CNA or LVN?

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Hello everyone,

I wanted to see what was the best path for me to take.

I am currently struggling financially since my family are first-generation immigrants. (luckily we are now citizens)

I live in California. I was planning to get my LVN and then take my prereqs for nursing school while working as one.

I know that LVN's make enough to help pay the bills (around 18). But knowing that LVN's are not well used in acute settings and getting a job as LVN is difficult in California, I am thinking of just getting my CNA certification instead.

This way, I will work as a CNA during the year that I would be taking LVN courses, and hopefully get a pay raise when I deserve it.

Hence I can still be exposed to nursing in an acute setting and help pay the bills while I pursue a RN career.

For experienced CNA's (and others), what is your current salary? Do you think it is best for me to get my CNA instead?

edit* I am planning to work CNA 30 hours a week (12hr weekends) and take three prereq courses a semester (half year) at a community college.

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Specializes in LTC.

I am in Texas, and after 2 years of working as a CNA I made 7.55/hr. I had to quit to start LVN school (which I finish next month.) I worked full time during my prereqs but there is no way I could work during LVN school. Nobody in my class does. And I really doubt you will be exposed to nursing in an acute setting as a CNA. Most hospitals want experience before you will be hired, and even if you are hired, you won't really get enough of a chance to see what the nurse does because you have your own job to do. Not saying you won't see any, but it probably will not be the amount you want. I loved being a CNA, but now that I am going through nursing school I see that they are very very different things. Being a CNA will give you a good foundation for some basic nursing skills, but if you want to pay the bills I might look for a retail job, because I made close to minimum wage after 2 years.

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As a CNA did you work at an acute setting?

Thanks for the help btw.

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And which part of Texas do you live in?

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Specializes in LTC.

I worked in a nursing home. Most hospitals (at least in this area) want a few years experience woking in a nursing home before they hire you. I live in west Texas.

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Anyone else has a take on this?

I know some CNA's who make enough to help pay the bills and also have a great exposure to most of what the nurses do. I hear you have to be either a PCT or Nurse Tech though... How about California?

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In some areas of CA, getting a CNA job is almost as difficult as getting an LVN job. You aren't going to pay many bills on CNA pay unless you do private duty for a client who pays well. Personally, I would start out as a CNA so that you will have less invested, moneywise, should you find getting a job to be easier said than done. Once you have a job, you can decide from that vantage point, whether you want to go the LVN or RN route. Good luck in your decision.

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Thank you caliotter. You pointed out everything that was going through my mind this past month.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

I live in MD, so I really can't help in regards to pay. However I will say this: many of my classmates in nursing school manage to survive by working weekends at a hospital. They cut back on a lot of things though, so minimizing will be key to surviving through school. After 2 years of being an aide, I make around 11/hr. Its still hard for me to get my foot into a hospital, so I'm hoping after a couple of semesters nursing school (I'm still in my first), I can finally get into a hospital :) I'm only working on weekends, so its hard..but if you put your mind to it, you can make it through. Good luck :)

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What is an LVN is it like LPN?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
What is an LVN is it like LPN?

LPN = Licensed Practical Nurse (48 states use this title to refer to their basic nurses)

LVN = Licensed Vocational Nurse (Two states - California and Texas - use this title to refer to their basic nurses)

In other words, LPN and LVN are interchangeable. They are the same thing. For example, if a California LVN were to move to Florida, his/her title would change to LPN. However, the person is still the same classification of nurse.

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KimberlyCNA,

It must be very tough in your state. Good luck to you too! Best Wishes!

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