New LVN student... please Help!!!

MAtoLVN · Feb 4, 2013

Hello All,
I'm very new to the Allnursing website and this is my very first post. I have a couple of questions about the LVN program in cali. First off is the LVN program even worth it or should i just go to school for RN?
What kind of jobs can you get once you finish the program and pass the state job? Is there a waiting list for the LVN to RN track program in cali? Can you work with kids as an LVN? Is the pay higher then $10 in cali. Are the LVN classes hard compared to the RN classes?
My last question has anyone taken the LVN program at Long beach City college? How are the LVN teachers at that college? Are they helpful? How is life as an LVN student once you finish your pre basic classes?
Any feedback i can receive will be very helpful.

Depends what you want to do. For me I'm doing the lvn program and then bridging to rn eventually. Time and money are big considerations. Lots of places for example ltc and jails hire lvns. Depends on the school. Some have waiting lists and some don't. I know in the Nor cal region lvns where I work make over $30 an hour. Depends on the facility though. No matter what you take nursing school is hard. We don't want dumb nurses. I start my lvn program in march. I hope you can find answers to your questions.

nerdydeeneen · Feb 5, 2013

Thanks, this helps a lot!!!

ne1can · Feb 8, 2013

I just finished, yes it was hard. Happy I did it, now I can work. Get some experience and hopefully tuition reimburstment. I absolutely want to continue on to RN. You have to walk before you run. Be patient, it's good learning. Tons of jobs out there Good Luck

skighler · Feb 10, 2013

Hello All,
I'm very new to the Allnursing website and this is my very first post. I have a couple of questions about the LVN program in cali. First off is the LVN program even worth it or should i just go to school for RN?
What kind of jobs can you get once you finish the program and pass the state job? Is there a waiting list for the LVN to RN track program in cali? Can you work with kids as an LVN? Is the pay higher then $10 in cali. Are the LVN classes hard compared to the RN classes?
My last question has anyone taken the LVN program at Long beach City college? How are the LVN teachers at that college? Are they helpful? How is life as an LVN student once you finish your pre basic classes?
Any feedback i can receive will be very helpful.

Hello!! An LVN/LPN program being "worth it" is different for different people. For me a lot of people said your dumb why wouldnt you just go right for your RN. Well, I was accepted into my program in May 2012 and I started in december 2012. If I wanted to do an RN program I would have had to wait until fall of this year and to be honest Im done waiting. Ive wanted to be a nurse for a long time now and I really just wanted to start asap and get out into the field asap. I am also planning on ultimately becoming an NP. There is an awesome program in my city here that is LPN-BSN and then at the same school they have a lot of MSN options ( NP, Nurse Anesthetist, etc ). As long as you have a plan and a goal and you just stick with that goal who cares if you are doing it the "lomg way" or the "hard way". Its what is best for YOU! As far as jobs I know in my area it is hard to get hired as an LPN right out of school at a hospital so I will most likely work in home health or a long term facility. As far as the classes being hard, Ive never taken college nursing courses but you pretty much learn the same material except in a LPN course it is condensed into a smaller amount of time which to me is making it a little harder. In the same sense, a college level course will get into more detail simply because they have more time to spend on each lesson. As far as life as an LPN student, its the most stressful thing Ive ever done in my life but I also work 30 hours a week and have a 3 month old son to worry about so your situation might be different. Other than that though I absolutely love it, I cannot get enough of it. I wouldnt trade it for the world even though I am so stressed I want to scream sometimes but you just have to take it week by week and remember it will all be worth it :). I wish you the best in your course!

scottlvn1305 · Feb 19, 2013

For your question of whether it is worth it is up to you. Too many RN schools in Cali are wait listing people for up to 3 years. I did the LVN route in Cali so I can bridge later to a LVN-RN program. It is easier to bridge than to apply and get wait listed for a few years. Plus you can get experience while finishing up any courses. RN school is difficult from what many nurses tell me, but the ones I know that went LVN-RN said that it was much easier because they already had a foundation of information to build on. Once you pass your LVN program you are able to sit for your NCLEX exam as long as you get approved to do so. When you pass you get your state license. You can get many different jobs in different facilities. Most are LTC/SNF, but there are still other facilities as well. Urgent cares, Police Stations, Jails/Prison, Home Health, Acute Care Facilities, etc. There may be a wait for the bridge depending on your school, but usually not if you are currently licensed in that state and your pre req grades are high. Most LVN's can make between $19-$30, so if you can't support your children on that you need to budget better.