Are LVN/LPN programs a waste of time? BSN ultimate goal.

Sour Lemon · Sep 23, 2020

You really need to look at the schools you're interested in and see how those specific schools score applicants. Where I went to school, LVNs were on a different track than unlicensed students. The weren't competing for seats in the same program.

I would not want to be an LVN in the bay area ...especially not a new graduate LVN. In fact, I'd prepare myself for the possibility of having to move for job experience, even as a new graduate BSN.

caliotter3 · Sep 23, 2020

Becoming an LVN shows a higher level of commitment to nursing in the admissions process. It gives one an option for employment should their BSN efforts take longer or become further from their reach.

When I attended a Bay area BSN program, LVNs had a leg up gaining admission.

Your questions might be answered by a frank informational interview with the nursing advisor at local programs that interest you. You could save a lot of valuable time and effort by reaching out now.

Michellestudentnurse, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2020

That sounds like a waste of time and money. LVN school is not free. Why not just go out of state for your BSN. I’m from the bay and I moved for my BSN, graduated this year and I have my California license already

Also, I had no CNA or LVN experience, only caregiving

Nurseguysf · Sep 23, 2020

On 9/22/2020 at 11:09 PM, Sour Lemon said:

You really need to look at the schools you're interested in and see how those specific schools score applicants. Where I went to school, LVNs were on a different track than unlicensed students. The weren't competing for seats in the same program.

I would not want to be an LVN in the bay area ...especially not a new graduate LVN. In fact, I'd prepare myself for the possibility of having to move for job experience, even as a new graduate BSN.

Hey there! So you totally get how it is here! If you don’t mind me asking, where did you end up going? I’m just wondering if it is just California specifically that’s impacted and nearly impossible to get into or if it’s just nursing programs in general and maybe in other states it’s not as impossible. Thank you!

Nurseguysf · Sep 23, 2020

12 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

Becoming an LVN shows a higher level of commitment to nursing in the admissions process. It gives one an option for employment should their BSN efforts take longer or become further from their reach.

When I attended a Bay area BSN program, LVNs had a leg up gaining admission.

Your questions might be answered by a frank informational interview with the nursing advisor at local programs that interest you. You could save a lot of valuable time and effort by reaching out now.

Thank you so much for your reply. I did have a meeting with Unitek, but it just seemed so strange to me. They said that if you do their LVN training you’ll have a higher possibility of getting into their bachelors, but, some students have waited years. So basically, it’s about $50k for the possibility of not getting in. I’m still debating as I do see some jobs available For LVNs-but not many. I’ll continue reaching out! Thank you.

caliotter3 · Sep 23, 2020

Unitek wants too much for their program. Your best bet is an LVN program at a community college where you can be earning transferrable college credit and have the opportunity for a better recognized degree. Any public community college (or state school for that matter for the BSN) is going to be a better bang for your buck if you can get admitted. See if Mission College in Santa Clara still has their LVN program. I think there was an LVN program at SFCC, but I don't think it is still open.

Added: Just checked CCSF. They have an LVN program but it is a certificate program. Not all community colleges offer the option to get a degree with the LVN program. Still a better option than paying $50K to Unitek.

Sour Lemon · Sep 23, 2020

3 hours ago, Nurseguysf said:

Hey there! So you totally get how it is here! If you don’t mind me asking, where did you end up going? I’m just wondering if it is just California specifically that’s impacted and nearly impossible to get into or if it’s just nursing programs in general and maybe in other states it’s not as impossible. Thank you!

I'm in Southern California and actually went to school in Texas. I worked for two years in Texas before moving here. My views come from a few different places.

As a new graduate in Texas, I worked with several new graduates (RN) from California who couldn't find jobs in their state. And as an RN in California, I've worked with new graduate LVNs who were unable to find LVN jobs. They worked as unit clerks and telemetry monitors, instead. To top it off, my past two acute care employers both laid off all LVN staff. There were LVNs who had been there for 30+ years. Poof! Gone! I'm under the impression that the bay area is even worse, but your local sources would know better than I do.

As a side note, the cost of living is HIGH in California. I'm sure you're already well aware of that fact. Paying off Texas student loans on a California income is dreamy. Paying off California student loans on a Texas income ...not so much.

TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN · Sep 24, 2020

On 9/22/2020 at 6:36 PM, Nurseguysf said:

BSN programs here have years of wait lists or you have to basically have 4.0s, crazy TEAS scores, experience etc. I'm sure many of you already know this. I was also told recently that while Licensed vocational nurses are totally competent and many are amazing at what they do, these roles are basically becoming obsolete in many settings-especially hospitals.

