How hard is LPN school?

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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I am interested in becoming a nurse. Because of finanical obligations, I just can't stop working, and go back to school. In my area there are several options (MSN, BSN, RN, LPN ) all require day time full time study, and can be very costly. However I did find two night LPN programs, which take about 14- 16 months, and are affordable. I planned on keeping my current job (I teach elementary school) and going to school at night. I figured I could manage both, but after talking to one of my friends I am not so sure anymore. I have never had to do both at the same time. I thought I would give it a try and see what happens. I really would like to know how hard is LPN school? Do you really have to study 4 to 6 hours nightly? Is your whole life consumed by just school and clinicals?

Well I am an LPN student and I began in May 2007 and will graduate July 2008. It really depends on the person with how hard the program really is. For starters, I am a 26 year old mother of 2. My son is 4 and my daughter is 3. I work part-time (20-25 hours) weekly in a hospital in my area. At the begininning I found it very difficult with A&P and Pharmacology, but as the program continues I find that everything is beginning to sink in and come together. I have many many people who support me and I made up my mind that I do not have a choice to complete school or follow my dream but I believe it is a necessity for me to continue to accomplish the goals I have set for myself. I am in Med/Surg I right now and will begin Med/Surg II on Jan 11, 2008. Believe me if you set your mind to doing it you will complete it successfully. You just have to believe you can do and DO IT!! Good luck to you either way! Oh yeah and it is a little costly and you do lose some sleep and study alot, but nothing in life is without struggle because the end result is much more than you could imagine.

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Specializes in Renal/Diabetic.

I am not in LPN school yet, but i have been warned by two other LPNs at my work and they said that it is very intense. One worked fulltime and went to school partime, she said there was no way she could have done both full time. The other one told me that He has heard that next to a Doctor program, this was almost as intense, because of the amount of time you have to learn it all.

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:lol2:

NurseKristi said:
I just finished LPN in July of 2007, I worked full time and went to school full time and I made it! I am not gonna say it was a easy road to travel thou! You will have NO life and its alot of dedication but if you set your mind to it, you can achieve!

Thanks for the info...I am searching for a LPN/LVN school in my area

(TX) and I did speak to one of my high school classmates and she said it was harder for LPN vs. RN school. :lol2:

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has anyone had experience with New Community LPN program in Newark, NJ

txs

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I just graduated in December and passed boards last Saturday, so I'm a brand new LPN!

My school was a solid year w/o time off - 1 pm - 8:30 pm - four days a week, until the second month or so, when we started bi-weekly 12 hour clinicals. Our clinicals were as far as 30 miles away and started as early as 5:45 A.M, and ended as late as 7 PM.

We had as many as 4 exams per week, and projects every block, plus constant skill check-offs.

It was pretty hard. The majority of my class didn't make it. We started with 26 and ended with 9, most failed Pharmacology and Psyche.

It's the combination of the classtime, studytime and clinical-time that makes nursing school so difficult. You have no life.

So while going to school in the evenings sounds reasonable, when do you do clinicals?

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I too am in your situation. I need to work full-time, but would love to pursue a part-time LVN program. Which programs in the Bay Area did you find? How "part-time" are they? 5 nights a week? I believe that many part-time programs must make it managable to the those who need to work.

S.:icon_roll

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Hi i would like to get an advice from you...I just took CNA class and i pass now i just graduate from high school im planning to get a LVN course. I got a scholarship in a community college but it will take 2 to 4 years for completing that course. Im deciding to transfer in private school for 12 months...So i am anxious to know if its hard to study the things about LVN program like Anatomy,Physialogy..was it hard? and you think its worth it to loan a big money to get LVN program? Please respond i really really need an advice right now...

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Hi i would like to get an advice from you...I just took CNA class and i pass now i just graduate from high school im planning to get a LVN course. I got a scholarship in a community college but it will take 2 to 4 years for completing that course. Im deciding to transfer in private school for 12 months...So i am anxious to know if its hard to study the things about LVN program like Anatomy,Physialogy..was it hard? and you think its worth it to loan a big money to get LVN program? Please respond i really really need an advice right now...

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
carla0pinaylover said:
Hi i would like to get an advice from you...I just took CNA class and i pass now i just graduate from high school im planning to get a LVN course. I got a scholarship in a community college but it will take 2 to 4 years for completing that course. Im deciding to transfer in private school for 12 months...So i am anxious to know if its hard to study the things about LVN program like Anatomy,Physialogy..was it hard? and you think its worth it to loan a big money to get LVN program? Please respond i really really need an advice right now...

Your too young to be trying to take the easy way out. That Ana/Phy and all the rest of your prequisites will not transfer to Community college or university once you finish the program and want to persue your RN. Trust me, I had a few friend who attended thost institutes like ECPI for their LPN and paid $24,000 only to find out they had to start all over again with their prerequistes because they will not transfer. At these places you will take the prerequisites for 5-8 weeks along with the LPN. You are usually in class from 8-2 or at least 6 hrs a day. Universities and Community College prerequisite classes last 16 weeks.

If I were you, I would reconsider the Community College and use your scholarship. You will regret racking up that kind of debt if you don't have to. LPN school was hard. It was very doable but if you study you can pass the test and the clinicals. Good Luck to you in the future. You sound like a smart person.

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Thank you for your appreciation... yes im thinking that way too. Debt for almost $30,000 is crazy...Well my dad is ok with me going to a community college and a private school he pretty much has a big trust on me. For me im scared not to pass the classes in private school they told me that from june to july 09 i will take the prereq and on september 09 to 10 the LVn program will be held those dates and after sept 10 i will take the board exam. I am just not sure if i did not pass the board exam its a waste of a big money lol..but if i will go to a community college for almost 3 years i guess i will not spent alot of money because i have a scholarship and it just take time because theres alot of prereq. and i heard that not all the nursing student can get in in nursing board is that true? Thank you for your advice now i need to talk to my bf and tell him tht i will go to a community college..because my bf willing to help me to pay for my college in private school.

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The OP is asking for advice not a dress down. My advice to you is NOT to take shortcuts. You are young and you have time. The Poster who gave advice about those private institute type schools are exactly right. You will not be able to transfer those classes when you are ready to go to the next level in your career i.e ASRN or BSN.

My advice, go to the community college and thank God that you have a scholarshop. Take the basic general education classes so that wherever you go or even if you decide to change majors, your English, Algebra, History, Speech etc classes will transfer.

Take your AP1 and AP2 with labs, microbiology, Nutrition, Psych, Social Studies/Lifespan-Dev Psych if you have to. Do well and strive for As.

Even if you are not accepted into an AS RN program, then you can choose to go the LPN route and many schools will exempt your from their AP/Nutrition/Lifespan class.

Even if they don't exempt you, if you have to retake them, the material should be a piece of cake for you to handle.

Private institues should be a LAST resort and $30k is ridiculous for a 1yr certificate/license.

What part of the country are you in and have you researched the price of state funded vocational tech schools?

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I live in Milpitas California there's alot of private school that offer LVN program but you are right, i've decided to continue in Community College. You know what i drop 2 of my classes last semester reason for that was i thought i will be in private school now i totally regret what i did..thank you for your advice.. God Bless you

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