Need Advice!!! RN or LVN!? Pls read, very complex situation!

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I'm going to try to make this as short and clear as possible. I have a complex situation and can't decide what to do :( I have talked to so many and everyone gives me wonderful advice (even my boss!) but I figured I could get the best advice from people who have been to nursing school.

Here's my situation in a nutshell:

  • I work full time in a very well-known medical facility where it's practically IMPOSSIBLE to get hired at (lots of competition) and I have great benefits, pretty much any benefit you can think of! Tuition reimbursement, medical insurance, great hours, great pay, lots of connections, paid leaves. As an administrative assistant.
  • My goal has been R.N. school for the past 2 years. I already have a B.A., and completed ALL nursing pre-reqs other than physio.

Now my dilemma is that I am so close to being able to apply to nursing school, but I have serious credit card debt (approx $20K). And a huge car payment, so this pretty much means I cannot afford to quit my job just yet. I am estimating if I work full time for another 2 years, I can pay off everything (I JUST started working full time, I got promoted from part time last month), then afford to quit working and my parents and/or bf (possibly husband by then) will help me with living expenses.

Working in a clinic I have seen up front the huge demand for nurses at any level, be it R.N. or L.V.N. I work with many L.V.N.'s and where I work their pay is fairly good ($28/hr +), hours are AMAZING and they can definitely work OT/weekends if they want. So that has started to make me think... what if I try an LVN program first?

That's my dilemma. I'm so close to R.N... But the money issue really sets me back :( I wish I had been smarter in my first adult years! I'm hesitant to spend $20K on LVN if I'm going to do R.N. in the long run, but really that's not the biggest issue. I am very attracted to doing LVN first because my company will help pay part of the cost, ($2K a year), I can continue working here if I do an 18-mo part time program, and pretty much have a guaranteed job when I finish the program. What I don't like about this route is that I probably won't do RN school for maybe another 5 years :( I am 25 right now.

I dream about being a nurse. I want it more than anything. I work closely with doctors and nurses and I go to work everyday wishing I was in their place. :(

My two options are to start LVN, keep my job, get an LVN job when done, then keep saving for when I quit my job for RN school. When I get an LVN job I'll be part of the union and I'll have even more security of a guaranteed job when done. Second option is to just keep saving now until I can go straight into R.N. school. The difference will be I guess time, and less money spent if I don't go the LVN route.

I know this is soooo so complex and probably a pain to read this all... but I would really appreciate your help!!! I have no idea what to do. I wish someone could just decide for me!!! Thank you so much to those who took the time to read this!

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Is the dilemma about quitting work now or later to go for the RN? If so, lots of people continue to work and go to school. I've scoured this board and read probably every post about it because I HAVE to work while going to school, and I wanted to read real-life experiences from people that have been there/done that. And it is possible to work full-time and go to school. Not easy, but possible.

If I misunderstood the dilemma, I apologize! Good luck to you.

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Specializes in diabetic wound care/podiatry.

Sell your car, get an affordable one, go to school. Only you can decide. If you are truly so close to RN, why even start LVN?:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Suze Orman would tell you to pay off that debt before you go incurring any more, no matter how good your intentions are. As someone who was very foolish with my finances when I was young, I say the same thing. Pay off all those debts first, then you'll be in a better position to advance your education.

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Is the dilemma about quitting work now or later to go for the RN? If so, lots of people continue to work and go to school. I've scoured this board and read probably every post about it because I HAVE to work while going to school, and I wanted to read real-life experiences from people that have been there/done that. And it is possible to work full-time and go to school. Not easy, but possible.

If I misunderstood the dilemma, I apologize! Good luck to you.

The dilemma is more like, would it be worth it to pay thousands of dollars to go to LVN school when my ultimate goal is RN program... And I explained the pros and cons of going to LVN school with the connections (I guess you could call it that) at my job!

I hear EVERYONE say working is not recommended while going to RN school... I've been to a few info sessions and i don't see how i could keep a 9-5 job with clinicals and lecture. The LVN program however is designed for working students...

Does that make sense? I guess I want to know who had to put off RN school for years because of situations like this... I want to hear other's experiences.

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Sell your car, get an affordable one, go to school. Only you can decide. If you are truly so close to RN, why even start LVN?:uhoh3:

Yeah, that's what my ex-boss who was an RN tells me... I have one class left to complete my pre-reqs.... =/ It feels like "so close yet so far!" lol...