It's getting so tiring reading these same things over and over. First off, no, you don't have to do any of those things. You just have to make the minimum. NO school in the country would set a 2.5 GPA minimum with an 80% on an entrance exam if they were going to only accept 4.0 and a 95%. That's a TON of extra work that they have to do. Trust me, they do not want that. I'd be willing to bet that almost all claims of people being turned down because they didn't meet impossible standards were really turned down because they simply just weren't the best choice. You're more than your grades. They don't care whether or not you can pass classes in school, any idiot can get all As, they care whether or not you're going to get licensed and how you working is going to reflect on their school. If an essay is part of your application, they're not looking for someone listing a bunch of cliches, they're looking for if and how you're going to succeed.

Your GPA only tells half the story about your grades. They expect to see grades dropping in the science classes, because even scientists have to look things up, but then getting a C in your basic composition class where simply just using the school's proofreading resources can turn ANY essay into an A can cause wondering if you're going to be the kind of student that will ask for help in a major that pretty much requires asking for help. Plus GPA isn't even an accurate representation of your grades. It's your grade per semester hour, which means absolutely nothing. It doesn't tell a single thing about your school performance. That's why only the minimum matters.

The reality is that there's more students than there are spots in classes. Schools have to decide who gets in and who doesn't. They're going to look at you completely as a student and make a decision based on that. And realistically, the 3.0 student who was been working with them since their first semester on planning out the classes to take before their application to the program, meeting with them about the grades they got in those classes for advice on retaking or just keeping the grade, who try to be active with their school, is probably going to have a better shot than the 4.0 student that they know nothing else about. They don't want the best grades, they want the best students.

As for LPNs becoming obsolete. No. It's true that hospitals aren't using them as much, but there is no shortage of jobs for LPNs. Hospitals aren't the only place to work as a nurse. It's still a solid route to take. It's financially and mentally a better idea to just get the RN if you can, but getting the LPN first is a good back-up plan.

Sour Lemon · Sep 24, 2020

18 minutes ago, TheDudeWithTheBigDog said:

You might be tired of reading it, but that doesn't mean it's not true. My ADN program considered science GPA - only. I got in as an alternate (10th in line) with a 3.7. Your school may be very different.

Job markets also vary significantly from place to place. LVN is a great option in some markets, but a big gamble in others.

I'm curious as to what state you're in. People around my area (Southern California) even have trouble getting into prerequisite classes. Luckily, I went to school elsewhere (Texas).

TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN · Sep 24, 2020

And you know it was purely because of GPA because the school came to you directly and said "you're only getting in as an alternate because your GPA is only 3.7?"

Or do you notice the complete lack of any people who make these decisions for schools backing up the claims?

Just because someone said it on the internet, that doesn't automatically make it true. Know what is true, what these schools tell you when you call and ask.

Sour Lemon · Sep 24, 2020

5 minutes ago, TheDudeWithTheBigDog said:

And you know it was purely because of GPA because the school came to you directly and said "you're only getting in as an alternate because your GPA is only 3.7?"

Or do you notice the complete lack of any people who make these decisions for schools backing up the claims?

Just because someone said it on the internet, that doesn't automatically make it true. Know what is true, what these schools tell you when you call and ask.

Did they tell me, personally, what the criteria was? It was posted on their site when I applied. It might have been mentioned to me personally. I can only recall a representative of the program saying they scored that way to admit students with the best chance of successfully completing the program. There was no essay, no interview, no opportunity to discuss or list experience, etc. Admission was based ONLY on GPA (competitive entry) ...and of the hard sciences- not any other classes. There were basic reading/math placement tests and non-science prerequisites, but those were pass/fail types of requirements and they were not used to rank students.

I was told I was an alternate when admission acceptance letters were sent out. The reason I was told then was because I had to attend orientation, submit vaccine information, pay for a background check, etc. to maintain eligibility to step in. If I failed to complete these things, I'd be skipped over and the alternate behind me would be admitted instead.

I knew my place in line because I called the admission office and asked what it was. The tasks I had to complete were expensive and time consuming ...and I wanted to know how distant my chances were.

I had actually applied to an LVN program that accepted anyone who met the minimum requirements. Their wait list was 2+ years long, though ...so I ended up getting into the RN program faster.