Questions on nursing schools and programs to take

sKris · May 14, 2011

Is there a community college near you? Many CCs have excellent nursing programs where you could get a ADN for well less than 30K. This would also set you up to move to a BSN program later if you chose to go that route. What are your reasons for going the LVN route now? Is it the length of the program?

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 14, 2011

Community colleges may actually offer an LVN program. They may have some fairly stringent prerequisites that are so close to the ADN program they'd offer, that it may be more beneficial to enter an ADN program instead. $30k be some pretty big bones to lay down... Community Colleges should be able to get you to the LVN or RN goal for well under that amount, but it may take you a little longer to get there. Also, bear in mind that an LVN license may end up counting for as little as 1 semester credit toward RN. In the program I'm in, an LVN doing a career mobility upgrade to RN takes a transition course during the summer and then enters the 2nd year of RN school.

Then again, there's a local private college (or three) here that will cost about $85k to reach the ADN, and it's usually LVN (about $40k) then prereqs and then RN... (the balance.) It takes something like 25 months through their program (not counting time for prereqs required for RN), but 23 through a JC... once you get your prereqs done. The JC will be, of course, a LOT cheaper than that over the 3-4 years it'll take from "I want to be a nurse..." In my case, had I opted for the private school education, I'd probably now be close to LVN, but I'd be deeply in debt too.

Notice that I said NOTHING about quality of education. A private institution may provide a better education (sometimes not)... but it will come with a MUCH higher price tag as there's no state funding for them, so all salaries and such must come from the student's tuition.

Oh, and those figures above do NOT include loans and such to cover living expenses should you not be able to work while going to a private institution, so that $85k could end up being more like $120k by the time it's all done... OUCH!

newRNstudent02 · May 14, 2011

Why not go straight for the BSN at a state school? Seems like the fastest and most efficient way.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 14, 2011

Why not go straight for the BSN at a state school? Seems like the fastest and most efficient way.

+1!!! If both paths will be about 4 years total, at your age (OP) BSN may be the better option and may still be cheaper than the private college route, with a higher potential for landing a Nursing job when you're done.

boojum · May 14, 2011

LVNs are being phased out as we speak. I would be really hesitant to pay 30k for that, especially as you won't finish for at least two more years.

LexiG · May 14, 2011

I would check into your local community college. 30k is way too much money to throw down for an lvn position. You may also find a lot of career institute classes don't transfer over to a JC or State College. You could even take all of your pre-req's and get an AS and transfer to get a BSN. Much much cheaper. Best of luck.

jdcandyman · May 14, 2011

I would go the community college route but where I live it is extremely hard to get into the classes I need. And I would rather take out a loan for 30k than have to spend two-three years in a community college or state college and just get it done in 12 months. It also takes like 4-5-6 years to get a bsn through cc's around here. So if i do a bridge program I could probably go from a lvn to bsn within 2-3 years. I just want to make sure that if i do get an lvn cetificate that I will be able to get my bsn after I pay off my first loan. I will most likely be living with my parents while I get my lvn degree should I go that route so I dont have to worry about housing costs so I think I could afford to take out a small loan especially if I work part time. However I am very concerned about what ''boojum'' said about lvn's being phased out, If I do get my lvn certificate will I even be able to find a job?

Thanks for all the help, im so glad to have found this site with all the helpful people on it

leenak · May 14, 2011

I have a previous BS and if it didn't cost me $30k to get that. I would say spend your time (2-3 years) and get the ADN or if you can, the BSN. You will be in a much better place creerwise if those are your ultimate goals. You may be in a hurry to get into the job force but that is too costly.

I don't know too much about LVN careers but from what I've read on this site, many hospitals seem to not be hiring them anymore.

boojum · May 14, 2011

I would go the community college route but where I live it is extremely hard to get into the classes I need. And I would rather take out a loan for 30k than have to spend two-three years in a community college or state college and just get it done in 12 months. It also takes like 4-5-6 years to get a bsn through cc's around here. So if i do a bridge program I could probably go from a lvn to bsn within 2-3 years. I just want to make sure that if i do get an lvn cetificate that I will be able to get my bsn after I pay off my first loan. I will most likely be living with my parents while I get my lvn degree should I go that route so I dont have to worry about housing costs so I think I could afford to take out a small loan especially if I work part time. However I am very concerned about what ''boojum'' said about lvn's being phased out, If I do get my lvn certificate will I even be able to find a job?
Thanks for all the help, im so glad to have found this site with all the helpful people on it

I don't mean to discourage you, I would just hate for you to spend that money and time and then not be able to find a job and pay back your loan. You should be able to get a bsn after lvn, but like other people said, you would still have to complete all the nursing prerequisites before you go. If you have this big loan and you can't get a job during all that time, you could be in trouble.

You could try checking your local hospital and LTC facilities to see if they have job postings for LVNs.

If you are going to take out a loan, I would encourage you to go the community college route. It will be so much cheaper that you could use some of your loan to pay for housing near the campus. Put in the two years now. You can work as a CNA while you do it.

I really wish you luck and I know you will make it to your goal! :nurse:

Minnie02 · May 15, 2011

Hi Does you HS offer Anatomy and Physiology? IF so do those classes at HS and then take Microbiology at a Community College. Do, all the GE required for the Nursing program. Check all the Community colleges with their requirements. Once all your classes are done at CC which would be like just 2 semesters, apply for the program as you finish your core pre-quistes. Just a FYI keep your GPA high, with all your science classes ( Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, English, Math) once you are good at those. Your GPA will be good enough to get into any RN program at a community college.