I found a good way to bridge to RN.

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so.... all today (since i posted earlier), i've been researching different ways to get some experience in the medical field while studying towards a rn. there is a school called [color=#3b5998]gurnick academy of medical arts here in modesto, plus they have other locations in ca and in nevada.

it is non-profit and i haven't been able to find any negative "dirt" on them.

anyway, it seems that lvn/lpn programs are not too easy to find, so i was happy when i found this. they will also be introducing a new lvn to rn bridge program soon.

i was looking into some cna, cma and phlebotomy programs... but the salary couldn't be enough to support my family. i'm a single mother and am working with one income (mine!). :twocents:

the gurnick tuition is pricey, like $23,000 but the program looks good. i'm going to go down and see the facility monday or tues.

what do you think? - jeanie

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
No LVN program in the state of California has NLN accreditation. Not one. Accreditation is important for RN programs, but it is not a significant factor when choosing LPN/LVN programs. I am one of many people who completed an unaccredited LVN program at a private trade school and was still able to earn an RN license later on.

While government entities such as the VA and the Department of Defense will not hire an RN who completed an unaccredited program, these places regularly hire LPNs/LVNs who attended unaccredited programs. The standards are simply different.

*** Yes you are right. I was wrong. Thanks for correcting me. I didn't mean to put incorrect information out there.

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No LVN program in the state of California has NLN accreditation. Not one. Accreditation is important for RN programs, but it is not a significant factor when choosing LPN/LVN programs. I am one of many people who completed an unaccredited LVN program at a private trade school and was still able to earn an RN license later on.

While government entities such as the VA and the Department of Defense will not hire an RN who completed an unaccredited program, these places regularly hire LPNs/LVNs who attended unaccredited programs. The standards are simply different.

Incorrect. VA will be happy to hire any RN who have graduated from state accredited RN program, at least in California... Here's VA website, you can do RN job search and look at their educational requirements.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Job Search

Furthermore, they will hire graduates of foreign RN schools (without NLN accreditation either) as well.

Here's what VA says "School of Nursing - Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing."

In California there are over 85 ASN-RN BRN accredited programs, while only around 30 of them are accredited by NLN.

There also have been cases where out of state colleges with NLN accredited programs, tried to bring RN to California, but didn't have ability to do so, because they couldn't meet BRN standards. So in California what's important for an RN program is to have a California Board of Registered Nursing accreditation!

Any LVN program has to have BVNPT accreditation as well. LVN can get NLN accredited too, but it would be VERY expensive for the school, mainly due to the fact, that all faculty members would have to hold at least MSN and some other factors... That's why no LVN programs in California, at this time at least, hold NLN.

In general, some States Nursing Boards require programs to obtain NLN accreditation in order to continue to have this program, that is an automatic trigger for an application to NLN by those programs located in those states...

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
incorrect. va will be happy to hire any rn who have graduated from state accredited rn program, at least in california... here's va website, you can do rn job search and look at their educational requirements.

here's what i got from the va website:

basic requirements: licensed rn; citizenship; graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate state accrediting agency, and accredited by either the national league for nursing accreditation commission (nlnac) or the commission on collegiate nursing education (ccne) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. registration; candidates must possess a current full, active and unrestricted registration as a professional nurse in a state, territory, or commonwealth (i.e. puerto rico) of the u.s. or in the district of columbia.

u.s. department of veterans affairs - job search

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
In California there are over 85 ASN-RN BRN accredited programs, while only around 30 of them are accredited by NLN.

Any LVN program has to have BVNPT accreditation as well. LVN can get NLN accredited too, but it would be VERY expensive for the school, mainly due to the fact, that all faculty members would have to hold at least MSN and some other factors... That's why no LVN programs in California, at this time at least, hold NLN.

*** None of those 30 NLN accredited ASN-RN programs also have LVN programs?

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Here's what I got from the VA website:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Job Search

Interesting..... some VA positions require NLN and some of them accept state nursing boards:

School of Nursing - Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Job Search

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Job Search

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Job Search

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Job Search

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Job Search

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I too have been exploring the LVN route for easier entrance to RN programs, a huge piece of advice: Meet with an Allied Health counselor at the school for which you intend to enter the RN program. I know that MJC does not accept education from Gurnick as they are accredited but not with the "right" accreditation to gain entrance into their program. Try WestMed College in Merced, CA or Unitek in San Jose or Freemont. Also ask what other courses you have to have prior to be allowed to apply, I know MJC requires you to take Micro101, English 101, Physiology 101, Math 90...etc AS WELL as being Licensed from appropriately accredited LVN college. It's a lot to look at but here is a link for approved RN schools for California

Board of Registered Nursing - RN Programs

Also for the LVN programs recognized by the LVNPT in California here is a link of school

BVNPT - California Approved Schools

AGAIN, check with your intended college for your RN and what accreditations they recognize and ask the LVN schools you are comparing if they are accredited with that particular accreditation. If you ask if they are accredited, they will say yes, but it depends on who they are accredited with.

If anyone knows of a shorter less expensive way please let us know. The LVN school is quite expensive and I have complete all of my RN prerequisites but the waitlist is far too long to wait.

~* Thanks

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