Lvn To Rn Program In Los Angels Area

dixon4rn · Nov 14, 2008

Hi,I am curious to know if you were accepted to any of the programs you applied to?

Hi Everyone,
Getting into an RN program is probably one of the most stressful things I've had to do. W/ that said, Someone please answer some of my questions!
*Is the PCC program hard to get into if you don't have a 3.0 GPA?
*Do they give LVN's priority?
*I've applied to PCC, GCC, LAVC for Spring 09, how long is the waiting list for these programs?
I have all my prereq's. I have a 2.7 overall GPA and I've been an LVN for 3years.
Any Advice??? Thank you for any help....

KarmaRene · Nov 17, 2008

Hi, I am also in the same area, and wanted to apply to those same schools. Has any of them contacted you? How long are the wait list? ANY information you can offer me would be GREATLY appreciated. I too am an LVN, trying to get into or even get INFORMATION for a nursing school is SO frustrating..... :banghead:

dixon4rn · Nov 18, 2008

Hi Karma,I just inquired about West Coast University and left their campus today.They have an lvn to rn program that can be completed in 18 months but if you have your pre-requisites out of the way the time is reduced.The program is expensive.I went in july and the total program without any prereqs completed was 64,000 today they have gone up to 67,000,I know this may seem expensive but when you put into the equation the Cal grants and Fed loans it reduced it to 38,000.I am tired of waiting and since they put a 5 year recency on the req's it becomes frustrating.I am impressed so far of what I have seen.I have not heard anything bad about them.Cedar Sinai has hired some of their graduates as well and there are no complaints.If you have any more questions just let me know.I would be more than glad to help.I figure it would be another 3 years before I am actually accepted into the junior colleges and looking at the economy as it is the time is now before there is serious cuts on grants and Fed loans.

Hi, I am also in the same area, and wanted to apply to those same schools. Has any of them contacted you? How long are the wait list? ANY information you can offer me would be GREATLY appreciated. I too am an LVN, trying to get into or even get INFORMATION for a nursing school is SO frustrating.....

KarmaRene · Nov 18, 2008

hi dixon4rn, thank you very much for all of your helpful information. i have been over to wcu and actually taken their entrance hesi. i just decided to go ahead and finish off my pre-reqs at a jc then go ahead and start wcu. im almost done with the sciences, im taking a&p now and have micro for winter session. im a dedicated student so the getting good grades wont be an issue. i do think its alot of money, but when you factor into the equation of all the time you wait, there are alot of lost wages in which the loans could be getting paid off. im leaning more and more towards this route everyday. when do you plan to start? maybe we will be classmates? lol. i had a great study group for lvn so hopefully i will meet some students who share the same passion as me and that will make it a little bit easier.... please, keep me updated on any information you may have for me, and i will do the same. thanks so much again..... :bow:

dixon4rn · Nov 18, 2008

hi karmarene,i wanted to start in april but she felt that the way the economy is going that i should start in february.so i am scheduled for feb 2,2008 but prefer to start in april to finish up my prerequisites as well.i will keep you inform of things and i hope to see you there.i love nursing as well and love to help.you are right ,we are losing out each year we are waiting to be selected for the rn program at the jc level.i think it is a wise choice to complete your prerequisites at the jc level that way they are transferable to the bsn program because their prerequisites are not transferable at the regional level.good choice.talk to you soon.

hi dixon4rn, thank you very much for all of your helpful information. i have been over to wcu and actually taken their entrance hesi. i just decided to go ahead and finish off my pre-reqs at a jc then go ahead and start wcu. im almost done with the sciences, im taking a&p now and have micro for winter session. im a dedicated student so the getting good grades wont be an issue. i do think its alot of money, but when you factor into the equation of all the time you wait, there are alot of lost wages in which the loans could be getting paid off. im leaning more and more towards this route everyday. when do you plan to start? maybe we will be classmates? lol. i had a great study group for lvn so hopefully i will meet some students who share the same passion as me and that will make it a little bit easier.... please, keep me updated on any information you may have for me, and i will do the same. thanks so much again.....

