What do you have to have to become a LPN?

Dabuggy · Dec 15, 2006

You should talk with the college of where you want to go to become a LPN. Yes it will take you some time to get all the pre-req's behind you. Maybe 1-3 years. Then you may have 1-2 years to become an LPN. One you pass that program, you pay to take a state test to work in your state as an LPN. Yes it gets expensive. Yes it is hard. Yes, I love what I do, the people I work with and go to school with for the most part are great.

You should take it slower to bring up your GPA. Take 2 Prerequisites for the Nursing program next semester instead of 4 classes. If you are looking for a LPN/LVN/level I nursing program, you don't need to be looking for a BSN program.

Dabuggy

zwoman80 · Dec 16, 2006

I got my LPN diploma through the BOCES School Of Nursing program. It was a one year program (most LPN programs just require one year of both classroom and clinical studies. I guess it depends what state you live in. I'm from NY).The cost for the program was $6900, but I did not spend a penny out of pocket. I got financial aid (4500), I got sponsored through RochesterWorks for the remainder of the balance, and two grants from two agencies totaling $850 which also went to tuition. As far as the school...The teacher was AWESOME!!! Really smart, and just one of those people who's great at teaching. I'm 26 and he was without a doubt the best teacher I"ve ever had. I got along with most of the students. But the director...she was something! I have nothing to say about her. That's all the info I have. I got my license last month on the 18th and am ending my first week in orientation in a local hospital in Upstate NY rated one of the best in the state on a neurology unit. Good luck and I hope I was helpful. Kudos :Santa5:

raebabelvn, LVN · Dec 16, 2006

It really depends on the state you're in. I'm in California, and all we need is to go through an LVN program, and accredited LVN program... its about 1 year. No pre-reqs needed. Those are needed for the RN/ADN/BSN programs. CC's are harder to get into, look into private colleges.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 16, 2006

I attended a private vocational LVN program that didn't look at previous college coursework. There was no waiting list, and I was done in approximately 1 year. However, the tuition was very expensive ($19,995).

Jules A, MSN · Dec 16, 2006

However, the tuition was very expensive ($19,995).

Wow that is expensive. At the community college here it was about $2,000 a semester total for books and classes. We did have some pre-reqs but they are all needed for the RN program anyway and were done the LPN program in 3 semesters, 1 year. So all told I'd estimate maybe $7,000 all told.

Happychic · Dec 17, 2006

I just got accepted into the lvn program. It starts in jan. and runs to december. They gave us an estimated cost of about $6500. In order to get into the program, you have to take psychology & A&P 1 and II. You also have the option of getting medical terminology, nutrition, and pharmacology out of the way before starting the program which i did so it'll be a little easier. Good luck in whatever you choose to do!

k3ya19 · Dec 18, 2006

I'm so upset. Right now I'm in college with a low gpa in a major that I do not want to do. I want to become a nurse and I can't transfer to a BSN nursing program because they will take me. The current college I'm in will not accept me in their nursing program. I'm guessing I will have to drop out of my current college and I am probably going to try to become a LPN. is that right? What do you have to do to become a LPN? How long did it take? Did you like where you went? Was it expensive?
Thanks in advance

Girl i'm in the same boat as you, i went to city tech in brooklyn and my major was marketing however 2 yrs later i don't want to do. I've been doing cna work n decided will now i want to be a lpn. I know dat the a couple of community colleges out here in the city offer lpn program but i decided to attend the BOE manhatten cntr lpn program. Good luck on your search

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2006

here's information about nursing and being an lpn. to find lpn schools in your state, you merely need to go to the website for the board of nursing in your state. they should have an official approved list of the lpn schools for you to contact and start exploring admission requirements. you can link to your state board of nursing by rolling your cursor over the "links" button at the top right of this page. a drop down menu will appear. click on "boards of nursing". a page of links will come up. choose your state. a link will come up to the site. once there look for a link that specifically says nursing schools or education, or do a search of the site for nursing schools if that is allowed. you might also want to look at the list for rn schools of nursing as well--just in case you might find one that is willing to take you as a student, current gpa as it is. never hurts to try. good luck!

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/majors_careers/45263.html - "ten questions to ask yourself" about nursing and if it might be right for you

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/majors_careers/42226.html - "thinking about nursing school? consider your many options" from the college board.

http://nursing.about.com/od/becomeanurse/bb/beforenurse.htm - "before you decide to become a nurse". things to consider about being a nurse. lots of links to information about what skills you need to become a nurse. and, what if you're really bad at math and science is discussed.

http://nursing.about.com/od/becomeanurse/a/notforeveryone.htm - "nursing is not for everyone". this is a very down to earth and honest article that broadly discusses what a nurse does and what you can expect on the job as a nurse.

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos102.htm - about lpn nursing from the u.s. department of labor

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm - about registered nursing from the u.s. department of labor

http://www.discovernursing.com/

http://www.nursingsociety.org/career/cmap.html

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 20, 2006

Girl i'm in the same boat as you, i went to city tech in brooklyn and my major was marketing however 2 yrs later i don't want to do. I've been doing cna work n decided will now i want to be a lpn. I know dat the a couple of community colleges out here in the city offer lpn program but i decided to attend the BOE manhatten cntr lpn program. Good luck on your search

I live in New York, and I know of the Board of Education's LPN program. Make sure that you study hard for the NLN because they have a limited number of seats and they take the highest grades. I tried it years ago and didn't make it in because I really wasn't committed. Now, I attended LaGuardia Community College, and got the LPN license in June of this year.

ChargeNurseAmy74 · Dec 21, 2006

i'm in a CC in California, and between the prerequisites & nursing program, about 2 years, IF you get chosen the first time around, if not, it could be a 3 year journey, lol. GEEZ. thats why I'm praying I'm getting this fall, it will still put me in at 2 1/2 yrs.

nurse2b_amy

summersent · Dec 21, 2006

thanks everyone for responding. yeah I'm so nervous about it all but really excited at the same time. I'm applying to a lot of lpn and associate degree programs so IMa be really busy for the next couple of weeks and months to come and hopefully it'll all work out well! Hopefully I'll be in a good nursing program by summer/fall of 2007!