Are you currently attending or graduated from a trade school?What was your experience like

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Ok so i am looking to take the TEAS to get in Vista since they just opened up their LVN program and it is not far from where I live. The cost of the program is 28,000 but the military is paying for my school. Anyways, i have heard alot of bad stories about trade schools but I love trade schools because it's faster to get in the program without waiting for eternity for the nursing college programs, co reqs and pre reqs to get done so I am taking this route so I can start working right away since I have little ones that depend on me. Anyways was it hard to get a job after you completed your school from a trade school and btw i am looking forward to going through our local college for my ADN after i graduate and work as an LVN. What was your experience like in trade school? Did you like the program? Did you get job after passing NCLEX?

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Is it accredited? That's the question you need to ask.

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$28k for an LPN/LVN program is highway robbery. As a US taxpayer, I'm deeply offended that my hard-earned money can be being wasted this way.

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Sorry i served in the us military so therefore these are my benefits that I am using to pay for my school. Thanks

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Sorry i served in the us military so therefore these are my benefits that I am using to pay for my school. Thanks

Yes, I understand that, and I understand that you don't care that it's a huge waste of money because it's not your money, it's ours.

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I know you are anxious to get started, but have you considered that your GI Bill funds could go to a program that will give you much more opportunity? Why get an LVN when you could get a BSN if it's free to you? You could even get a CNA and work while in school.

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Also, i would be extremely wary of a school that charges that much for an LVN. Be sure to check that they are accredited, and find out what their pass rates and attrition rates are. Something doesn't make sense here.

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.
Sorry i served in the us military so therefore these are my benefits that I am using to pay for my school. Thanks

That's not how I interpreted the post. I think elkpark meant that the trade school was a waste. Not paying for veterans' education. The VA (or whoever administers the GI Bill funds) should have to follow some quality vs. cost guidelines. The LPN program at the public technical college near me only costs about $6k, at the community college about $10k and easy to get in to, and you could probably get a BSN for $30k at a public school. Why not use the funds available to you to get as far as possible?

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I actually just want to get my LVN and work right away is the main reason why I wanted to go to Vista. I literally took the whole day to think about what you said and I am really considering going to a local college.Thank you and you are right

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Specializes in Critical Care, Trauma.

For $28k I would look into ADN-RN programs. It's not very common, but some ADN programs will award you a LPN certificate and let you take the NCLEX-PN at the half-way point. That's how my first choice school was. My current school doesn't do that, but awards you with a CNA-2 certificate after the first three terms. I'd ask any nearby ADN programs if they do anything like this.

If getting your LPN first, working, then returning to get your RN is what you truly want to do... How much is the military willing to pay for? Will the military help pay for your RN after they pay for your LPN? I'm not military, so I'm not very familiar with their GI benefits.

Skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes are almost always hiring LPNs. At the SNF I worked at in Washington, the LPNs made about $20/hr. It's nitty gritty work (I worked as a CNA in one for almost 3 years) and I've seen the nurses have as many as 70 patients (on nights), but it can get you the experience to get a job elsewhere. I have a LPN buddies that work in urgent care clinics, snfs, and medical offices.

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That's not how I interpreted the post. I think elkpark meant that the trade school was a waste. Not paying for veterans' education.

Not even that trade school is necessarily a "waste," but it's a waste of money to pay that much for an LVN program, when there are so many much cheaper, probably better, LVN programs around. I have no problems at all with the idea of veterans getting educational (and other) benefits in return for their service, but I hate to see that money get wasted on ridiculously overpriced programs (when people would probably be more cautious if they were spending their own money).

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I actually just want to get my LVN and work right away is the main reason why I wanted to go to Vista. I literally took the whole day to think about what you said and I am really considering going to a local college.Thank you and you are right

I really admire how you took everyone's feedback (even though we all basically said don't do the thing you want to do) and considered it. That isn't a skill everyone has, and it is the kind of thing that can help you reach all your goals. I wish the best for you on your journey to becoming a nurse! :)

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