Plz read my scenario

Hi,

No clue about getting into a bridge program in CA but in my area it wasn't too hard and at my CC I only paid about $3,000 for the whole RN-bridge program. I'm not big on debt so the cheapest way I could do it was an important factor for me. Please be proud that you are going to be a LPN. It will allow you to have a decent paying job while you work toward your RN. Jules

P.S. your English is way better than some I have read that were born here!

as an lvn you are more likely going to be hired by a nursing home. most of the larger hospitals are getting away from hiring lvns except perhaps in the more rural hospitals. once you are working as an lvn work for an employer that has a tuition reimbursement benefit. that will help you pay for the cost of your books and tuition when you move on with your education after lvn school.

with the nurse-patient ratio law, california is in dire need of rns. the law does not affect lvns. it would be to your benefit to keep looking for a way to get your rn if that is your ultimate goal. many groups are working together to increase the rn supply in california. it is happening a lot of different ways. there is one hospital in southern california that i know of, and i thought i heard of another, that has a contract with the local community college which automatically puts their cna employees who apply for admission to the rn program at the top of the waiting list. that is how the hospital keeps itself staffed and is filling it's need for both nursing assistants and rns. it's the only place around the area where the students can do their clinicals. the hospital cut themselves a fine deal and i don't think they are the only ones doing this. however, they are in a rural area. i worked at this hospital at one time and one of their big problems was finding enough rns to hire. not anymore, i guess.

most california community colleges with nursing programs have lvn to rn bridge programs. the governor has pushed for it. the community colleges are also working to link their rn programs with the bsn programs at the state universities and colleges. gov. schwarzenegger has made nursing education a priority in our state and has been working with healthcare leaders. go to a university for a bsn if you can't get into a community college rn program. i'm giving you a list of the rn programs in the state that you can check out. look at financial aid as well. rns are are badly needed in california and i can't help but think that side tracking to get an lvn may not be the way to go. even cnas can get tuition reimbursement from employers on some jobs while taking classes toward their rn.

there are a couple of websites you should check out.

• http://www.choosenursing.com/index.html
  • http://www.choosenursing.com/paying/calfinaid.html - financial aid available for nursing students in california

  [*]http://www.cncc.org/ - coalition for nursing careers in california

  [*]http://www.rn.ca.gov/schools/programs.shtml - links to rn schools in california