Lvn or straight to RN?

dorkypanda · May 28, 2016

I don't know where you are located but in my area, I haven't seen a program that requires you to be an LVN to apply unless you are an lvn and want to do lvn to RN. I have seen a few programs that do require applicants be a CNA in order to apply to the program.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 28, 2016

I don't know where you are located but in my area, I haven't seen a program that requires you to be an LVN to apply unless you are an lvn and want to do lvn to RN. I have seen a few programs that do require applicants be a CNA in order to apply to the program.

I think the OP is considering an LVN program because he/she mentioned having grades that are not that good. However, the LVN program I attended was more challenging than both the ASN and BSN degree programs from which I graduated.

If the OP's grades are not good, perhaps a revamping of study skills is in order before jumping head-first into any academic program. Good luck to him/her.

mrphil79 · Jun 13, 2016

I would absolutely NOT consider LVN or LPN unless you absolutely have NO other choice.

It's a job that is disappearing - where I live, all but 1 of the 5 state colleges/community colleges within an hour of me have stopped even offering it as an option, and the 5th has announced that they will stop taking new admissions into their LPN program after the upcoming spring admission.

All of the hospitals in the area haven't hired LPNs for a few years - and one (large) chain of hospitals has given all of their LPNs until the end of 2017 to be in a LPN-RN bridge program or they will be out of a job.

Maybe the speed of this is a local thing, but it is a trend that is picking up steam around the country - a decade from now, you're going to have a hard time finding a LPN program just about anywhere.

If you want to be an RN, make it your goal and find a few colleges around you and go meet with an advisor at each of them. If you don't like the advisor - see another one until you find one you like who can tell you what you CAN do to get in to their program. And where you are located makes a HUGE difference too. In my area, the nursing programs are insanely competitive because it's a very densely populated area.

My sister-in-law is applying for the nursing program at the CC in my home town (1200 miles away), and they haven't filled their program in 5 semesters - so basically all she had to do was meet the requirements and not have to worry about being competitive (lucky...).

Make it your goal and then make it happen. You wont be the first or last person to get into a nursing program with a 3.0 gpa. Plus, that gpa will go up as you kill your pre-reqs with an A.

icumurse1122 · Jun 13, 2016

Just go for RN, ADN than BSN online if loans are your concerns. LPN nor LVN = no jobs lol

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2016

Okay so I've worked in a SNF for over a year as a CNA. Im taking my prereqs for RN. my grades are not too good 3.0 Gpa. Well I was considering paramedic as a plan B while I get into a Nursing program, because I love trauma. However many coworkers have advised me to do LVN instead because it will help me get into RN as many RN programs are career ladders and require your LVN before you can get into their RN program. Is this true? I wouldn't mind working as an LVN but, It wouldn't be my ideal job. I've burned out of geriatrics but maybe it's just because I'm a CNA.

There's still work for LVNs if you're ok with staying in SNFs or clinics as an LVN. But if your ultimate goal is to be in trauma, you're better off working as an EMT while you get through RN school rather than as an LVN. Graduating as an RN with LVN experience in SNF or clinic makes you no more marketable as any other new grad for ERs. As a new grad RN, it will make you more marketable in other nursing specialties, like Med Surg, but not ER. I happen to be an RN working in trauma now that started as an LVN working in SNFs, but I just sort of fell into it, I wasn't targeting it. Also, career ladder programs are almost as competitive as standard entry RN programs, so doing the LVN to RN route isn't necessarily a shortcut into getting into RN programs due to bad grades. And as a side note, being a trauma nurse isn't trauma all the time. Trauma nurses are still ER nurses that are assigned to trauma booths. You don't get assigned trauma booths all the time. You're still as likely to get assigned to the main ER or fast track area as the trauma booths on any given day.

Livetoride · Jun 14, 2016

LPNs/LVNs are seen in SNFs/clinics. Unless, that is what you are into, I'd skip it entirely and go to a RN program. If trauma is your thing, go paramedic or EMT because you won't get that kind of experience in LTC.

tropicalyeti · Jun 15, 2016

I'd go straight into an RN program if you can. Based on the CC's around where I live, there are very few LVN to RN ladder programs so basically they only let in 2 or 3 outside LVNs at the most. Some of the point-admission schools do give extra points for having a LVN but you're still required to do the full RN program which is like 6 quarters. The rest of the RN students are just continuing from their current admission (if that makes sense). Besides, since you already have CNA experience, you can always work part time as that. Maybe the workforce is just different where I am as well but there aren't that many LVN jobs and you might as well go for the full RN if you're already committing to 1 year of LVN school. Good luck!