Is the LVN-BSN route a good route?!

[nicoleticzon]

Is the LVN-BSN route a good route to go? I'm 21 years old and decided this route might be a fast way to become a nurse. But I'm not sure if I should keep going the traditional way, which would take me a little longer. The LVN route that I was looking at is a year program, but costs about $32,000.

Please let me know your thoughts on this and if I should go this route or just continue a traditional pathway which might take a little longer.

And does anyone know of any schools in California that have LVN-BSN programs? I would like to stay in California, but if there are schools outside California I would like to know.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Hi and welcome.

Wow! $32,000 for the LVN certificate? Seems pretty high to me. Have you considered just doing the BSN and skipping the LVN? Maybe that would be a cheaper option at a state school.

Best of luck with your decision.

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

My coworker is around the same age as you and she is doing the LVN-BSN route in California. She went to american career college for LVN and took her prereqs at a community college for couple years. She now enrolled to West Coast and had the tuition knocked down to around $85K. She also just got a job at Kaiser working as a LVN and they are helping her pay to get her BSN. She said Kaiser is the best for tuition reinbursment. It took her 2yrs to get the job at kaiser but she kept on applying.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

I'm looking at this route as well, I'm taking my pre-requisites for the LPN program currently. I'd like to see the responses in this thread :)

[RunBabyRN]

Holy cow, that's expensive for your LVN!! Many community colleges have LVN programs, so consider going that route.

It would ultimately be faster to just go straight for your BSN, especially now that many CSUs are moving to a 2 year model, instead of 3. Certainly less expensive!!

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

I agree. Try community colleges or an adult school. I got accepted to a lvn program in the county of LA and its $3700 total. Their is no financial aid so you must pay full amount before program starts. All you have to do is take an entrance exam called TABE and pass 12+ on each subject: math, english, reading comp, and spelling. Some schools then have a prevn class that's once a week and invites the top 60 students. You will have quizzes and activitites during this time and those who passed 80% and higher will be invited to an interview. You meet the interview panel and they ask you common questions. Its a plus if you already have healthcare experience, but its not necessary. You will get a letter of notice if you were accepted or denied. Its a few steps and loops you have to go through, but its all worth it. Over 100 people apply to these schools because its cheaper and only 14 actually are enrolled in the program. It is competitive but no wait list or prereqs for lvn program. --wait my program required medical terminology prereq, but most adult school programs don't.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm not sure why LVN-BSN is a shorter route than BSN alone?

I do know that $32K is INSANELY expensive for an LVN certficate (it's not a college degree, correct, just the certificate of completion of the practical nursing program?). And someone's quote of $85K (REDUCED to that??) has me stunned as well, especially considering pre-requs are done prior to enrollment in the RN program, yes? West Coast University must think their diplomas are printed on GOLD?!

Anyway, check around for MUCH cheaper options, including community colleges, tech schools for LVN, and definitely less expensive RN choices.

Good luck!

[ixchel]

Look again at the BSN's requirements. It isn't likely to be a shorter route. You'll spend 1-2 years on the LVN, and then you'll need to do gen eds plus nursing school, which will be 3-4 years. Look into it. They tell you it's shorter but don't mention the gen eds a lot of the time.