Im going to school for lpn. Is it worth it or not?

Published

I'm 20 yrs old with 2 kids. I'm a cna now but the job is too much and pay horrible. I was planning to get the lpn and then take the bridge test for the RN. Also, is porter and Chester a good school for lpn?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

There is no test for the bridge to RN. You have to go back to school and take the program that will enable you to write the NCLEX>

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Then what the heck was that lady telling me lol !! I know I want to go back to school for my bachelors n RN ill do w.e it takes

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.

There are LPN-RN bridge programs, but it's about another year of school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Before you consider going to school for LVN you should research and see what type of facility you can work at and the pay. I know when I was considering LVN school I was lucky enough to be able to email the nurse recruiter for the hospital I currently work at and found out that LVNs are being weaned out in the acute setting and that more then likely would only be able to work in a nursing home or LTAC facility. The pay was also not that great, just a little under then $1.50 more then what I was currently making at the time as a patient care tech.

In the small town I live in we only have one LVN program and in order for me to apply for the LVN bridge RN program I still had to do all ore requisite classes in addition to have one year of experience of LVN work before applying. I'm a mommy of two and I finished my first semester of nursing school (RN) and will start my 2nd semester in Jan, and at this time I am still working full time. Yes as a mom you have to give up a lot but remember your doing this for your kids and to me that matters more to me then hanging out with friends, drinking, clubbing, etc.... Good luck and I wish you the best in what ever you decide to do with school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.

Something else to consider is that if you have all your prerequisites completed for nursing school, as you do want to become an RN, LVN school may be a 3 semester program and RN is typically a 4 semester program. Sure, it is possible to complete LVN in about a year, then find work, get your prereqs done and go back for the RN. You'd still end up having to do another full year of school, where you might find that the difference between LVN and RN may truly be just one semester. I was offered a position in an LVN program and I would be graduating in December. I was also offered a seat in an RN program and I will be done the following May. I made the decision that if I want to do RN, sacrificing another 4 months of time in school is far more preferable to sacrificing about a year and a half to two years after completing LVN school and moving on to the RN upgrade, even though I'd be likely working a whole lot sooner!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know exactly what you guys mean but when my first was born I graduated 2 or 3 weeks after she was born from high school when she was about two months I signed up for college all prereqs for RN. Having a brand new car and a brand new person to take care of I had to work full time so I had to leave school big regret. I feel as if getting my lpn for now will help me a little more financially when I go back to school for the RN program. Wether it takes a year or two years for the RN program I don't care. It's a great career and I know my kids will have a great life if I complete the RN program. The woman I spoke to at the school told me lpns make 20+ and they found this one student a 30+ an hour job. That's 10 more than what I make. If I have to sacrifice a year to have get the lpn for that pay I will because then I can get my RN and still have enough money to pay my bills and put food on the table for my kids they are the only reason I'm doing this!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I don't see anything wrong with your plan. Lots of people have done their education in "stages" because there was a need to be out making a decent paycheck as soon as possible due to their life circumstances. There is a vast difference in wages, cost of living, the local job market for LPNs, and the types of facilities they work in from one state or region to another. Since you are already a CNA I would imagine you have an idea about those things already.

You asked about the school. The best place to ask that would probably be in your specific state forum (list here), the General Nursing Student Forum or the LPN/LVN Nursing Student Forum.

Keep in mind people everyone is so unique in their needs when you are reading the opinions. Some people are strongly against any type of for-profit vocational school,for example. I know quite a few nurses who started out in a for-profit school who have successful careers today. You'll want to independently verify any information coming from the school, though.

Best wishes as you take on the challenge of creating a better future for your kids!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

OP, is the woman you spoke with from the school you're considering attending? If so, please consider that she has an incentive to paint a very rosy picture of the job experiences of graduates. Some LPNs make a bit more than $20, but I've not heard of any that start at more than $30. I'm not saying it isn't true that they found such a job for one of their graduates, just that it isn't likely to be the case for you or anyone else. I've also heard of many LPNs that make just $11-$15 an hour. I know that right now, any raise would be an improvement, but consider too how much financial aid you'll be able to receive. It could be that you'll do better with a RN program at a community college than a LPN program at a private school, where you may end up taking out loans that you'll have to repay over many years. In the end, only you'll be in a position to decide which move will be better for your family, but these are a couple of the things I'd consider if I was making the choice. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I strongly believe its worth it to go for the LPN first, DEPENDING on the school situation. Here in NYC it's very hard to get into an RN program directly so I did LPN school THEN transitioned to an Lpn to RN school. BEST decision I ever made. Keep us posted, OP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One thing to consider is that in my state at least, once you get your LPN, you can no longer work as a CNA. This might be relevant in that there are a lot more CNA jobs out there than there are LPN jobs. This is part of the reason some people just skip the LPN and go right to RN. They can continue working as a CNA/PCT up until they get their RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing Community!

Be careful of some of the nursing programs, both LPN and RN, that are for profit and cost a ton of money...they don't exhibit moral when lying to get you to pay them money to go to school and then don't deliver the goods. Where you live, California has this LVN 30unit option designed as a career ladder for California Licensed Vocational Nurses wishing to become registered nurses.....but i not recognized in any other state.

You will be limited with choices where you work with the LPN......but in today's job market with it taking some 14-18 months for both RN's and LPN's to find nursing positions......both are having difficulty finding positions.....but you will make more per hours a an RN.

I wish you the best on your nursing journey!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion