How do I convince my parents to let me go through an LVN program?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hey everyone! I need advice for something. I'm almost done with my nursing prerequisites and I'm considering going to the LVN-RN pathway. I've heard from my nursing parents that if I go on this path, I'll be wasting my time because hospitals are phasing out LVNs. I understand that to be true but I plan to advance to becoming an RN ideally after I've worked for a few years. I say ideally cause I've been advised that if I choose to become an LVN first, that I'll probably be an LVN for longer than I think. I've weighed the pros and cons of it and I'm leaning strongly towards becoming an LVN first. (Any additional pros and cons are welcome as it is a huge decision and it'd be helpful to consider.) However my parents want me to go straight to RN and they're the ones paying for my education. I know that people who go through the LVN route do so out of economic necessity, but I have reasons. I wanted to become an LVN first so I can get work experience to make myself more hirable( yes I'm aware that I have to be creative about it, in terms of adding it to my resume but I think it helps more than just me getting a degree and having no experience), and to save up so when I get my ADN, I can move out once I get a nursing job and start living independently. Basically, I'm doing it to become financially stable in the long run. With that said, how do I convince my parents to financially support my choice to become an LVN first? They responded adversely to me suggesting it, despite me saying several times that I was going to continue my education to become an RN. I understand they want the best for me, but I have definitely thought this out. It's a matter of how they'll recieve it, which I can't control. Worse case scenario, I'll be forced to just become an RN. That isn't bad, it's something I can deal with. Ideally though, I want to become an LVN and then come back to school to become an ADN. Any tips on how to convince them?

Got it but where do you live? :0 Also I double check the job market often and I'm also still doing my prereqs so I still have time to consider. Also I took into consideration that a nurse friend of mine went straight for her BSN and she had to go back to become an LVN because she wasn't getting a job on a degree alone. Of course it's different for everyone so I have to consider that too. I'm definitely gonna double check while I still have time. Thank you though.

I think you must be misunderstanding your nurse friend. The only reason I can think of that would require her to go back for her Lpn would be that she did not graduate with her bsn, did not pass the nclex, and/or did not get license. (And you're right, you cannot get a RN job on degree alone, must have a license). It would be like a nurse going back to get her cna license, makes no sense because the nurse role includes cna roles. I 1000% agree with your parents. You should get your ADN if you are able to. No advantage at all to doing it LVN-RN for you. (Agreeing with other posters that some circumstances would necessitate that route, not yours).

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I think you need to change your perseption of what you think is the best way. I'm reading that your parents are both nurses? Listen to them.

Ok, you want a third party to give you advice, a stranger from the internet. This is what I'm hearing:

You want to be an RN.

You want to be financially independent.

Your parents are willing to pay for the education.

I'm not sure I understand why you're trying to make things hard. The scenario you propose is pretty much a no-brainer. Any idea how much a four year degree costs?

If you want experience that will enhance your job prospects take a job as a nursing assistant, or take an EMT course, volunteer in a hospital or take any customer service job. Many RNs walk into positions on a unit the worked on in a hospital as a nursing assistant (as long as they were a good nursing assistant).

If you can't find a job in the area you're in, consider moving to an area nurses are needed.

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Specializes in NICU.

then try cna school 5 weeks and you are working.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

If you want experience that will enhance your job prospects take a job as a nursing assistant, or take an EMT course, volunteer in a hospital or take any customer service job.

Nursing assistant job is a good idea. It may sound crazy to you, but CNA experience will be just as beneficial as LVN experience when it comes to trying to make your resume look more attractive to an employer. Also, if you want to work in a hospital, being a CNA is a good way to get your foot in the door. Being a LVN might not get you into a hospital at all (the jobs may be in other settings).

I think that if you want to save up money, become financially independent, and gain experience, the most direct route to your goals is to become a nursing aide, work at a hospital and save your paychecks while attending school to be an RN. You can save up and move out as soon as you graduate and get a nursing job...I did it, and I was never an LVN.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

I feel like I'm pretty much echoing what everyone here has said.

