At least here in California, there's lengthy waitlists or lotteries which don't guarantee admission into a direct RN program.
Plus, let's assume that someone doesn't have their general education finished. LVN to RN bridge programs allow nurses to bypass that particular requirement and obtain a certificate instead of a degree and you're still eligible for the boards and would receive the same education that a ADN nurse would have received, minus the general education that isn't applicable to nursing whatsoever.
So what's the deal? I've seen people say it's better to go straight for RN, but why?
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
I've worked with LVNs and LPNs most of my career. I know what they can and can't do. I also know what many are not willing to do. I have seen what some go beyond their licenses to do. They are supposed to work under the supervision of RNs. They are not supposed to make independent decisions. Practical nurse means just what it says, do practical nursing. They do a lot of skilled procedures that free up the RNs to do decision making and problem solving. I was also a manager that had to get involved in discipline of LVNs and LPNs who didn't follow their job descriptions. You can always read your state board law regarding what LPNs or LVNs in your state can do as well as read the FAQ questions on the site. Practical nurses in LTC seem to have more autonomy, but RNs still oversee and supervise what they do. And if you don't think LPNs are trained to be leaders read some of the posts on the LTC forum where LPNs post about their problems managing CNAs and deal with being charge nurses that they were never trained to be in nursing school.
being an LPN is not a waste of time. it was very worth it for me and i am enrolled in excelsior LPN-RN program and will be done next year. i am making alot more money than i did as a medic and i am working on a telemetry floor getting great acute care experience that i would not have been able to if i sat around waiting for my name to pop up from the waiting list for the ADN program. do what's best for you in the long run. there are definately some cons to it.. but if it's the best way to get your foot in the door, you have to think about that too.
i'm going to work now to go and be the good employee who does what she's told because she can't think for herself. i really love the posts that make us sound like a bunch of trained chimps.
I've worked with LVNs and LPNs most of my career. I know what they can and can't do. I also know what many are not willing to do. I have seen what some go beyond their licenses to do. They are supposed to work under the supervision of RNs. They are not supposed to make independent decisions. Practical nurse means just what it says, do practical nursing. They do a lot of skilled procedures that free up the RNs to do decision making and problem solving. I was also a manager that had to get involved in discipline of LVNs and LPNs who didn't follow their job descriptions. You can always read your state board law regarding what LPNs or LVNs in your state can do as well as read the FAQ questions on the site. Practical nurses in LTC seem to have more autonomy, but RNs still oversee and supervise what they do. And if you don't think LPNs are trained to be leaders read some of the posts on the LTC forum where LPNs post about their problems managing CNAs and deal with being charge nurses that they were never trained to be in nursing school.
RNS have trouble managing CNAs and dealing with being charge nurse also... Once again at my CC we had great training to become leaders. I've even had nclex questions refering to managment/leadership.
:deadhorse LPN/LVN and RN is different....let it go guys! This not what the OP was asking about...if they were that similar LPNs wouldn't need to go for their RN, they would just stay were they were. It is a good stepping stone career for many to get to RN just like my CNA was good for me to get experience with hospital work and have an employer pay my tuition on my prereq's. Each degree is more responsibility...and that is the bottom line here we are not bashing LPN/LVNs here. Like I said originally, the OP should do what makes sense to them and not worry whether others think it would be a waste of time or not.
i don't know how things work at other cities/counties/districts, but according to my research within LA district, LVNs are offered the so-called "left overs". priority is given to the traditional RN or BSN students, then transfer students, yaddi yaddi yadda, and after everyone else is taken care of...then it's our turn.
i was even told by 2 RN program representatives (from different schools) that nowadays, doing LVN first is not recommended as priority is granted to regular RN applicants. hey, they said it, not me.
i knew it wasn't going to be easy, but boy, why is getting into a bridge program OVERTLY DIFFICULT?!
to answer to the thread question specifically, i wouldn't say LVN-RN is a waste of time. any opportunity to learn is a God given opportunity to gain more experience.
what i think is a waste of time, is the process of waiting around until getting picked for the program.
It really depends on the area schools and what your goal/needs are. I was laid off and needed to get back into the workforce quickly. My LPN was 10 months long and I was back working again. It will take me 4 1/2 years to get my RN, but that was taking 1-2 classes at a time while working.
If I had taken the RN route initially, it would have taken 2 years to complete the program- assuming I got in the first time I applied. Some students can wait up to a year to get into the nursing program at our CC. As a LPN, as soon as I had my pre-reqs done, I was in.
