Do private LVN program while waiting to get into RN program or wait?

Published Sep 28, 2009

4 Posts

I need some advice on whether I should complete a private LVN program while I am waiting to get into a RN program. I foresee myself waiting 2 ½-3 years or longer to get into a program. I am in California, the worst state with a very long wait list! Another factor is my pre-req grades and GPA are not the best which makes me a very low ranking applicant. They are: Anatomy-B, Physiology-C, Microbiology-C, English (some schools)-A with an accumulative GPA of 2.7. I have been waiting 9 months so far and I feel that I have to make a decision about doing a private LVN program soon. I would be doing a 16 month part time LVN program starting in December and ending in March 2011. If I start the LVN program any later, I think I would be entering time that I would be possibly be accepted into RN programs. So I have to decide now what I am going to do. Realistically, I think that I would be accepted into a RN program around fall of 2011 at the earliest.

A little about me: I am a 31 year old male and fear possibly waiting 3 plus years before even getting accepted into a program. My applications are at Saddleback , Cypress and Santa Ana college (#869 at SAC). I decided to write up a pro's and con's list.

Pro's

- No wait

- Completion of 1 year of the R.N program

- Would be done one year earlier from the R.N. program

- More experience, Could work as an LVN while waiting to get into R.N program.

- Smaller class size in LVN school

Con's

- $26,000 student loan

- More work: 16 months , NCLEX exam, bridge program

- Could be accepted into a RN program while in the LVN program

I only make around $17,000 a year right now. I figure that my income will be doubled once I get my R.N. license. And if I choose to live at the same income level I am at now, I could pay the student loan off in a little over a year. My life feels so stagnant right now, I feel like I am not going anywhere. Any advice, thoughts or insight would be much appreciated. What would you do? Thanks