RN, LVN, or RESPIRATORY THERAPIST

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2015

Welcome back!

My advice is to work on your study skills before you pursue any healthcare-related degree or course of study. Your prerequisite grades in the sciences are indicative of, at best, a tenuous comprehension of the material that you need to succeed in either nursing or respiratory therapy.

Good luck to you!

Miley22 · Mar 27, 2015

I suggest you to go for LVN then work part-time while attending the LVN to RN program. RN is your dream career, so you need to pursue what you like. In nursing, license will get you jobs, not a degree. There are shortages in nurses right now still. Once you get your first year experience as an RN, there will be plenty of jobs out there for you to choose. I am currently working as a home health RN, and they would call me for patients everyday. I had to refuse some cases because I need more time for my family and school.

Respiratory Therapy is a very good career, and I love being an RT. You could get a Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Therapy after you finish your AS and passed you CRT and RRT examinations. Or attend a school that offers a bachelor's degree. For the current job market, RT is very saturated, unless you want to move to the East Coast (I don't know where you are located from), because I know my classmates from RT school are still struggling finding RT jobs. Working at the hospital, RTs have less responsibilities than RNs, despite the same pay rates. RTs usually work in the ICU,where they manage the ventilators and airway management. RTs who work on the floors at the hospital usually give breathing treatments and do patient teaching (very chill). If you want to know more about RT, you should volunteer or shadow an RT at a local hospital.

With the current grades that you have, I doubt that you could get into an RN program, unless you get lucky with a school that does lottery. So, my suggestion for you is do what you like. If you want to pursue the RN route, you should get into an LVN program asap. You should contact some of the private schools too because their LVN programs are shorter than public schools. You could get loans thought federal loans and pay back when you're working. This is the faster route. But if you have time, you could attend public schools.

Good luck to you!! :)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2015

There are shortages in nurses right now still.

This information is incorrect. There is no nursing shortage, especially in the OP's region of residence (southern California).

BrandonLPN, LPN · Mar 27, 2015

$25000-$30000 is far too much to pay for a LVN degree, unless you get some serious government grants. And I say this as someone who went to a for-profit school for his LPN.

AdobeRN · Mar 27, 2015

Good grief ....$25,000 for LVN school??? No way. My grades were not that great and I started out in an LVN program thru a community college - my expenses for the program were around $4,000 - fall, spring and short summer session. Check to see if any of your local community colleges have an LVN program.

Libby1987 · Mar 27, 2015

Is there a reason why all of your grades are low? If you don't remember physiology and you didn't have a strong grasp when you took the class, I think you will struggle greatly in the nursing program.

30K for LVN, that seems immoral in the California job market.

I have a friend who was an RT in the ICU and then got her RN. Damn she was sharp. She had only an AA in both (can you have two AA's or is it just one for the first degree?) Anyway she has advanced degree written all over her and is currently getting her BSN while home with the little ones. Just turned 30, I was surprised at how much she had accomplished in her 20's but apparently it is possible.

Determination08 · Mar 28, 2015

Thank you for the replies.

What are some study methods yoy recommend, so I can improve?

I think I didn't do that good because I started right from high school at 17yr The summer session. I wanted to be a RN, but didnt take the studying serious I was more focused on working to have some money to help my parents. Im a CNA now with 1 1/2 of experience. Im 24 years old& have a 1 month old baby, but I would love to go back to school I actually miss studying.

I live around LA, CA where everything is pricy. I've researched and most are around the price of $20,000-30,00 for LVN Program. I really want to get serious about my career now & do something about it. I just need some advice/guidence to get there.

Determination08 · Mar 28, 2015

That I know of there's no Community College close to me that offers a LVN program, specially at a low cost.

Jennss29 · Jul 10, 2016

Hi Determination, I was reading through your post and was wondering if you've made a decision as to whether becoming an LVN or taking an RT program. I'm currently in the same boat. I've applied to various RN programs but I always end up as an alternate or waitlisted. Since RN does not seem to be happening I was thinking of doing RT also of just getting my degree in healthcare management while I wait for nursing because that's not happening soon. Hopefully you're still active and hear back from you!