ACC vs WGU

Loo17 · Nov 30, 2014

WGU does have a pre-licensure program for those residing in certain states.

kodc · Nov 30, 2014

WGU does have a pre-licensure program for those residing in certain states.

I'm not so sure that you actually have to reside in the state. However you will certainly have to travel to do both labs and clinicals.

I don't know if the pre-licensure is solely for people with a degree but wanting to become a nurse. It seems like when you apply they will tell you any deficiencies you'll need to make up.

"To be considered for enrollment in the program, students must have earned a bachelor's or associate's degree AND/OR completed the following program admissions prerequisites:..."

http://www.wgu.edu/online_health_professions_degrees/bachelor_science_nursing_licensure

KO

msa9179 · Dec 2, 2014

I have told this story a few times throughout AN, so please forgive me if you have already read it elsewhere, but my nursing education experience might help guide you. I started my nursing education in my late 20's, after I was married and had debt, and time and money was not on my side. As I looked at the local community college system, it would have taken me like 1.5-2 years probably to complete the prerequisites required for admission into the RN/ADN program. Then, I would have to apply and wait on admission to the ADN program (who knows how long that would take), and then the program would take 2 years to get my RN. Instead, I applied to the LVN program, and got in after one semester of waiting, as it required no prerequisites. I was able to work weekends and some nights as a CNA, and my wife was an LVN at the time, so we were able to make ends meet while I got right into school. I was an LVN after only one year, and then was able to get a reasonable paying job in Austin TX at a nursing home (I think I made like $18.50 an hour), and I eventually moved into the hospital setting in a system that still uses some LVN's for MedSurg floors. So, while working as an LVN and earning a modest, but respectable wage, I finished my RN through Excelsior College. That took about 14 months. I then was able to bump up to RN status and pay at the hospital, and eventually did my BSN through WGU. The BSN took me 1.5 years (or 3 of their six-month terms). I am now starting my MSN through WGU, and continue to work as an RN/BSN at the same hospital. Another noteworthy aspect of all of this is that my wife developed health problems and had to basically quit working back when I was still an LVN. Therefore, I worked two jobs (hospital and home health), working mostly full-time at both places (6-7 12-hour night shifts per week) while doing Excelsior for my RN and then WGU for my BSN. Since both are basically self-paced, I was able to work my schooling into my already busy schedule and achieve my educational goals. There is no way I could have done my RN or BSN through a more traditional program. Also, I feel like my experience in working as a CNA, then LVN, and then RN, with all of the continuous schooling, has made me a stronger nurse (versus an RN/BSN straight out of a 4-year program). Now, if you have the time and $$$ to go straight into an RN or BSN program, that is great and I recommend it. However, if your life is anything like mine, and those are not viable options, you can start with the LVN and piece together your education from the bottom to the top, just as I did. Basically, 7 years have passed since I started my LVN program to now. I did take some time off between each new level of school. If I had pushed harder, I could have gone from LVN to BSN in like 3-4 years probably.

anyway, I hope this helps. The main idea is that it can be done. And, starting as an LVN is perfectly okay. I wouldn't recommend planning your career as an LVN, but it is a reasonable place to start and get decent work and nursing experience while continuing your education.

Please message me if you have any other specific questions or if I can help in any way.

Are you in Austin? you mention ACC...... is that Austin Community College?

I don't know much about the WGU pre-licensure program, but my understanding is that it is only available in certain areas, and I'm quite sure the clinical hours are immense, so I don't know if "traveling" to do clinicals is an option. You will have to contact WGU to find out those details.

If you are in the Austin area, I know there are an assortment of schools around for both ADN/RN and/or LVN, including Austin Community College, Temple College in Temple, Central Texas College in Killeen, and Career Point College in Austin. I think I might have heard that Temple College may have a campus in Taylor also (not sure, don't quote me on that).

I would double-check the 20-month LVN program at ACC. That seems a bit long, unless you are taking the summer off or something. I completed my LVN through Cisco Junior College at their campus in Abilene Texas, and it took only 12 months (going to school year-round for the 12-months straight).

again, let me know if you have any questions I might be able to help with.

Oh, and by the way, The big hospital players in Austin (Seton and St Davids) don't have LVN's as floor nurses (as far as I know). I worked MedSurg as an LVN at Scott & White Hospital in Temple. I now work at their location in Round Rock TX (next to Austin) in the ICU. I don't see any LVN's working the floor in Round Rock, but I know there are tons in Temple still and a lot in the various S&W clinics in the Austin area.