LVN/RN/Working while in school- What to do! :)

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Hello!

I have seen a post from some of you advising not to do LVN to RN education- if you want to be an RN, which is my ultimate goal. I did find an LVN program that offers a weekend class, and since I have a child, and do need to work full time, the weekend program might be my only option. Should I still skip the LVN plan all together? Could I work full time while taking RN classes? My boyfriend and I live together, we're very close and he is willing to help with her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I really want to do nursing. It's been calling me for years and I am finally going to do something about it! Thanks in advance!

Specializes in Med-Surg.
Hello!

I have seen a post from some of you advising not to do LVN to RN education- if you want to be an RN, which is my ultimate goal. I did find an LVN program that offers a weekend class, and since I have a child, and do need to work full time, the weekend program might be my only option. Should I still skip the LVN plan all together? Could I work full time while taking RN classes? My boyfriend and I live together, we're very close and he is willing to help with her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I really want to do nursing. It's been calling me for years and I am finally going to do something about it! Thanks in advance!

I currently am working as a CNA, for 3 years. My ultimate goal is to become an RN. I was started on my pre-reqs after I finished CNA school and since I already had my AA degree I only had 3 classes left. Well I got pregnant with my son 2 years ago and got put on bed rest when I had started Chemistry and A&P. I was unable to start back to school until now. I talked to many RN's and LVN's where I work and the opinions were mixed, however when they all heard my story and my situation they agreed it was what was best for me. If I were to follow my original plan, I still need Chem, A&P and Microbiology BEFORE I can even apply to the RN program. I would be able to finally apply a year from now and I'll be finished with my LVN program in Sept of 2006. So for me I will be working as a nurse sooner and I plan on starting the bridging process once I finish and have been working as an LVN. I have 3 kids and I live with my fiance. My kids are 8,6 and 17 months old and I just started my program. It's a challenge but so worth it! Good luck.

Shannon

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Okay the year program at Concord is great it is accelerated and you need to commit to the hard work and studying. You may have to give up working full time or at all cause you wont want to drop a quarter and have to do it again. It is split up into 4 quarters. For College to bridge to the RN program all you will need and they offer the courses at Golden West and other colleges. Is Biology 175-Human Physiology, Biology 210-General Microbiology, and Psychology 160-Human Growth and Development. You need to either have finnished also Math 010-Algebra or show a placement to Math 030-Intermediate Algebra. Also you may need English 100. Not sure the Nursing Program is looking to add that. Not sure if they have yet. If you get the prereques you can actually either enrole in the last half of the RN program---only two semesters. If you are LVN. So it takes less time.

Oh or you could get homestudies and and then just take your tests and do one weekend clinical. That way you can work as an LVN while you do the homestudies. Some of the homestudy programs accredited in California also have the prereques. That will also give you time to work if you need to. So take the LVN then check the prereques you may have them already.

So its LVN School 1 year.

prereques about 6Mo or homestudy

LVN to RN Classes two semesters or (homestudy with one weekend clinical and take your exams at a lab set up in your area.) :nurse:

(Golden West College has Psych 160 online too!)

I am currently getting my prereques finished at Golden West College.

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Hello!

I have seen a post from some of you advising not to do LVN to RN education- if you want to be an RN, which is my ultimate goal. I did find an LVN program that offers a weekend class, and since I have a child, and do need to work full time, the weekend program might be my only option. Should I still skip the LVN plan all together? Could I work full time while taking RN classes? My boyfriend and I live together, we're very close and he is willing to help with her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I really want to do nursing. It's been calling me for years and I am finally going to do something about it! Thanks in advance!

Well, I never once considered LVN. I also have always had to work full time and took classes part time for an eternity. Finally started a 2 yr RN program even though I had so many BSN pre-req's, I just wanted to finish school and get my RN as quick as possible. So, working full time night shift I start my two years of nursing school, going straight from work to class, having to skip class to sleep, going from work to clinicals to work again ... going three days sometimes without sleeping. And I don't have children and I could also study at work. I had to work harder than other students (I'm one of two who worked and the other person quit) but I did well. I missed a quiz once cause I was making myself so sick and that put me from an A to an F in one class. Had to make a B on the final test to pass and I did :) Then came year # 2, MORE clinicals, LONGER clinicals, 2 weeks of 12 hour clinicals straight. Well, even working 1045p to 715a I couldn't do it. I had the option after that year to take my LVN boards. I'm dissapointed but at least I'm still a nurse! I want to finish that last year but now I work during the day. It's very very hard. I don't think there's anything wrong with getting your LVN first, especially if you can't dedicate yourself only to school. Just keep in mind how incredible hard it is WITHOUT work and family! Good luck!

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I have also searched for an LVN program on the weekends. If I'm not mistaken, Concorde has weekend classes. I'm currently unemployed due to my allergy to radiation (Nuclear Pharmacy) and am about to fulfill my teenage dreams of being a nurse (I'm 45 yo). The State of Calif. usually pays for training if unemployed for most people, which they've done for me before; that allowed me to get the Nuclear Pharmacy job. This time, I'm told I'll have to pay for nursing school but they will pay for my supplies. I found an ROP LVN program that is 13 mos. and only have to pay $1900. This is great compared to the $15-21K at a votech school. Also there is no waiting list. I will have to qualify for the program though, after taking a 10 wk fundamentals of nursing class and should be able to ace it since my whole career is in healthcare.

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Hi there,

I would like to know where this LVN weekend program is and what school so I can look into it. I am in the same boat.

I have 3 children and I am married. I have to work fulltime to keep up the household.

I live in San Pedro. I hope that it is something close.

Thanks so much

Shonda

Hi, there are also LVN weekend programs at Boston Reed College (fri, sat, sun) and other part-time schedules, which teaches the program at many adult schools. You might want to check out there website to see if they are teaching the program near by.

www.bostonreedcollege.com

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