I do not regret the route I took. Being a LPN helped with my RN classes and will help when I am a RN. I was able to learn the basics of nursing as a LPN without the hassle of also being in charge.
i don't know how things work at other cities/counties/districts, but according to my research within LA district, LVNs are offered the so-called "left overs". priority is given to the traditional RN or BSN students, then transfer students, yaddi yaddi yadda, and after everyone else is taken care of...then it's our turn.
i was even told by 2 RN program representatives (from different schools) that nowadays, doing LVN first is not recommended as priority is granted to regular RN applicants. hey, they said it, not me.
i knew it wasn't going to be easy, but boy, why is getting into a bridge program OVERTLY DIFFICULT?!
As I posted above, in this area, LPNs slide right into the programs once they have their pre-reqs done and as long as they maintain the average set by the school. So in this area there is an advantage to having your LPN when it comes to wait lists.
As I posted above, in this area, LPNs slide right into the programs once they have their pre-reqs done and as long as they maintain the average set by the school. So in this area there is an advantage to having your LPN when it comes to wait lists.
Well yeah, but is your area in CA? Because that person you quoted was and so was the OP.
OP: No education is a waste of time. You've obviously decided that LVN is the route for you....no matter what anyone says...so, why are you looking to be convinced? There are advantages and disadbantages with every decision.
It looks like the advantages would be:
working faster (although there are other hospital jobs you could do for less schooling)
Taking less gen ed classes up front (although if you wanted to get your ADN, you'd still need to take them...and really there aren't that many)
More time spent caring for patients (although, like the above point of working faster, there are a lot of other hospital positions that allow you to get this experience...most of my RN class works in the hospital, some as CNA's none as LPN's).
Disadvantages might be:
From posts in this thread, you might not be be hired as quickly as an RN in today's job climate--I know in my area, new LPN's are working as CNA's...they can't get jobs as LPN's (you've stated that this doesn't trouble you...you think this will change in the year it takes you to get your LVN).
If you get a certificate after, instead of your ADN...working outside of CA might be a problem (said this also doesn't concern you)
Won't have the same scope of practice as RN (don't know if this concerns you or not).
In spite of your LVN experience, once you get your RN most hospitals still consider you a new grad.
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
As I said before I worked mostly with LVNs and LPNs in my career. I met many who went to LVN/LPN school with the intention of moving on to become an RN and, sadly, very few who did. I can't say what it is that interferes with their plans. If I had to guess I would say that life problems and needing to pay their bills is what was stopping them. And that is why I say it is better to go straight for your RN if that is your goal. I think those of you who are thinking of going this LVN/LPN route first should go to the schools that have these bridge programs and talk to the LVNs and LPNs that are in them. Informally interview them and find out how long it has been since they graduated from their practical nursing programs and why they are back for their RNs. I think that the answers would be interesting. I doubt that you will find many who are recent LVN/LPN grads. Having been and ADN who went back for a BSN I can tell you that going back to school as a adult once you have been earning in a full time job is a major and difficult life change to make complicated even more if someone has a spouse and children. I am not being mean in my other posts, but realistic.
Going through the LPN bridge program can have many benefits. I am going straight RN, but did consider my other option and that was to do LPN bridge. Some don't have the option to not work for two years. I know the students in our LPN bridge program needed to work sooner than later. LPN allows them to work while going through the bridge making decent money. Also, some students feel the need to ease their way thro this hard journey. I myself considered this as a way to ease myself considering I had never worked in a clinical setting a day in my life.
I did the RN program b/c it just so happened our LPN program was the same cost as our 2 year RN program (mind you, these are provided thro two different schools). Then, I would have to pay extra for the bridge. I do not recieve aide or take loans. The RN program seemed more logical for myself.
Well yeah, but is your area in CA? Because that person you quoted was and so was the OP.
My point was that there was not one answer for everyone. Depends on the area, depends on the schools, depends on the person and what they need at the time. What path I took at 42 would not be the same path I might take at 18. :)
Daytonite, BSN, RN
1 Article; 14,604 Posts
I've worked with LVNs and LPNs most of my career. I know what they can and can't do. I also know what many are not willing to do. I have seen what some go beyond their licenses to do. They are supposed to work under the supervision of RNs. They are not supposed to make independent decisions. Practical nurse means just what it says, do practical nursing. They do a lot of skilled procedures that free up the RNs to do decision making and problem solving. I was also a manager that had to get involved in discipline of LVNs and LPNs who didn't follow their job descriptions. You can always read your state board law regarding what LPNs or LVNs in your state can do as well as read the FAQ questions on the site. Practical nurses in LTC seem to have more autonomy, but RNs still oversee and supervise what they do. And if you don't think LPNs are trained to be leaders read some of the posts on the LTC forum where LPNs post about their problems managing CNAs and deal with being charge nurses that they were never trained to be in nursing school.