Entry level jobs for an LVN are few and far between.
It takes months and months if not LONGER to find a job if you do at all.
Once your working you will find few if any part time or distance programs for the LVN to RN.
Now that I have my yr of experience of LVN work you would think I would be able to make a move to the area of work that I originally want to work in....
NOPE.
Most jobs are requiring 2-3 yrs experience.
So you end up stuck where you started...whether it be a great job or not so great job.
Don't do it.
Just apply for a RN or BSN program...put your head down and do it.
Nursing and all those "GREAT OPPORTUNITIES" that you hear about in school is not the real nursing world.
Jobs are hard to find. PERIOD!
You have a better shot if you go with the RN or BSN than trying to work your way up.
Specializes in Peds acute, critical care, Urgent Care.
I highly disagree...going through my LPN program FIRST has been the smartest thing I have done. While in clinicals as an LPN, we had fresh RN students as well. The new RN students who had started at the beginning at RN level received a high level of scrutiny and discipline actions because being brand new to the field, and not even being an LPN yet, they didn't even know who to do a glucose check, and many didn't even know what the PPD stood for regarding the tuberculosis testing. Going through the LPN first not only made me more prepared, but while taking RN clinicals I didn't make a fool of myself and instructors by not having basic nursing knowledge. Not all RN students are like this, but many who just jumpped straight into the RN without already being LPN's had a very difficult time.
I highly disagree...going through my LPN program FIRST has been the smartest thing I have done. While in clinicals as an LPN, we had fresh RN students as well. The new RN students who had started at the beginning at RN level received a high level of scrutiny and discipline actions because being brand new to the field, and not even being an LPN yet, they didn't even know who to do a glucose check, and many didn't even know what the PPD stood for regarding the tuberculosis testing. Going through the LPN first not only made me more prepared, but while taking RN clinicals I didn't make a fool of myself and instructors by not having basic nursing knowledge. Not all RN students are like this, but many who just jumpped straight into the RN without already being LPN's had a very difficult time.
Not knowing nursing things before nursing school does not make one foolish. And learning how to check a blood glucose is not too difficult, even for the worst students. The idea that you need to learn to do accuchecks before going to school to learn to do accuchecks is a bit ridiculous. Ok, more than a bit...
It depends on where you live. Maybe think about moving?? I've been an LPN 10 years now and had a job 2 weeks out of school. About half of my classmates had jobs lined up before we even graduated. I live in East Tennessee and here LPNS work in ltc, clinics, home health/private duty, schools, insurance agencies, mr/dd/id group homes, jails, va, shot clinics, even some factories as a personal nurse for staff and some hospitals. The jobs in hospitals have gotten fewer over the years because they are hiring more rns but, some here hire lpns. Idk if it makes a difference but, here in Tennessee lpns can do most of what an rn can do, there's only a few things that we can't do. Maybe look into a state that utilizes LPNS more.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
I took the route of going to LVN school for practical reasons. The BSN/RN prereqs were taking me forever to finish and my spouse and I split up and I was broke. I figured becoming an LVN would be faster and keep me on the path of becoming a nurse.
I'm about to graduate from LVN school and sometimes wonder if I shouldn't have just kept my nose to the ground. I have no regrets about my choice because I will be in a position to earn decent money quicker, but in some ways Ill be further from my goal.
My state board just discontinued the distance LVN to RN program (indiana)
The state I'm in is taking 6 months to process applications to actually obtain the license. All of the affordable bridge programs run thru community college require 6 months of work experience as an LVN full time.
So this means I can't go to work as an LVN right away. It also means if I work part time as an LVN so I can get thru RN school I can't apply to bridges.
In my opinion, the original poster makes an important point when she says to look at all of the factors.
VintageMother, that point is understandable. However, as many of us have stated, it depends largely on geographic location. It is clear that in your location perhaps being an LPN may seem less practical. However, the beauty of nursing is you can go anywhere and be a nurse. Our point is, in many other areas around the country, taking the LPN route is fruitful and beneficial. So it is not good to completely diminish the value of certain education and credentials because there are plenty of people around the country who have faired very well by choosing to become LPNs first as opposed to the RN-BSN-MSN route. It allows for people to get to work quicker and provide for families. Everyone does not have 2, 3, or 4 years to spare before they can begin to make a decent wage. Some people don't even have a year to spare but a year is better than the aforementioned time limits.
I for one thought and did my research regarding the LVN program at the local community college. I even went as far as asking the nurse recruiter at the local hospital where I've worked as a tech for the past 9 years. I found out that with my years of working for the hospital the pay at the time would only be roughly $1.50 more then my current base pay at the time. I also found out that I would have to transfer from the acute hospital to the hospital LTAC/rehab facility. I knew then that everything that I would have to sacrifice for one year of LVN school, the pay and the transfer was not worth it to me. I still work as a tech at the hospital and in less than 2 weeks I start my 4th of 5th semester of an ADN program. So I say do your research and make sure you know what your going into before starting anything.
I agree with prior posters who said it depends on your area. I had a fulltime LPN job a week after I passed NCLEX. All of my LPN classmates have found jobs, we are in a small rural area that has a fairly decent-sized nursing school that churns out many dozens of RNs and LPNs per semester. I haven't met a RN or LPN in this town that wanted a job but was unemployed. And there are several part time, online LPN-RN bridge programs. I am sorry you have had a rough time but don't discourage others based on your specific experience. On the flip side I don't encourage others to become LPNs just because I've had it easy getting a job and continuing my education.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
The state I'm in is taking 6 months to process applications to actually obtain the license. All of the affordable bridge programs run thru community college require 6 months of work experience as an LVN full time.
You must be in California. . .
I was born and raised in southern CA and completed an LVN program at a school located in the greater Los Angeles area. However, I relocated out of state 6 weeks after graduation because I saw the writing on the wall regarding the job situation and extreme difficulty bridging to RN in CA.
I remained employed as an LVN for 4 continuous years in my new state of residence before receiving my RN license. My point is that other states do not require any LPN/LVN work experience prior to enrolling in an RN bridge program. Other states also have brighter job prospects for LPNs/LVNs.
I left California several years ago and have no regrets.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
Thanks for the insight into Cali, Commuter!!! I'm going to re-read some of your posts because I remember you wrote about your experiences working while bridging!
vbarger28, BSN
76 Posts
I highly disagree...going through my LPN program FIRST has been the smartest thing I have done. While in clinicals as an LPN, we had fresh RN students as well. The new RN students who had started at the beginning at RN level received a high level of scrutiny and discipline actions because being brand new to the field, and not even being an LPN yet, they didn't even know who to do a glucose check, and many didn't even know what the PPD stood for regarding the tuberculosis testing. Going through the LPN first not only made me more prepared, but while taking RN clinicals I didn't make a fool of myself and instructors by not having basic nursing knowledge. Not all RN students are like this, but many who just jumpped straight into the RN without already being LPN's had a very difficult time.