Stay with good paying job, or go with LVN program??? NEED ADVICE.....

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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Stay with good paying job, or go with LVN program??? NEED ADVICE..... Well I was really excited I got accepted to a LVN program (which starts in 2 weeks, sept 5th). I got the letter in June. Then in July, I got an offer for a job at Stanford Hospital (SUMC), which is paying me $20/hr. So my plan was to do the program and work the per diem positions in the evenings (so its flexible with my school, and I would work as many hours).

So anyway, I wanted to originally do RN, and was going to a community college, finished all my G.E. but I would still need to do A&P and Micro for the ADN program... (but since there's a lottery and waitlist everywhere, that is why I decided to go and do my LVN, so I could work and gain experience as a nurse while getting paid decent money to support myself and two children.

and welll, now I'm thinking if I should back out of the LVN program, and continue to do my prereqs for RN, since I already have a good job that pays good money already. (and doesn't LVN's start around $15-19, of which I'm already making like a LVN??)

I don't want to regret it.. because 3 years ago I started an LVN program, but backed out...to go back to school to do my RN (that's why I finished all my G.E. and even received my A.S. already in Natural Science). But I regret it now. My friend who I started that program with three years ago, went through with the program... and has been an LVN since she graduated and now is making $30/hr.. plus she's back at school working on RN prereqs.

... I'm stressing myself out over this.. I need all your advice.

Should I just keep working here at Stanford getting paid $20/hr while finishing my A&P and micro, then apply everywhere... or should I go through with the LVN program (that I already got accepted to) for experience and already work as a nurse, but I'm already making the same as an LVN starting out or maybe more??

There are advantages and disadvantages.

Being an LVN first will give me experience as beinga nurse, on the nclex, decent money, I can be qualified for school reimbursment when I go back for my RN, etc... disadvantage, I'm getting paid already like an LVN.

being an RN, is of course a plus... but the wait and lottery are the disadvantages (as well as not knowing how long it will take you).

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Hello! I completed a Southern California LVN program last year, but my advice is to stick with your $20 hourly job while you continue to try to gain acceptance into an RN program. Being an LVN will expose you to some great experiences, but you will likely take a slight pay cut for the first few years of your career.

I left Southern California less than one year ago. An outpatient clinic offered $15 per hour, most local hospitals offered $17 hourly, and most nursing homes offered $17 to $21 hourly. You will take a pay cut if you are not willing to work at a nursing home.

I have a few questions? Will that $20 an hour job be with you for a long time? I mean if you look 5 to 10 years from now, will the $20 job be still there for you? Things do change and managment can change also right for the $20 an hour job? If you are a LVN, you will always have the license to work as a LVN..

Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I think you should take the job. The only reason I got my LVn on the way to my RN is because I'd have the experience, and I wanted a decent paying job. If you already have the decent paying job, and it will be flexible with school. Take the job.

I have this dilemma too.. I already make 29$hr in my field, but...

if you take the job and you continue to work toward your RN. what will you do once you get excepted into the RN program? Will you quit and bring in zero dollars at that time? How will you support yourself through RN school if nursing is your goal? Will taking this job mean you will not become a nurse? I had to think about this too. I want to be a nurse. Regardless of how much money I make now. I have to make some hard decisions because I need to support a family too. I will be going to LVN school because it is the only night program around here. If I go to RN school I will have to quit because my line of work is only between 8-5. So really think about your goals. But maybe your current job has hours that will allow you to go to RN school later. Best of luck!:)

I have a few questions? Will that $20 an hour job be with you for a long time? I mean if you look 5 to 10 years from now, will the $20 job be still there for you? Things do change and managment can change also right for the $20 an hour job? If you are a LVN, you will always have the license to work as a LVN..

yeah I'm sure it's a pretty stable job. I work as a customer service rep for the clinical labs here at Stanford Hospital, It is a long term posiition, because it it needed for the hospital. I thought about it a lot after seeing a lot of you respond back, and I think in the end I still want to go for LVN, although I will paying a lot for this private program I think putting your own money into school is a good investment anyway and also, there are a lot of bridge programs in my area, even my private school wich is an accredited school (WASC accredited as well bvnpt) etc., has a bridge program (it costs a lot, but as long I can ge a RN faster then it wouldn't matter to me.

thanks guys

yeah I'm sure it's a pretty stable job. I work as a customer service rep for the clinical labs here at Stanford Hospital, It is a long term posiition, because it it needed for the hospital. I thought about it a lot after seeing a lot of you respond back, and I think in the end I still want to go for LVN, although I will paying a lot for this private program I think putting your own money into school is a good investment anyway and also, there are a lot of bridge programs in my area, even my private school wich is an accredited school (WASC accredited as well bvnpt) etc., has a bridge program (it costs a lot, but as long I can ge a RN faster then it wouldn't matter to me.

thanks guys

I live near your area..Why did you go to private school for LVN? You know Mission College in Santa Clara has an LVN program and cost about only $2500 for the whole three semesters..I was going to apply there..You need to take some tests and pass them plus take one course anatomy and phisology.. Then after you did all that, you have to wait out a semester to see if you get accepted or not..