KarmaRene · Nov 18, 2008

so there class is starting that first week of feb? they hadnt given me the exact date as of yet. my class isnt scheduled to end until feb 5th. maybe i can work something out and still start as scheduled. speaking of transferable classes, is that just pertaining to the ge coursework, or is it everything? im young, so eventually i will be going back for my bsn, but i want to know what classes i wont be able to take with me. i was aware that they arent nln accredited already, alot of schools arent, i did the research. but, as long as i can practice nursing here, im okay. well, wish me luck, im going to try to get financed with this crazy economy..... talk to you soon.

dixon4rn · Nov 18, 2008

hi karmarene,yeh i contacted longbeach state university and they informed me that wcu is a nationally accredited university so the prerequisites will not transfer (anatomy,chemistry,microbiology,english,lifespan)will not transfer in but your rn license will.that is okay.i spoke with my rep yesterday because i had the same concern as you about lower the cost since they are not transferable and she told me that i could continue at the jc completing the main science prerequisites if i choose and transfer them in because the prerequisites there are broken into 2 classes per term.it sounds crazy but i am just covering myself from both ends.so it is only the ge classes you will be find with just your rn license.i contacted calstate as well and they said i should be find.it should not be a problem but check with them first because i will be taking classed at the jc as well.

so there class is starting that first week of feb? they hadnt given me the exact date as of yet. my class isnt scheduled to end until feb 5th. maybe i can work something out and still start as scheduled. speaking of transferable classes, is that just pertaining to the ge coursework, or is it everything? im young, so eventually i will be going back for my bsn, but i want to know what classes i wont be able to take with me. i was aware that they arent nln accredited already, alot of schools arent, i did the research. but, as long as i can practice nursing here, im okay. well, wish me luck, im going to try to get financed with this crazy economy..... talk to you soon.

KarmaRene · Nov 18, 2008

thank you soo much again. seems like joining this forum was the best thing i couldve ever done.... i have actually gotten alot of information here that i was unable to get otherwise. im glad i asked because i was under the misconception that it was all classes. but now that i know its just the pre-reqs im okay with that. most of mine are/will be done. if i have to take anything it will be micro, because the class isnt scheduled to end until feb 5th, and i am okay with that. well, we shall see. thank you again. best wishes and i hope everything works out for you too. ttyl

Bella39841 · Nov 22, 2008

I have been in an LVN program for the past 11 months and finish up next month. :yeah: I thought everything was going so well. I would finish up, study for the NCLEX, pass the exam and then get my license. :up: The only reason I went into the LVN program was to get a head start in the RN program so that I could transfer as a 2nd yr.advanced-standing student.

The JC I went to (Mt. Sac) had a long waiting list and I didn't think I'd get in. :bluecry1: I applied Nov. 07 and was placed in June 08 as an alternate for the August 08 class. I was already in the LVN program and thought I should finish it out since I had started it.:nuke: Today, out of the blue, I get a call on my last day of my LTC clinical from Mt. Sac telling me that I was once again an alternate for the January 09 class but that I would probably get in this time. Problem is orientation is the 1st week of December. Just like the last time, I can't attend because I have scheduled classes for that week for my LVN program. :zzzzz

But, here's the thing. I went over to Mt. Sac today and the lady told me the waiting list to get into the Bridge program at Mt. Sac (and I'm assuming all JCs in my area) is 3-4 years! :banghead: There are hundreds of LVNs that did the same thing I did. They only take maybe 5 each semester from their waiting list to start up in the 2nd semester with the beginning RN students from the semester before.

