LVN-RN Route?

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Apr 27, 2014

I went to community college from 2010-12 and completed most of my RN prereqs.

Then went to a trade school LVN program. Finished in 1 yr.

I'm currently working as an LVN and taking final prereqs.

I'll apply to bridge programs after I'm done for the reasons you stated a above.

I did it because I *needed* to be able to earn decent money while finishing RN school.

The perk is I've heard there are no waiting lists for the bridge programs.

HTH!

Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2014

I went to community college from 2010-12 and completed most of my RN prereqs.
Then went to a trade school LVN program. Finished in 1 yr.
I'm currently working as an LVN and taking final prereqs.
I'll apply to bridge programs after I'm done for the reasons you stated a above.
I did it because I *needed* to be able to earn decent money while finishing RN school.
The perk is I've heard there are no waiting lists for the bridge programs.
HTH!

Thanks for your thoughts! I'm probably going to do a trade school as well. I'm just not sure, and wait lists/massive competition for the RN programs do not sound pleasant.

futureLVN40 · Apr 28, 2014

I'm going the LVN to RN route too. It seems like the quickest way to get into the RN program. Currently I'm taking LVN and RN prerequisites. I still have to do CNA though as it's a requirement for LVN.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Apr 28, 2014

In my area, the wait to get into RN school at a public school can be longer than a year. As a CNA, I made $9-11.31/hr and couldn't support myself and 3 kids for the length of time it would take to finish RN school on that wage. My pay at one LVN job was $15 but now I make $22. So I doubled my pay and can work part time and pay my bills as an LVN.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Apr 28, 2014

The only thing I would caution you about doing an LVN - RN upgrade is that you need to be certain that the program you choose to attend isn't a "30-unit option" course as that won't result in you obtaining an Associate's Degree. Make sure that whatever program you choose to attend, at the end of the program you earn exactly the same degree as the "traditional" students from the same school. That very easily could make a big difference down the line if you choose to move to another state.

Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2014

The only thing I would caution you about doing an LVN - RN upgrade is that you need to be certain that the program you choose to attend isn't a "30-unit option" course as that won't result in you obtaining an Associate's Degree. Make sure that whatever program you choose to attend, at the end of the program you earn exactly the same degree as the "traditional" students from the same school. That very easily could make a big difference down the line if you choose to move to another state.

It definitely is a degree program. However, I'm hearing things about trade schools being looked down upon, so I'm kind of at an impasse. Thank you though!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2014

I completed an LVN program at a trade school in late 2005, worked as an LVN for a few years, returned to school to attend an LPN-to-RN bridge program, graduated with an ASN degree in 2010, and received my RN license that same year.

I <3 OR, RN · Apr 29, 2014

Do you plan on working as an lvn? I graduated from American Career College in Anaheim in September 2010 and got my license February 2011. most of the people I graduated with got lvn jobs. I decided to just focus on school since RN was my goal and I wanted to make sure I had enough time to put into getting good grades. I have now been accepted to the bridge program through LA county college of nursing and allied health and will start in June. They didn't care that my lvn schooling was at a career college/trade school they just cared about grades and TEAS test scores. This was the reason I got my lvn so I could bypass the waiting lists. I'm not sure where you're from but have you looked into ROP lvn programs? I don't have details on them but they are much cheaper than trade schools.

Also, I will be graduating with an ADN but there is also a 30 unit option through this school but like previous poster said you can't really take that put of California.

MedChica · Apr 29, 2014

"Do you think that getting an LVN would benefit me"

I don't understand questions like this. Why wouldn't it benefit you to have nursing experience while earning $19 or so an hour, depending on your are?

Anyway, I did an LVN program; I'm now in an RN bridge program. I went to a career school because I'm in my early 30s and I don't have the patience for waitlists and pre-reqs. I don't have time. Let's get on with it and get it over with.

The only downside to a career school would be the cost. But, if you can absorb the debt or get some entity to pay for it, fast-track through the nursing process any way that you can. The career school that I attended was more efficiently ran than the ADN I'm attending now, actually. The former will practically hold your hand through the process. They want/need you there.

The ADN...is like any other regular old school.

If the LVN program is accredited, I don't see the problem. Where I am, the only schools that facilities seem to not care for are of the 'exclusively online' variety. I've seen job ads from hospitals in Texas, at least, specifically state that RN applicants must acquire their RN degree from a 'regular' institution. You can have an RN-BSN from an online-only school; but you can't be, for instance, a 'generic' nursing student acquiring your RN from an online school. These seem like new rules but they're not universal. I wouldn't call it a trend. That's just how it works with some facilities.

Some facilities in your area may have a problem with the 'career school' attendees that they've come across. They can feel that way.

GPA matters most if you plan to go advanced practice.

LPN709 · Apr 30, 2014

I went the lpn to rn route because of a financial situation. The lpn route was quicker but I'm now finishing up my pre reqs for a bridge program. I don't quite understand the "30 unit option" deal. I've never heard of something like that. Can someone please explain it better for my knowledge? :)

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Apr 30, 2014

LPN504...speaking for us Californians, where we're called LVN's not LPN's (same as in Tx) there are different ways to become an RN, if you're already an LVN.

1) some law was passed back when there was a true nurse shortage that required any school offering an RN program to provide an alternative way to become an RN that couldn't take longer than 1 yr including additional prereqs. these short duration programs are called "30 unit options".

While these 30 unit option programs are quick, they are discouraged because you may not be able to be considered a real RN in other states. What I mean is you might not be eligible for licensure in another state if you move. Plus, in some cases, you will be prevented from pursuing a BSN or beyond.

2) there are also traditional LVN to RN bridge programs. These require that you complete the prereqs that are required to get into the regular RN program, some require 1 yr experience and some don't, then you can complete the bridge program in about 1 yr. after you earn your RN this way, it's considered exactly the same as someone's license who attended a regular 2 yr RN program.