I went to community college in the East Bay for my LVN..It only cost $2500 for the whole program...I know private schools can cost $22,000 for the whole program..

Specializes in OB/GYN.

Can you do both? I know that may sound insane, but I am in an evening program. Most students work full time jobs during the day and are taking the LVN program at night.

good luck with your decision making. I know it must be a tough one for you.

I live near your area..Why did you go to private school for LVN? You know Mission College in Santa Clara has an LVN program and cost about only $2500 for the whole three semesters..I was going to apply there..You need to take some tests and pass them plus take one course anatomy and phisology.. Then after you did all that, you have to wait out a semester to see if you get accepted or not..

I went to community college in the East Bay for my LVN..It only cost $2500 for the whole program...I know private schools can cost $22,000 for the whole program..

Well when I inquired about mission college's LVN program, you still needed both a&p believe now, and I haven't taken it yet, also they said it is very impacted and that there is a waitlist there also, so I didn't want to wait another year or so and then apply for lvn, cause if I needed a&p to apply then I would've just taken those classes plus micro and just apply to RN instead of LVN. That's why I went for the private school, there's no wait, no prereqs, etc..etc.

Are you already a LVN or a RN? and where did you go to school?

Can you do both? I know that may sound insane, but I am in an evening program. Most students work full time jobs during the day and are taking the LVN program at night.

good luck with your decision making. I know it must be a tough one for you.

yeah I can do both, my LVN programs during the day M-Th (fridays off) from 8-4:30. then I can work in the evenings, probably 6-10, my work says its up to me how many hours I want to work and when to start, because I am per diem, I tell them my schedule for that week, if I'm free, then between those hours I want to work they can call me when they need me to come in, but if I can't do a certain week, example if I need to do my clinical in the evenings, then I let them know in advance and they won't call me.

are you're students overwhelmed with the program and working at the same time... is it doable?

yeah I can do both, my LVN programs during the day M-Th (fridays off) from 8-4:30. then I can work in the evenings, probably 6-10, my work says its up to me how many hours I want to work and when to start, because I am per diem, I tell them my schedule for that week, if I'm free, then between those hours I want to work they can call me when they need me to come in, but if I can't do a certain week, example if I need to do my clinical in the evenings, then I let them know in advance and they won't call me.

are you're students overwhelmed with the program and working at the same time... is it doable?

It will be hard. Many days you will cry and want to slam you head against the wall you are so tired/frustrated. Still you can do it.

I worked full time 3:30-11ish and got home close to midnight. It helped that the calls in our call center fell off around 8:30pm. I also sweet talked the IT guy into giving me internet access at my computer terminal to do my research/communicate with my classmates and Word/Excel/Powerpoint to type up my homwork! :lol2:

I had to be at hospital clinical (not nursing, but scrubbing) dressed and sitting in OR report at 6:30am. I had one free day a week that was eaten up writing papers and catching up on sleep/cooking/laundry/housecleaning

Just keep thinking about the prize at the end. BLOCK EVERYTHING ELSE OUT! The sleep deprivation, the lack of money, the body aches, the piles of laundry, the less than spotless house, the kids eating mac & Cheese four days in a row....etc.

You can do it. I don't know you, but I really believe you will make I this time!!!

It will be hard. Many days you will cry and want to slam you head against the wall you are so tired/frustrated. Still you can do it.

I worked full time 3:30-11ish and got home close to midnight. It helped that the calls in our call center fell off around 8:30pm. I also sweet talked the IT guy into giving me internet access at my computer terminal to do my research/communicate with my classmates and Word/Excel/Powerpoint to type up my homwork! :lol2:

I had to be at hospital clinical (not nursing, but scrubbing) dressed and sitting in OR report at 6:30am. I had one free day a week that was eaten up writing papers and catching up on sleep/cooking/laundry/housecleaning

Just keep thinking about the prize at the end. BLOCK EVERYTHING ELSE OUT! The sleep deprivation, the lack of money, the body aches, the piles of laundry, the less than spotless house, the kids eating mac & Cheese four days in a row....etc.

You can do it. I don't know you, but I really believe you will make I this time!!!

thanks so much for your advice and support. That's why I love this forum, because there are a lot of people that knows what you're going through.

My work has internet access at my work, that's why I'm on it right now at work, when things gets slow of course.

thanks again! :nuke:

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