I think about doing that with my car all the time!!!! I was kind of pressured by my dad because my old car had lots of problems and I would end up stranded in the street way too often :( I guess he was looking out for me and figured a new car would solve that problem.

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I started reading some working FT while nursing school threads. Wow some people totally do it!!!! I just hear SO much about how it's not recommended... I guess trying to do LVN first is a bad idea. =/

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

Only you can decide what is best for you. I'd first do everything possible to get your monthly expenses down to the bone and I mean everything. Start paying down that debt ASAP. Now as far as nursing school is concerned you'd mentioned 20K for an LPN/LVN school:eek: way way way too much for an LPN/LVN or ADN RN school. You didn't say what part of the country you are in, that will depend on which is best for you. I'd steer clear of any for-profit nursing schools - they are a huge rip off and it sounds like your are already in debt up to your eyeballs. Is it a CC that offers the part-time LPN/LVN school? If so, it might be a good starting place if by your post you say you have a lock on a job once you graduate at $28 an hour. You can then do a bridge program to your RN, there are many nurses on this forum that were LPN/LVN's first and then bridged to an RN program. Keep in mind the QUALITY of the program LPN/LVN or RN is also very important, do lots of checking on both...there are plenty of threads in this forum to learn what to look for in a good program.

You are still very young and do have lots of time so don't feel rushed, get a handle on your debt, make a plan and stick to it. There is nothing wrong with becoming an LPN/LVN first, you'll find many RN's on this forum who went that route and had no regrets, developed a good knowledge base and experience to help them further their education as an RN.

Again, only you can decide whats right for you.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

I worked 3 12hr shifts a week (full time) as an LPN and went to RN school full time. You can do it. You just do it on about 4 hours sleep a day, max, for 2 years for an ADN.

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Only you can decide what is best for you. I'd first do everything possible to get your monthly expenses down to the bone and I mean everything. Start paying down that debt ASAP. Now as far as nursing school is concerned you'd mentioned 20K for an LPN/LVN school:eek: way way way too much for an LPN/LVN or ADN RN school. You didn't say what part of the country you are in, that will depend on which is best for you. I'd steer clear of any for-profit nursing schools - they are a huge rip off and it sounds like your are already in debt up to your eyeballs. Is it a CC that offers the part-time LPN/LVN school? If so, it might be a good starting place if by your post you say you have a lock on a job once you graduate at $28 an hour. You can then do a bridge program to your RN, there are many nurses on this forum that were LPN/LVN's first and then bridged to an RN program. Keep in mind the QUALITY of the program LPN/LVN or RN is also very important, do lots of checking on both...there are plenty of threads in this forum to learn what to look for in a good program.

You are still very young and do have lots of time so don't feel rushed, get a handle on your debt, make a plan and stick to it. There is nothing wrong with becoming an LPN/LVN first, you'll find many RN's on this forum who went that route and had no regrets, developed a good knowledge base and experience to help them further their education as an RN.

Again, only you can decide whats right for you.

Wow, this is great advice! See I don't know much about LVN programs, but the one i'm talking about is private and for profit, and it's not a CC... I'm in Los Angeles, CA...

Reading these comments and really thinking about it makes me think I'm just going to pay more money with the same outcome in the end. I can always transfer to an on-call or part time position at my job to accomodate for RN school.

Thanks for the great advice. :) And yes, I think my number one concern should be gettin rid of this debt!

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
Suze Orman would tell you to pay off that debt before you go incurring any more, no matter how good your intentions are. As someone who was very foolish with my finances when I was young, I say the same thing. Pay off all those debts first, then you'll be in a better position to advance your education.

Dave Ramsey would tell you to sell the car and get rid of the debt. Eat rice and beans and beans and rice. Then SAVE for school. BTW, how in the heck does one obtain 20K of credit card debt?

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I worked 3 12hr shifts a week (full time) as an LPN and went to RN school full time. You can do it. You just do it on about 4 hours sleep a day, max, for 2 years for an ADN.

Awwwwww hehehe I bet it was all worth it in the end though... I did a crazy schedule like this when I was working on my BA but I know that nursing will be way more demanding... I have generally always been a busy person and can manage to sleep little. Thanks for the insight :)

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