Associates Degree in Vocational Nursing?

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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The school I am going to offers an LVN program in which you can achieve a Certification or an Assoicaites Degree in Vocational Nursing.

What would be the better choice?

With either the certificate or associates degree you will be able to take the NCLEX -PN exam.

I plan on continuing and doing an RN bridge program afterwards so I just wanted to know what is a better choice the certificate or the Assoicates degree in vocational nursing??

:confused::)

Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
The school I have been looking into, I can take my prereqs there while Im doing the LVn program. And then once I complete that I can do the LVN-RN bridge and theres advanced placement.

All of the community schools have waiting lists!! So I am feeling pretty stuck about chosing a private school over a community college

If I were you, I'd do the CC route. Private schools are VERY expensive.

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Yes they are a bit on the expensive side, but I have looked at every CC in my area and some in surrounding cities, and most have waiting lists. Also, the class schedules that they have just wouldnt work too well. I want to do full time if Im going to go to school and with CC, Id have to work around the schedules..it would be kind of hard to determine what days and hours and how many classes in one day Id be able to take because they sometimes are the same time slots on the same days...

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But you are right..CC are WAY less expensive

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Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.
This is incorrect. Vocational/practical nursing education can result in a degree, diploma, or certificate. Click on the links below to read about the curriculum of these associate degree programs. I do not understand why many people seem to think that vocational/practical nursing can only result in a certificate or diploma.

http://www.saintpaul.edu/programs/GuideSheets%20%20HlthSvc/Practical%20Nursing%20AAS.pdf

http://www.minnesota.edu/programs_majors.php?prog_code=460

http://www.dctc.edu/future-students/programs/degrees/practical-nursing.cfm

https://northseattle.edu/career/degrees/practical-nursing-aas-degree

http://anokatech.edu/future_students/subjects/practicalnursing/2011-2012%20Practical%20.pdf

Yeah, I checked the links. I expected to see an official nursing board statements, but they were all schools. I don't know what those schools are talking about.lol. The lowest degree in nursing is Associates, and that makes you a RN. A LPN is not considered a DEGREE in NURSING. It may offer you some degree, but that is not an Associates in Nursing. Sorry. You can check out official nursing board websites for it and not have to search for particular schools who claim to offer some degree. Nursing degrees: associates (RN), BSN, MSN, etc, you know. LVN is officially is not a degree in nursing. That's not a discussable thing; that is a fact.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Which is why LVN is "vocational" - no degree awarded.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.

Umm... There is my links from some states' board of nursing pages:

http://kbn.ky.gov/nr/rdonlyres/13e22447-9940-43ec-9fc7-719237f4e7e8/0/ncsbn_cpkybroch.pdf (pg 6)

http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nursebroch.htm

http://www.rn.ca.gov/careers/steps.shtml

I guess you can keep researching if you wish.

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So tired of all this condescending you can't have a nursing degree, you're just an LVN talk. My school is a community college in Southern California that DOES offer an associates in vocational nursing. A friend of mine HAS this degree and I'm only a computer class away from having mine.

Should be bridging into the RN program in the spring and will be finishing end of next year, but with only one class to get a degree in vocational nursing, I'll do it. And when I get it I'll come back and post a picture of the darn thing.

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I checked these sites and nowhere does it state that an LPN/LVN has obtained an Associates Degree. In fact, it specifically states that an Associates Degree is the lowest degree to obtain your RN license.

LVN 30 Unit Option - Designed as a career ladder for California Licensed Vocational Nurses wishing to become registered nurses. Takes approximately 18-24 months. No degree is granted upon completion. Most other states do not recognize California's LVN 30 Unit Option and will not issue RN licenses to these LVNs. Some LVNs prefer to complete an ADN program in order to obtain a degree and to have the flexibility to get an RN license in other states. Most ADN programs will give LVNs credit for some of the coursework they completed to become an LVN.

This is from one of the links you provided.

What is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and what kind of services does such a person provide?

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a licensed health care provider who provides nursing care under the direction of an RN, physician, or other authorized health care provider. There is no independent component to the LPN role. An LPN has graduated from high school and completed an approved practical nursing program of at least nine months (or two semesters).

From another link.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) - a licensed health care provider who has had one year of education from a practical nurse program and works under the supervision of a registered nurse, advanced practice nurse or physician. Responsibilities vary from state to state.

Registered Nurse (RN) - a licensed health care professional who has graduated from a nursing education program with a diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree or master's degree.

And the final link.

In some states you can "become" an LPN after 2 semesters of an ADN "program" and passing the NCLEX-PN. But you must finish the "program" in order to receive your Associates.....at which time you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
The lowest degree in nursing is Associates, and that makes you a RN. A LPN is not considered a DEGREE in NURSING. It may offer you some degree, but that is not an Associates in Nursing. Sorry.

There are various entry-level pathways to becoming a professional registered nurse: associates, diploma, BSN, direct-entry MSN, etc. All are acceptable to state BONs.

Likewise, there are several different entry-level pathways to becoming a licensed practical nurse / licensed vocational nurse: certificate, diploma, or associate of applied science in practical nursing. All are acceptable to state BONs. An LPN is not considered a degree in registered professional nursing, but it is considered a degree in practical/vocational nursing. The two types of nursing are different and distinct. I know whereof I speak.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
The school I am going to offers an LVN program in which you can achieve a Certification or an Assoicaites Degree in Vocational Nursing.

What would be the better choice?

With either the certificate or associates degree you will be able to take the NCLEX -PN exam.

I plan on continuing and doing an RN bridge program afterwards so I just wanted to know what is a better choice the certificate or the Assoicates degree in vocational nursing??

:confused::)

I don't want to come across as "slamming" you, but you seem to post a LOT of questions regarding your career options, verbage on different degrees, titles, and exams, along with how to go about many things. I do know you get a variety of responses on these posts b/c I have posted to them. It seems to be that MOST of your questions should be able to be answered by someone at YOUR school. On AN you have a huge spectrum of experiences that we've gone through at different times, ie: what was once the way you obtained a particular title has since changed and WHERE in the country you live matters as well. I just think sometimes you get too much information to some of your posts and that only confuses you more.

And clearly, everyone has their own opinions on which route to take to get to where THEY ended up in nursing and may not be anything like what you are entertaining. JMO

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Excuse me ColleenRN2B, but I believe I can post anything on here if I have questions and am wanting opinions from other people. I dont know why you would take the time out of your day to seriously say something like that about what I am posting. People on here post things all the time.

I am new to pursuing my nursing career and just want to get other opinions from people who are nurses already so I can make a better decision for my life.

You are correct that times have changed and colleges are different in some aspects when it comes to all of this, and I would be asking these schools but it is the weekend so I am trying to do research on my own.

If you dont want to read my posting because you believe they are "repetitive" then dont. Its that simple. JMO ;)

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Thank you everyone for you helpful information. It has explained a lot to me about how to pursue this the correct way for my situation!

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