Before I potentially put myself into debt, is LPN school even worth it? I'm set to start a vocational LPN program in September that will cost almost $13,000. That amount doesn't even include loans I may have to take out to cover living expenses, since it was suggested we not work at all during the 10 months of the program. I also did a job search for LPN positions in my area, as well as most of the state, and I must say I'm rather disappointed. Not one hospital, that I looked at is hiring an LPN for anything other than home health care. I couldn't find any openings at all in anything other than home health and a few nursing homes and there seems to be almost no openings for those with less than 3 years experience as an LPN. Is the money and stress worth it?
Am I better off doing a CNA or PCT course that costs $2,000 and going back to the community college and getting my RN? Of course there's a two year wait list for the RN program , but I have tons of pre-reqs to do. The hospital in my town has tons of openings for PCT's and CNA's without experience. So it should be fairly easy to get a job.
I'm so confused on what to do, my ultimate goal is to be an RN. I just figured that going the LPN route would land me a good job so I could work my way through the RN program. If LPN jobs are hard to come by, then I'm just essentially wasting money that could be used on the RN program and a degree. I just can't seem to justify spending $13,000, of my own money, when there's a good chance I won't be able to find a job after I finish.
If anyone has any advice it would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank You! =]
Private LPN programs are around $18k to $20k i.e Galen College/Allied Health etc
Community college ASN RN programs are around $7-$9k including books and fees but this is just for the straight RN program once you have been accepted
Doing the 21 credit pre requs would be another $3,500 to $4k
For a total of around $10,500 to $13k
Private RN programs are an additional $15k to $20k in addition to what you paid for their LPN program so that's about $$32k to $39k
In regards to your situation, how competitive is it to get into your local community college? At my college, it varied different semesters but it was always compeitive with anything south of a 3.3gpa making it almost impossible to get a spot to some semesters anything south of a 3.6gpa made it impossible. One semester 500 applicants competed for 127 spots etc
So I would find out how competitive the program is? you also said there is a 2year waiting period which tells e demand is high and the school can choose to only let in high gpas. If yougo this route make sure that you are completely aware of what the requirements are for this program and the grade average and purpose within yourself that you have to only get As and Bs.
Personally, if the local CC doesn't accept the LPN's credit and doesn't have a bridge program I wouldn;t do it. If I was going to relocate to an area that does accept the credits or the local CC had a transition program, I would do the LPN because then you would be able to work while completing the RN program. If you are going to stay put and feel that your chances are great in terms of getting into the rn program, I would do that and while earning your prereqa, take a cna course.
I'm new to this site and must've seen this topic a billion times so here’s my advice/truth about LPN nursing:
For decades there has been talk of phasing out LPN’s, but given the current economy and the number of new grads in nursing I believe it is now a reality.
Given the current economic status of the country everyone is looking to cut corners in any way that they can, including health care facilities. LPN’s in hospitals have almost been completely phased out and replaced with Patient Care Techs. Why? Because why would they pay an LPN $25+ dollars an hour in NJ, when they can pay a PCT $10 an hour? They can do pretty much everything an LPN can do except dispense medication. What do they have for that? Certified Medication Aids/Techs, who also make about $10 an hour. So there they can pay two people to do the work of an LPN, but cut payroll at the same time. It’s only a matter of time before LTC follows suit. I've worked at a nursing home for years, within the last couple of years they’ve been laying off LPN’s. They’ve kept a few, like 5 or 6, and they do nothing, but pass meds for 12 hours straight. In the last couple of years I’ve seen an increase in CNA's at our facility as well as Med Techs.
Another reason not to go LPN, there are tons of new grads with higher degrees. For that reason I believe many hospitals are going “magnet status”, wanting only nurses with a BSN. Why? Because now they have that option. A few years back there was tons of talk of a nursing shortage, when there really wasn’t. So that lead to everyone and their mother flocking to nursing programs. My daughter graduated high school in 2007 and half the girls in her class were going to school for nursing. Problem now is all these people who bought into the nursing shortage gimmick are just now graduating and flooding the market looking for jobs. Hospitals only employ RN’s and they prefer BSN’s. Now that the job market is flooded with BSN graduates, there is less reason to hire a ADN and no reason to hire an LPN. Truth is, no matter what, businesses prefer those with college degrees.
LPN’s mainly work home health care in NJ, is that what you want? My sister works as a CHHA and makes $18 an hour. You can take a CHHA class for $500, make decent money, and save yourself $12,500. Or you can spent the $13,000 and pray you get a LTC or rehab job.
My advice don’t go into nursing unless you plan on obtaining your BSN, especially if you plan on staying in NJ. People who are LPN’s now probably graduated before 2008, before the market crash, they had a good market for job searching. Paying $13,000 for a LPN program in 2012 = stupidity. Go get your RN and hope the economy turns around before you finish.
@Amonroe457- My youngest daughter wants to do the OCVTS program in September 2012, against my advice. Do you have any info on the program? Since we're out of county it would be running us close to $16,000... I'm strongly against this and am desperate to obtain info...
