How much to LVNs REALLY make just starting out of school in SA??

U.S.A. Texas

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I have an ultimate goal in mind, but I can't get there until I take the steps. So, I'm looking into the LVN program. Anyway, I've searched this forum for hours trying to find out how much LVNs in San Antonio REALLY make just coming out of school. I saw an ad that said they paid LVNs $20 to $25/hr., but I think that was for a short term contract thing. Then my husband found an ad in the want ads that said only $13 to $15. If I'm going to spend $20,000 on a school then I thought it should be a little more worth it once I got out. If it truly is only $15/hr then I'm not even going to bother, but I was hoping for some realistic input.

Thanks for the input. (sorry for typos)

I don't know what Concorde is, but you should look into different programs. 20K is A LOT of money to become an LVN.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Concorde costs $20k for their LVN program. I'm debating on whether to accept their offer for enrollment or not simply because I am still unsure of the wages vs. demand for new grads here in the Fort Worth area. I really don't want to pay $20k for school and only make $13/hour at a job.
The only employer I'm aware of that pays in the $12 to $13 hourly range in Fort Worth is the CareNow Urgent Care clinics. I am a new LVN who completed a $20,000 program late last year and have had no problems finding work in and around Fort Worth. My lowest job offer was $17.75 and the highest offer was $21.00 per hour. I have found that the demand for LVNs is quite solid in the DFW area.

As to the decision to spend $20,000 on a LVN program, the choice is personal and should be pondered carefully. I happily financed the amount because I wanted school to be completed in one year with no waiting lists. Some would say that $20,000 is way too much to spend on an LVN license, but my choice to do so has worked out for me.

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Thank you for your input and encouragement, I appreciate it. :) I've decided to go for it. I know my credits won't transfer from Concorde but I plan on staying in LTC and Homecare so I'm ok with just becoming an LVN (at least for now). Like you, I just want to do my program in a year with no waiting lists.

The only employer I'm aware of that pays in the $12 to $13 hourly range in Fort Worth is the CareNow Urgent Care clinics. I am a new LVN who completed a $20,000 program late last year and have had no problems finding work in and around Fort Worth. My lowest job offer was $17.75 and the highest offer was $21.00 per hour. I have found that the demand for LVNs is quite solid in the DFW area.

As to the decision to spend $20,000 on a LVN program, the choice is personal and should be pondered carefully. I happily financed the amount because I wanted school to be completed in one year with no waiting lists. Some would say that $20,000 is way too much to spend on an LVN license, but my choice to do so has worked out for me.

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DFW Area: How are LVN's making $21/hr. and RN's making $18-20/hr? What is up with that? Anyone care to elaborate?

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

LTCF's in particular have trouble attracting staff, so they pay more is my suspicion.

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High turnover, low morale and lack of good/consistant staffing = harder working conditions for nurses = higher pay, bonuses, benefits.

LTCF's in particular have trouble attracting staff, so they pay more is my suspicion.
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I agree, I have went to all the schools in San Antonio for the open houses and the wait to get in is obsurd. I have a degree in business mgmt already and you would think I would be considered first over non degree people but they said "no way" and told me that it might realistically take 2-3 times before we would get accepted due to teacher shortages. I found a school yesterday, Galen College of Nursing that does the LVN for about 15-17000 for the first year. I think it is worth it, like you stated. It might be more, but we do not have to wait these crazy time periods just to get started.

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Oh my gosh... the sound of paying $20,000 for a 1 year LVN program makes me cringe... I'm paying roughly $600 for each of my 4 semesters at my community college for their ADN program (no waiting list). If you add $600 worth of used books for the entire 2 year program, it will be roughly $3,000 for the whole program to become a RN.

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Specializes in ICU, CV-Thoracic Sx, Internal Medicine.

I attended Galen back in 2000 and the total cost was just a tad over 10k. I worked ata local SA hospital right after graduation for $10.50, that's with my night shift! LOL

The value in attending the higher tuition private schools is as others have mentioned, quicker admission without sacrficing quality. My goal was to use the LVN experience as bridge to a LVN-RN program, which at that time I already had all of my pre-reqs for a RN program and was on 2 waiting lists. Tired of waiting I took my chances on Galen.

Without going through all the details from there until now, let's jut say that 2.5 years after obtaining my LVN I was a RN grad with great hospital, ICU, experience. Then 6 years after that, just this month I completed my MSN ACNP program.

Bottom line is that my LVN position allowed me the mobility and afforded me the financial means (I.e. Agency work) to pay my own way through the rest of my education. I only have that original student loan, which is an amazing thing when compared to other Masters prepared professionals accumulate in loans.

Consider what other benefits having a LVN education can provide you other than the short-term goal of what size hourly wage it will immediately bring you.

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The Commuter - I hope to find a job that pays that much after graduating from LVN school!!! Where was it or what field(area of expertice) was it? I make $12.50 right now as an admin.assist. and will graduate in Dec.2011 as an LVN. I just hope that it is more than that, or I'll kind of feel like it was a waste of time. Do you have any tips for me, alot of the jobs say 1+ years experience, but how do you get experience if noone wants to hire you. Very nerveous about it all, can you tell? By the way we have the same birthday, except mine is 2-7-72

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
The Commuter - I hope to find a job that pays that much after graduating from LVN school!!! Where was it or what field(area of expertice) was it? I make $12.50 right now as an admin.assist. and will graduate in Dec.2011 as an LVN. I just hope that it is more than that, or I'll kind of feel like it was a waste of time. Do you have any tips for me, alot of the jobs say 1+ years experience, but how do you get experience if noone wants to hire you. Very nerveous about it all, can you tell? By the way we have the same birthday, except mine is 2-7-72
The post that you are responding to (about the pay rates) was made in June 2006. Plenty has taken place since then. My friend and I are now new grad RNs. Back then, those quoted pay rates were for LTC facilities, a.k.a. nursing homes.
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I can't believe you guys paid that much for lvn school. The community college I go to the program is only 3200 and the RN program is only 7000.

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