LVN before RN? Should I? Help!

RITA2007 · Nov 20, 2009

I graduated nursing (RN) school at 21. I did it by working through my pre-requisites and taking classes towards my AA at the same time. If you have a good GPA and have made A's and B's in your pre-reqs, you're more likelly to get in to RN school. I'd personally recommend getting your RN license. That way you can work in a hospital on an acute care floor. Also, start working as a nurse tech when you finish your first semester of RN school. It's great experience, believe me!

nursynurseRN · Nov 20, 2009

I got my LVN while being on a wait list for the RN program. I waited 4 years... I got a job in Acute Care easily and so did most of my friends. I don't think it was hard to get an LVN job they start off between17-21 dollars an hour as a new grad. Being an LVN while going through RN school helped a LOT financially. Honestly I liked going this route because as a LVN you always have the RN as a backup. Makes you a much stronger RN. I felt that by being an LVN I had a much stronger foundation as a RN. The other thing is that in acute care, the LVN does everything the RN does except IV pushes and IV piggybacks. So you get a lot of experience. Just don't get stuck being an LVN make sure you finish. I got a lot of negative comments by becoming an LVN first, But i wouldn't go any other way if I had to do it over. MY charge nurses and a few other nurses that I work with were also LVN's first and They are very strong NURSES.. GOOD LUCK!

Sherriblu · Nov 21, 2009

I would say dont do it, the LPN market is very bad and lpns are being phased out..Go right for RN and be an aide until you get RN..

kimima01 · Nov 21, 2009

If you want to just "get in" to nursing quickly then go the LVN route. However, I think that the RN route is your best bet. As a poster before me has mentioned, LPN/LVN's especially in hospitals are being phased out. I also believe that your options would be limited if you ever wanted to specialize because there is only so much an LVN is allowed to do.

LPN*PRN · Nov 21, 2009

I am an LPN and I think you should go for RN if you don't have to wait very long to get into an RN program. If you must wait, getting your LPN while you do would be benificial.

ilovelei · Nov 21, 2009

go for your rn. my sister took her lvn license first n got accepted to a nursing program which had her start from the first sem! now she's justworking to pay off her lvn tuition!

pghfoxfan · Nov 21, 2009

I say go straight for your RN. Better opportunities. But let me just say, (I am an RN) the best nurses I have ever worked with, were LPNs.

kaseybrooks6 · Nov 21, 2009

from my understanding if you do the LVN/LPN it takes a year off you clinicles and also makes it eaiser to get into RN clinicels...so my nursing advisor had told me. i am from CA and currently live in louisiana at an army base and taking my pre-reqs and am getting A's how ever wheni go back to sacramento CA next year then hubby gets deployed i want to do the LVN but can not find a school under 27k thats just crazy!

i have also heard it makes things easier when you do become a nurse you have been around the RNs and can see there job and have worked side by side

LPN_2005/RN_10 · Nov 21, 2009

Phased out where? Hospitals yes. Nursing homes, subacute facilities, md offices, clinics, and assisted living facilities will certainly have a need for LPNs for awhile.

I would say dont do it, the LPN market is very bad and lpns are being phased out..Go right for RN and be an aide until you get RN..

lwndrgn · Nov 21, 2009

I am in the LVN program right now. If you want to be stressed out, worried about passing checkoffs by instructors who expect you to teach yourself, and who rush you to finish said check offs...then fail you for not getting them done perfectly. Or, if you want to stress yourself to death with a test every week on four or five and sometimes even seven chapters of pharmacology. Or better still, watching as classmate after classmate are getting kicked out and its not even the end of the first semester...then come and apply to the LVN program. I suggest you take the RN maybe it is less intense and you might be able to learn something from and instructor rather than clueless classmates.

Citigyrl · Nov 21, 2009

Most often non-LVN's will say do a RN first and pre LVN's will say go that route. The reality is in timing. I was a LVN first then I got my RN. If you can afford not to work and do school full time then a RN is great but if you need a substantial income go for the LVN first. If you enter a bridge program (LVN to RN) program it cuts out being on a waiting list and praying for acceptance. You are virtually guaranteed a spot if your grades meet the requirements. Also remember if you have no college credits you must take prerequisite courses first. An ADN program may take 2-3 years to complete unless you go full time year round. Look at the school and see when classes are offered. Some classes you may only be able to take during certain semesters. BSN classes at my school were offered year round but ADN classes were only offered in the Spring & Fall. Your situation is unique to you so weigh your options...don't let our opinions sway but use them for insight. However you get it...just do it! P.S. ...as an agency LVN I made $24 hr..good money