Is it better to become a CNA or LVN before entering into a Nursing Program ?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm currently a senior in high school and I'm planning to attend community college for the next two or three years. While attending a jc and taking Pre-reqs, I am thinking of becoming an LVN but University of Washington (dream school) suggests becoming a CNA. I live in California and still have time to go on mission trips, volunteer, study hard, get good grades and create myself as a nursing student. Anyone applying or accepted to University of Washington have any tips? Anything would help! Thank You ! :)

I would recommended becoming a CNA before nursing school. For me, I wanted to become a CNA to see if nursing was really the career for me. Being a CNA has actually motivated me to want to be successful in nursing school so that I can move up and become a nurse. My advice is to definitely find a position that is able to be flexible around your classes when nursing school starts. Best of Luck!!

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Because I've always wanted to move to Washington but I'll definitely look into Cal State Nursing Programs. Do you know if its as competitive in Washington as it is in California ?

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Here's my recommendation based on my experience in California:

Take the HS courses you can that will count towards college prerequisites.

Start getting in line for the BIG prerequisites so you can spread them out and GET A's!!!!

For my CSU and community college (CC), the MAJOR prerequisites are:

- A&P I (or Anatomy at CSU)

- Chemistry (Organic & Inorganic) is more nurse orientated, General Chemistry is for STEM students

- A&P II (or Physiology at CSU)

- Microbiology

- Statistics (CSU only... I recommend the Psychology statistics over Math)

- Public Speaking

- English Writing

- Critical Thinking (Philosophy)

Those are the classes you NEED to get an A in... they are what will make or break your CSU BSN Application. If you're SUPER studious and good at science, you can probably take Anatomy AND Chemistry at the same time.. but personally, if I was 18 and starting from scratch, I'd take only one of the top 4 per quarter/semester so that I can secure a SOLID A...

Also, that first cluster of classes fill up FAST -- and being an entering Freshman, you're at a disadvantage because you're stuck with Open Enrollment so you may be waitlisting, or camping the website for opening to the waitlist. You may not get the classes you want the first semester and will have to take other Gen Ed or Cognates.

There are more classes for the ADN at the CC... I'll let you sort that out with your advisor or their Allied Health website, but in the CSU system those prereqs are what goes towards your application plus the TEAS V exam... and you can take the cognates during the nursing program OR if you're not accepted.

My point in listing these items when your question was regarding the CNA/LVN is -- well first, if you plan on becoming a RN, do not plan on pursuing the LVN degree unless you're not getting into the RN program you want. Second, unless you NEED extra cash flow during your studies, wait on the CNA certification till you have a handle on college life. College is VERY different from HS, at least it was for me. HS was very guided, whereas college you're an adult, and to work and go to school means you need to know how to manage your time and prioritize.

Getting into a nursing school is VERY competitive... If your parents are willing to support you while you get your college career started, DO IT! When you complete your prereqs -- THEN get your CNA certification, or at least take the class. I'm enrolled for the fall semester at my CC, assuming I don't get into the CSU program I applied for. While I wait, I'll work in the hospital/medical setting, and improve my grades for my Fall 16 application where I can.

Also, at my CSU you receive extra points on your application for paid health care experience.

If you really want to get right into nursing and become an RN further down the road, consider LVN through a community college. The cost at a private school compared to the salary is horrible... not a good way to start your adult life.

Good luck (and sorry to be so longwinded!)

PS -- keep in mind this is for my local CSU and CC... these prereqs may vary!!

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Hellooo ! thank you so much for your recommendations, anything helps, although I might not understand everything but hopefully I do soon ! I have one question though regarding CSU's. I didn't get admitted into CSULB as a pre-nursing major, but got admitted to the school. If i go to Long Beach, could I still get those classes you listed above and apply to a nursing program after 2 or 3 years of pre reqs? I was thinking I could also take CC classes as well but I heard some programs don't accept credits from multiple schools. But what would be the disadvantage of going to a Cal State rather than purely going to a CC to finish my pre-reqs. I hope I made sense ! sorry if I didn't. haha thanks again !

