Some questions regarding becoming an LVN. If any are answered, it'd be very helpful!

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Hi everyone. I'm considering becoming an LVN but I'm just starting my research so there's a lot that I need to look into. If you guys can answer even one or two of my questions it'd really help me out.

  • Here in CA, which schools tend to be most recommended?
  • Do most accredited LVN schools have prerequisites?
  • How long does schooling for LVN tend to take?
  • If I wanna keep moving up, are there a good number of LVN-to-RN bridge programs?
  • How are the job prospects for LVN's?
  • Generally speaking, how much does an LVN's starting pay tend to be?
  • If I wanna continue schooling, can I work as an LVN only 2-4 days a week or is that unheard of?

I'm basically looking at LVN as a way to get my foot in the door for a nursing career. Thanks for all the help and insight.

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Specializes in LTC.

  • Here in CA, which schools tend to be most recommended? I don't know but stay away from for profit schools.
  • Do most accredited LVN schools have prerequisites? For profit schools generally don't. CCs sometimes do.
  • How long does schooling for LVN tend to take? Generally 12-14 months
  • If I wanna keep moving up, are there a good number of LVN-to-RN bridge programs? There are several. You can go to the CA BON and check out the listings.
  • How are the job prospects for LVN's? Very bad. I had to leave the state to find a job. It looks like things are worse now than when I left 2.5 years ago. I tried to see if a former classmate had any openings at her LTC facility in Oakland and she said they are only hiring RNs now.
  • Generally speaking, how much does an LVN's starting pay tend to be? I've seen ads for LTC advertising 21/hr. This is in the SF and Sacramento areas.
  • If I wanna continue schooling, can I work as an LVN only 2-4 days a week or is that unheard of? Most likely that is all you are going to get offered anyway if you are lucky enough to find a job.

I don't mean to be a downer but I hate to see anyone in the same position I was in a few years back. I hate reading these posts about unemployed LVNs in CA. I hate it because I understand the frustration and also because I'd like to move back and become discouraged after reading these posts.

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There are many LVNs who complain that after getting into debt to complete LVN school, now no employer will offer them a job. There are many experienced LVNs who can not find work, and many who can not find enough work to support themselves. Do not go down this path without taking the bleak employment situation into consideration.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, CCU, Alzheimers, Med-Surg.

  • Here in CA, which schools tend to be most recommended? I agree with Sensoria, try to stay away from private schools. Some of them want $20,000 or more for a 1 year program :/
  • Do most accredited LVN schools have prerequisites? Some require you to already be a CNA, other than that they mostly want you to take an entrance test of some kind, and have a fingerprint card.

  • If I wanna keep moving up, are there a good number of LVN-to-RN bridge programs? Most community colleges will accept LPNs into block 3 of their RN program.
  • How are the job prospects for LVN's? Depends on where you are, and what connections you have :)
  • If I wanna continue schooling, can I work as an LVN only 2-4 days a week or is that unheard of? ​Depends on your expenses!

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Specializes in LTC.

With regards to private schools, I should add that there was a time (which I apparently missed) where it was a non-issue as to which school you graduated from. This is no longer the case. In general, I believe private schools are vastly inferior to community colleges. I have a coworker here in NC that is also unhappy with her private school experience. At my school, teaching was poor and we had limited clinical experience. When I finally started working, I felt I had a lot of catching up to do.

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I went to a private school in S. California, yes it was expensive but I got pell grants and gov. loans and paid a portion each month. I graduated in Sept of 2011 took my Nclex Nov & got a job in the 1st week of Dec at an internal medicine/Alternative Dr's office, he does traditional as well as alternative, making pretty good pay doing blood draws, IV's, thermagrams, medication administration ie shots ( I am also IV & Blood withdrawal certified) I had no connections just my own determination. I would have to say my clinical experience in school was better than what I had heard of from other schools...we got to work in hospitals, ER, OR, Telemetry, not just LTC. As far as hours I work 4 days a week 36-40 hours. No nights, weekends or holidays.

I love what I am am doing & plan on bridging to BSN soon through the University of Indianna. I just wanted to add some encouraging remarks as it is possible! Good Luck :nurse:

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Make sure you really research what is involved in getting accepted to a LVN to RN bridge too. There are prerequisites which can be hard to get into in CC because there are too many students and just not enough classes here in CA. Also, it is very competitive and can be hard to get into the LVN to RN bridges.

Im not saying don't do it, but just do some research and make sure you know what your getting yourself into. I had the same plan you did. I got my LVN license thinking I could bridge to RN right away, but it did not work out like that. After I got my LVN license it took me 2 years to finish my pre-req's, and I am now just applying to the bridge programs. A couple of schools told me flat out that the wait for the LVN-RN bridge is 5-6 years and I would be better off to apply to the regular 2 year RN program. They said I would probably be out and have my RN license years before I get accepted to the bridge program.

And the worst part is I have not been able to find permanent work as a LVN. I have sent hundreds of applications and all I have been able to find was a temporary flu shot job.If I knew what I would have to go through I would have just gone straight for my RN license.

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Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.
With regards to private schools, I should add that there was a time (which I apparently missed) where it was a non-issue as to which school you graduated from. This is no longer the case. In general, I believe private schools are vastly inferior to community colleges. I have a coworker here in NC that is also unhappy with her private school experience. At my school, teaching was poor and we had limited clinical experience. When I finally started working, I felt I had a lot of catching up to do.

I would say that the private FOR PROFIT schools are certainly inferior to the local state community college or public school that offers LPN/LVN program, but I would imagine that the non profit private LPN schools are still good. There are very few of these programs left however. I graduated from a two year long Catholic hospital based diploma program. The hospital still stands, but the nursing program is long gone. I know of only one non profit private hospital based diploma program that still trains LPNs (there may be others) but its not in CA. The non profit private schools are not nearly as expensive as the for profit schools and they also have standards for admission. The for profit schools are just that. They want your money and could care less about your qualifications.

Best to you,

Mrs H.

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