At this rate, my pre-req's will be outdated by the time I get into RN school! :cry: So, the nice lady at Mt. Sac told me that since I'm already on the list to begin in January 09 to just go ahead and do it. I would have to start all over again as a new student nurse, though. Forget this year of HELL that I've had an LVN school!! :banghead: She explained that I'd be done with RN school faster this way than if I was to wait to get in as an LVN for the Bridge program. Besides, it would be the 2nd semester that I'd be joining, and if you think about it.. in order for me to apply for the Bridge, I have to have my actual license to apply into the Bridge program and that won't be until April. Then I have to try to get in the June bridge class to start in Sept and she said that won't happen because of the freakin' waiting list..!! :bugeyes:

So, here's the thing. Should I just get into the Jan 09 RN program and start from scratch? It would be the same thing. My hope was that I'd get the license, apply, get into the Bridge in June and be in the 2nd semester RN program in Sept. Looks like that ain't gonna happen..!! So I might as well go into the RN program and start from scratch.... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... it's faster than the alternative..!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...!!! :argue:

I am so upset about this. It's not freakin' fair!! If I decide to do it this way, I would have to miss a crucial week of my LVN program to attend orientation. I don't know if my instructors will let me do that..!! So, I'm damned if I do, and I'm damned if I don't. :madface:

One of my classmates told me that West Coast University should be a consideration for me. I could get my RN license in 9 months since I'm finished with everything needed. That would start in June 09. Did you all see how much it costs to go to that school? I don't want to have a debt before I even start working! :crying2:

I just don't know what to do..!!! Any suggestions..??

tommy.k · Jul 27, 2009

Hi, Bella. i just want to know which option you chose to go after this frustrating situatioin. i guess now i am in the same situation as you were at this time. i dont konw if i should go WCU or wait for the program at JC. i don't even konw how long is the waiting list.... they also have a bridge course for LVNs but i have to have an one year experience which i dont have......but WCU is sooo expensive so i dont think i would be able to afford... so i think i should start from scratch. OMG!!!!!!! what should i doooooo???????

Bella39841 · Jul 27, 2009

Hello Tommy..!!

I accepted going into the RN program at Mt. Sac CC and just finished my 1st semester. It's been a bumpy road but the LVN program helped me A LOT when taking quizzes and with clinicals. I really, really am happy that I chose to start again from the beginning because it has given me a different perspective. LVNs and RNs have different mentalities to deal with. While the LVN has a lot of task-oriented duties throughout the day, the RN is more focused on developing care plans, supervising the surrounding staff that's helping you with your pt., and actually sitting down with the pt. to come up with these care plans. It is A LOT OF PAPERWORK and running around. Totally different worlds. It took me a while to get out of the LVN mode and into RN mode. Ultimately, my clinical instructors said that I finally made the transition.

I decided to attend the CC because it is less expensive and they had already offered me placement in the program. If I went in as an LVN, I'd probably still be waiting to get in, so I opted to start fresh and it really did help me out. For me, West Coast isn't an option because I don't want to accumulate so much debt before getting a job. I would become an RN in 9 months, but I'm in no hurry and I question the quality of the program and my sanity going at such great speed. It's better to take breaks in between because the nursing program is VERY, VERY STRESSFUL.

Tommy, you have to think about what is best for you. Are you in an LVN program now..?? Did you get accepted into an RN program recently? You said that your situation is similar to mine and I am thinking this is your case as well. In my case, it just worked out that I got asked twice to the RN program. The first time I was halfway thru the LVN program and didn't want to drop out, but in retrospect, I should have started the RN program then. I chose to continue and then apply to the RN program as an LVN, but they asked me into the program again. This time it was at the time I was almost finished with the LVN program. I struggled with the decision, but finally accepted to go into the RN program from the start because then I would probably have to wait 2-3 years to get in. I was going to have to wait 6 months anyway to get my LVN license, then get into the bridge program. This way, I just started from the beginning and bypassed all of that. I also decided to NOT take the NCLEX exam as I figured out that I will never work as an LVN.

So, it's up to you and what is right for YOU. Let me know if this helps..!! Good luck..!!