel like I need more reasons as to why taking an LVN program would benefit me (since my mother had brought up the fact that a lot of RNs were never an LVN in their medical career). Anyhow, thanks a bunch for the responses, because this was exactly what I was looking for...any more advice would be greatly appreciated.

and OC mommy, I go to SAC! lol :)

Becoming an LVN has immediate advantages: first, it could lead to admission to an RN program by way of an LVN to RN bridge program; secondly, you could work as an LVN and earn more money than working as a CNA.

Specializes in Hospice.

Finally i' am hearing some good advantages of doing the lvn to rn route first lol. Now i just have to start looking for a good LVN school in orange county...WOW what a big relief knowing that i have finally made up my mind. :) Thank You!!:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

I feel the same relief!!! Now my only problem is everyone else's problem--getting a job after becoming an LVN. :( Everywhere I read everyone says it's almost impossible to get a job, since most places require at least one year of experience....*fingers crossed!

Specializes in Hospice.

Hey "Muffincakes", i would love to keep in touch with you as we both go to sac, and are both planning on being Lvs's Heres my email [email protected], email me. :)

Specializes in Vascular Surgery.

As an LVN you can complete an LVN to RN bridge program that's about a year long. There are less people applying for these programs also. Just sayin...

Awesome ocmommy! will K.I.T my email is [email protected]. Thanks!

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