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Because I've always wanted to move to Washington but I'll definitely look into Cal State Nursing Programs. Do you know if its as competitive in Washington as it is in California ?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
My LVN program didn't have any prereqs.

Nor did mine. It was 1 yr long plus 1 day.

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Specializes in hospice.
Can skip the LVN but should have some CNA experience. Most schools now are requiring at least 6 months of some kind of Healthcare experience to even be considered for a program.

As well they should. And I bet such a requirement would clear out many waiting lists! As my husband says, it would weed out the unserious.

I've never heard of required CNA experience for any nursing program.

The LPN program I currently attend requires us to be CNAs before they'll even accept an application.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
The LVN program is a nursing program which can be anywhere from 3 to 4 semesters. That is after prerequisites.
The LVN program I attended was 12 months long and required no prerequisite coursework whatsoever. If the LVN program had been four semesters and required a myriad of prerequisites, I would have skipped it altogether.
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Specializes in hospice.
The LVN program I attended was 12 months long and required no prerequisite coursework whatsoever. If the LVN program had been four semesters and required a myriad of prerequisites, I would have skipped it altogether.

Exactly. One of the main reasons LPN makes sense for me is because I have no prereqs done, having come to nursing unexpectedly and late in my 30s. I can work as a LPN for my current employer while taking classes and making more money than a CNA.

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check out the site Welcome to ASSIST to see if the colleges you're looking at can transfer units in between. community colleges are usually designed to transfer to the state system, and vice versa. sometimes a CC is so impacted, it's easier to get prereqs done at the CSU.. but it is significantly more expensive... but sometimes it's what you have to do to!

i can't speak about Washington state, it's a potential destination for me, too :) but my plan is to hopefully find a job at the hospital I'll do clinicals at here in CA... and a bonus in California is the enforced RN to patient ratio. sometimes you can find hospitals that "sponsor" seats in a program, in exchange you sign a contract to work at the hospital when you are licensed.

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I do understand everyone has a different path to become an Nurse my path is an interesting one. I was taking my CNA course and quickly decided I wanted to become an LPN and eventually an RN. The reason I decided to go for my LPN before RN was because I will have to financial reasons. I need to be able to work in my field while attaining my RN.

I have heard some RN's whom where LPN's before say that they where glad they were LPN's before being an RN because of the amount of additional clinical time it gave them. I have also heard people say that it was good to work as a CNA before deciding weather to go into nursing because it allows the person to really see if they where cut out to be a nurse. Right now I am waiting on the letter saying if I will or not get an interview and a week after I will find out if I was accepted. The best answer is what do you feel the most comfortable doing and what do you want.

In the end no one has the best or right way into nursing. Its about your journey and what you want out of it. Do not give up keep your head up because this process can be discouraging at times. But the end goal of being a nurse and helping those whom need help will in the end help get you threw. Just make sure your going into this for the right reasons and your heart is right for it.

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Specializes in Occupational Health; Adult ICU.

LNA hands down.

I'd not recommend becoming a LPN because the mindset is different.

Doing a year or two as a CNA will give you skills in "handling" patients. That is very valuable.

Consider your education options. Perhaps you're looking at a Community College which has both programs. Make an appointment with the director of the program and ask their point of view. One once said to me: "don't do the LPN if you want to become RN as we've had lots of problems with people transitioning from the LPN point of view (frame of mind) to the RN point of view.

Today I'd suggest LNA, preferably in a hospital, not in an elderly setting. Why? Because it's safer. Also the hospital is more likely to assist you when you start classes. I think ADN followed by two years of work, followed by an RN>BSN at someplace like is the sweet spot.

Being LNA is soooooooooo valuable in developing "hands." It will make your clinicals (RN) a lot easier.

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