If you want financial independence so you can move out, then take the ADN route. It's two years and you can get it over with. The LPN takes one year and the LPN-RN path takes one year assuming you pass the bridge class and in some schools like mine, some LPNs get placed in the second semester of the first year (this means it will take them a year and a half to get their ADN) instead of the first semester of the second year (one year to get their ADN).

Also, it's a bad idea to work full time and pay bills while enrolled in the nursing program which is what i'm guessing you'll be doing once you move out. You'll just be spending your savings because there are days you want to study instead of go to work.

If you want experience, try working as a CNA. In some places, a CNA class takes only a month to complete. Don't take a lengthy class because you learn on the job. CNAs don't do a lot of technical skills and they don't do anything that requires major critical thinking. it's not a lot of money but it works just fine and if the hopsital you work in likes you, they can offer you a spot once you get your RN license Also when you do get into the nursing program and start clinical rotations, you'll be comfortable working with patients because you have CNA experience.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

If your reason for wanting to be an LVN first is strictly financial, then it just doesn't make sense. Not if your parents are willing to pay for your nursing education. I don't know how many hospitals in your area are still hiring LVNs; they're often limited to nursing homes. Planning to go the LVN-RN route may limit you if you ever decide to move out of California. Many employers don't accept applicants with a California LVN-RN bridge, as a close friend of mine discovered. (Maybe this has changed since then.)

If you want quicker marketability, then I'm with the rest of the gang and think CNA first is the way to go. You're likelier to get a foot in a hospital without a lot of the expense that will have to be duplicated.

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You make a good point to be honest. My parents made that point a lot. But again the reason why I'm choosing it or considering it more is because the nursing job market in California is really weird compared to other states. A lot of the RN jobs I searched up require hospital, or nursing experience, which doesn't exactly mean RN experience and sometimes LVN experience counts, which makes me more hirable and gets me more pay. I basically don't want to end up just having an RN license but no RN or nursing experience, because a lot of jobs in California, especially L.A. require hospital, nursing, or RN experience. Rarely, have I found nursing jobs that accept new grads. I've heavily considered having my parents help me get a job since they're nurses as well, but they work for the County and I looked up their requirements and they definitely require experience and a Bachelor's. I'm not planning to up and move out. It's pretty hard for me because my parents don't want me to for the most part. My parents can still financially support my choice to go through the LVN-RN path. That's why I'm trying to convince them so they can pay for my education choice. I'm basically doing this because CA is a little weird on the nursing job market and the job market in general. I've heard stuff like hospitals phasing out LVNs and ADNs, but other facilities hiring LVNs and ADNs. It's also really weird in that, again, I need a degree and license to get a job, but I also need experience, but I need a job to get experience. It's full circle here. I would go through the simple plan you mentioned, if the nursing job market was more friendly to new grads with no experience here. But they aren't. I've considered volunteering in a hospital and I'll definitely look into it more, since I'll have time waiting to get accepted into a nursing school after I'm done with my prerequisites. It might be easier for me to do that and I am going to consider your point a lot so thank you.

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If your reason for wanting to be an LVN first is strictly financial, then it just doesn't make sense. Not if your parents are willing to pay for your nursing education. I don't know how many hospitals in your area are still hiring LVNs; they're often limited to nursing homes. Planning to go the LVN-RN route may limit you if you ever decide to move out of California. Many employers don't accept applicants with a California LVN-RN bridge, as a close friend of mine discovered. (Maybe this has changed since then.)

If you want quicker marketability, then I'm with the rest of the gang and think CNA first is the way to go. You're likelier to get a foot in a hospital without a lot of the expense that will have to be duplicated.

Actually CNA doesn't sound so bad. But that will also take convincing because, this might sound surprising, but my parents don't like me taking breaks to work. It's kind of irritating cause I proposed something similar to this before but they think that just getting the degree and license is enough. I live in CA, in Los Angeles, it's definitely not enough and they won't let me move out easily.

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I feel like I'm pretty much echoing what everyone here has said.

If you want financial independence so you can move out, then take the ADN route. It's two years and you can get it over with. The LPN takes one year and the LPN-RN path takes one year assuming you pass the bridge class and in some schools like mine, some LPNs get placed in the second semester of the first year (this means it will take them a year and a half to get their ADN) instead of the first semester of the second year (one year to get their ADN).

Also, it's a bad idea to work full time and pay bills while enrolled in the nursing program which is what i'm guessing you'll be doing once you move out. You'll just be spending your savings because there are days you want to study instead of go to work.

If you want experience, try working as a CNA. In some places, a CNA class takes only a month to complete. Don't take a lengthy class because you learn on the job. CNAs don't do a lot of technical skills and they don't do anything that requires major critical thinking. it's not a lot of money but it works just fine and if the hopsital you work in likes you, they can offer you a spot once you get your RN license Also when you do get into the nursing program and start clinical rotations, you'll be comfortable working with patients because you have CNA experience.

Whoa, you know what. The CNA option sounds a lot more better, financial and time wise. I know a college near me that does it. I'm going to consider this more tbh. Thank you so much.

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I've read all of the comments and you guys have a very great point. It'd be better cost wise and time wise if I went straight to ADN. I'm definitely going to get certified as a CNA and work for experience and pay. Considering that it's just one class in the college nearby me, it will definitely be worth it. Plus, my parents won't mind so much cause it's one class and they can kind of leave me alone in that choice. Thank you all for your comments!

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Specializes in Emergency / Disaster.

As a mother myself who generally lets my kid take the lead in her life decisions - just do what your parents want. They are offering you an opportunity that will ultimately cost you more if you do it yourself. If they are willing to support you and pay for your education - just do it their way. Another 4 years at home for a BSN will not hurt you any more (it may put a perceived damper on your social life - but you probably don't need that particular social life anyway). You don't need to make career decisions right now or do much of anything except get through school the way they are recommending. Once you have your degree, you get an entry level job. Most of the interesting jobs from Indeed aren't available to new students - you don't have enough knowledge, experience or wisdom to do them anyway. You will find a job though. Will it be the one you want? Probably not - that's why 22 year olds don't run hospitals. You gain experience and knowledge and move up the ladder gaining more and more responsibility as you age. You also gain wisdom (10 years from now you will make different decisions than you are making right now).

The California job market is hard enough on its own - don't make it harder on yourself. Good Luck.

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As a mother myself who generally lets my kid take the lead in her life decisions - just do what your parents want. They are offering you an opportunity that will ultimately cost you more if you do it yourself. If they are willing to support you and pay for your education - just do it their way. Another 4 years at home for a BSN will not hurt you any more (it may put a perceived damper on your social life - but you probably don't need that particular social life anyway). You don't need to make career decisions right now or do much of anything except get through school the way they are recommending. Once you have your degree, you get an entry level job. Most of the interesting jobs from Indeed aren't available to new students - you don't have enough knowledge, experience or wisdom to do them anyway. You will find a job though. Will it be the one you want? Probably not - that's why 22 year olds don't run hospitals. You gain experience and knowledge and move up the ladder gaining more and more responsibility as you age. You also gain wisdom (10 years from now you will make different decisions than you are making right now).

The California job market is hard enough on its own - don't make it harder on yourself. Good Luck.

Thank you but again, I wasn't planning to do it all by myself. My decision regardless, has to be talked to with my parents because they financially support me. In fact, I wanted to convince them so they can financially support my decision. I'm also considering community colleges that have BSN summer programs, where I can take classes for my BSN during the summer in another university while I get my ADN. GCC (Glendale Community College) has them and I'm definitely aiming to go there. I also changed my mind and decided to work as a CNA for pay and experience while I wait to be accepted into the nursing school of my choice. Thanks for the perspective!

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