Luv2baRNurse

Hi, keep in mind that when I enrolled in Lamar State College Port Arthur, I had been an LVN for years before I enrolled in their program. My college GPA was 3.6, the school I initially intended to enroll in required taking the HESI test first as part of their application process & I scored a 92 on the reading & math portion & a 930 on the critical thinking section. I'm NOT bragging, but I'm sure LSC-PA took that into consideration when I applied for their online program. I started there in January of 2013 & finished in May or June of 2014 with a GPA of 3.67..... It's been 3 years & after I graduated in 2014, they were shutting the online program down because of the BON. I believe you have a chance with a 2.8 GPA.....idk how competitive the program is now. I wasn't aware that they got approval to restart their online program. As far as their board passing rate, you just need to focus on you! I graduated with a 3.67 GPA & passed the boards on the first try. I studied & did the work, passed all my tests & put forth the effort I needed to pass & I did ok. Just focus on what you need to do to pass & yes, I think with a 2.8 GPA, you stand a chance of getting into the program. The great part of their program was that I could work full time, go to school online AND I was able to do my clinicals at my job! Idk of any other schools that allow that. If they restarted the online program, they may have made it more competitive in order to ensure their board passing rate is successful so the BON doesn't shut them down again. I personally think it was actually a reflection of the students & not the school. On the blackboard discussion assignments there were some people who made me question how they ever qualified to get into the program! You can always check the BON for schools & any disciplinary or performance info or issues they may have. It's what you make of it & how well you study & the effort you bother to put forward to get your RN because it's Soo worth it for opportunity & money! Good luck to you!!!

First, let's be realistic. If you are a new nurse right out of school with no experience, you probably will not be in a position to demand high pay. I live in a small town with 3 prominent hospitals and on average a brand new ER nurse commands $25-26/hr (I live in Texas); other specialties may pay more. If you're already thinking about higher pay and less stress, then are you in nursing for the right reason? Nursing is a calling, not just a job. Critical care areas such as labor & delivery, NICU, ER, ICU, Telemetry, CCU pay more, but are stressful, require skill, experience and knowledge. You'll have to earn it! Hospice, home health, rehab, prison, school nursing, office or clinic nursing, are less stressful, but not necessarily more money. You may try working in occupational health, an immunization clinic, an insurance office for a less stressful job. But if you're commanding the higher pay jobs, then get ready to work for the higher pay. Your pay will also be determined by how you decide to work: M-F 8-5; 12 hours shifts days or nights because of shift differentials and weekend differentials. Travel nursing pays well, but will require experience. Find a good preceptor program in something you think you'll enjoy (perhaps a favorite part of clinical) and gain some experience. After a year or two of experience, you can apply for travel nursing jobs, make great money, and do what you enjoy (traveling, exploring) to have the best of both worlds.

Hi, I know that I'm waaaay late posting a response to your question. But I graduated from LSC-PA in June of 2014. The program was suspended due to continuous poor board passing rates. They did reapply to the board, but was denied for the online program. Now they only offer the classes on campus. I graduated with a GPA of 3.8, took the Hurst Review and passed boards on the first try. That's not to brag, but to let you know that completing an online course is absolutely possible. I was an LVN for 14 years before starting this program. I was either too busy, waiting for the kids to get older & more self sufficient, or too afraid of returning to college. When I noticed an RN's salary per hour one day, I was outraged that she and I did the same job in the ER with the only difference being that she triaged and I didn't, it made me even more angry. So I faced my fears, realized my kids were self sufficient (old enough to cook, get ready for school, etc..) and took a developmental math course to meet my college entrance exam scores. Sometimes I was the oldest person in my classes making higher grades than younger students. They allowed me to do my clinical at my job, which was an added bonus to the program. The course would've been perfect for you and I'm so sorry you missed the opportunity! I personally feel that those who did not pass the course or boards did not put in the work and effort to effectively study. They either did not learn enough or failed to take an adequate review course to increase their opportunity to pass their boards. I don't know of any other online programs in Texas, but you can check the TX BON website and it will provide a list of Texas nursing schools with info regarding the type of programs they offer and you can always check their status of whether they are approved, pending approval, or on some type of discipline. I wish you the best and please do not give up! It is SO WELL WORTH IT TO GET YOUR RN. The difference in pay was outrageous. Some hospitals, fortunately my job, gave LVN's a 2 for 1 credit on the pay scale. So for the 14 years I worked as an LVN, that was equivalent to 7 yrs RN experience on the pay scale and increased my pay by almost $11/hr. Best of luck to you!