@ LJB-1015 It is a very good school and is very reputable. The instructors actually told us when we went to the entrance exam that healthcare facilities hire graduates of this program over others in the area because of how good it is and that they actually donate things to the school, such as simulation dolls. It is very hard and very fast paced. My daughter had time for nothing but studying and school during those 10 months. There would often be 3 tests in a day, amongst other things. You also have to keep your grades up, anything less than a 75 on a single test, will get you dismissed. The instructors are very knowledgeable but very critical. If you can’t take criticism, don’t bother going. They actually told me that at my interview. At the entrance exam, they couldn’t stress enough about listening and following directions. Basically, if you don’t want to be screamed at, do as they say. It’s also very competitive, they only take 90 students for the whole year and there were easily 50+ people at my entrance exam alone and they have multiple throughout the year. I saw an article online on app.com that mentioned a graduating class of 40 for the previous year. I think a 50% drop out rate says it all, it’s tough!
It’s a stressful program, probably especially for those right out of high school or those with other obligations. I do agree with your advice if your daughter wants to be an RN, then it’d be better to go to an ADN or BSN program. If she wants to do home health or LTC than let her do the LPN program. It’s her decision, don't try to control it.
$13,000.00 is an utterly ridiculous amount to pay for an LPN or any technical program. If there's not another LPN program in your area, I would start taking pre-reqs for the ADN programs. I believe there are also ways to change your FAFSA so that you're no longer a dependant. You might want to look into that.
A couple of things. Hospitals don't hire LPNs, and they especially don't hire new grad LPNs.
My hospital does, and I am in California. There is an opening in ER right now in fact. But yes, most hospitals don't higher LVNs anymore. And $13,000 is way to much. You can get your LVN at the JC here for $3670, including books and uniforms.
Here in WV every LPN or RN program that is at the community college or public university has a 2 yr waiting list. It is very hard to get into one especially if you been out of school for a while. So i will be doing a private college for my LPN in Oct. There isn't a lot of schools here either.
SearchByOccupation and search gives costs for the LPN programs that are on the NJ provider list. Other states have similar WIA training provider lists.
I'm new to this site and must've seen this topic a billion times so here's my advice/truth about LPN nursing:
For decades there has been talk of phasing out LPN's, but given the current economy and the number of new grads in nursing I believe it is now a reality.
Given the current economic status of the country everyone is looking to cut corners in any way that they can, including health care facilities. LPN's in hospitals have almost been completely phased out and replaced with Patient Care Techs. Why? Because why would they pay an LPN $25+ dollars an hour in NJ, when they can pay a PCT $10 an hour? They can do pretty much everything an LPN can do except dispense medication. What do they have for that? Certified Medication Aids/Techs, who also make about $10 an hour. So there they can pay two people to do the work of an LPN, but cut payroll at the same time. It's only a matter of time before LTC follows suit. I've worked at a nursing home for years, within the last couple of years they've been laying off LPN's. They've kept a few, like 5 or 6, and they do nothing, but pass meds for 12 hours straight. In the last couple of years I've seen an increase in CNA's at our facility as well as Med Techs.
Another reason not to go LPN, there are tons of new grads with higher degrees. For that reason I believe many hospitals are going "magnet status", wanting only nurses with a BSN. Why? Because now they have that option. A few years back there was tons of talk of a nursing shortage, when there really wasn't. So that lead to everyone and their mother flocking to nursing programs. My daughter graduated high school in 2007 and half the girls in her class were going to school for nursing. Problem now is all these people who bought into the nursing shortage gimmick are just now graduating and flooding the market looking for jobs. Hospitals only employ RN's and they prefer BSN's. Now that the job market is flooded with BSN graduates, there is less reason to hire a ADN and no reason to hire an LPN. Truth is, no matter what, businesses prefer those with college degrees.
LPN's mainly work home health care in NJ, is that what you want? My sister works as a CHHA and makes $18 an hour. You can take a CHHA class for $500, make decent money, and save yourself $12,500. Or you can spent the $13,000 and pray you get a LTC or rehab job.
My advice don't go into nursing unless you plan on obtaining your BSN, especially if you plan on staying in NJ. People who are LPN's now probably graduated before 2008, before the market crash, they had a good market for job searching. Paying $13,000 for a LPN program in 2012 = stupidity. Go get your RN and hope the economy turns around before you finish.
All I can say is Wow, that's dismal news for LPNs, and for people who need to quickly and affordably retrain after their first career was lost to foreign competition.
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NewGoalRN
602 Posts
In West/Central Florida
Votech LPN programs are around $4800 to $5200
Private LPN programs are around $18k to $20k i.e Galen College/Allied Health etc
Community college ASN RN programs are around $7-$9k including books and fees but this is just for the straight RN program once you have been accepted
Doing the 21 credit pre requs would be another $3,500 to $4k
For a total of around $10,500 to $13k
Private RN programs are an additional $15k to $20k in addition to what you paid for their LPN program so that's about $$32k to $39k
In regards to your situation, how competitive is it to get into your local community college? At my college, it varied different semesters but it was always compeitive with anything south of a 3.3gpa making it almost impossible to get a spot to some semesters anything south of a 3.6gpa made it impossible. One semester 500 applicants competed for 127 spots etc
So I would find out how competitive the program is? you also said there is a 2year waiting period which tells e demand is high and the school can choose to only let in high gpas. If yougo this route make sure that you are completely aware of what the requirements are for this program and the grade average and purpose within yourself that you have to only get As and Bs.
Personally, if the local CC doesn't accept the LPN's credit and doesn't have a bridge program I wouldn;t do it. If I was going to relocate to an area that does accept the credits or the local CC had a transition program, I would do the LPN because then you would be able to work while completing the RN program. If you are going to stay put and feel that your chances are great in terms of getting into the rn program, I would do that and while earning your prereqa, take a cna course.