Should I get LVN (1 yr) at trade school or try to get into very competitive (2 yr) RN school?

I was wanting to be a nurse. However, I don't want to waste my time or my money going to a trade school if it's not going to pay off. I have done that before for dental assisting and will be paying back that loan for years to come AND couldn't even get a job! These trade schools (I went to Concorde) are cranking out students as fast as they can and there aren't enough jobs in the area! I was intersted in the the LVN program but was wondering if I should just bite the bullet and go for the 2yr RN at TCC. The wait to get in is huge and competitive and if I don't get in, I will have to wait another year to apply again. Thoughts, feelings, experiences are all welcomed.

Thanks!

Hi, I have the same feelings as you do. Except mine are a probably a little different. My husband has a good job, and I don't work. I was trying to get into the LVN program because I heard that afterwards, its a little easier to get into the RN program. My cousin is an LVn and she makes 20 dollars and hour, so I guess its not that bad.

hmmm... i went into a tech school for lvn cost was 20000. after i graduated, i worked for 6 months, made back more than my 20k and also gained valuable experience. plus, more doors/options opened up for me. a year and a half after my lvn grad, im finished with my prereqs/gened for lvn-rn, or lvn-bsn, so im contemplating of which options i should do. 9 months for an asn, or 2 years for a bsn. the choice is really up to you. try getting into a rn program that lets you get your lvn after the first year.

LOOKING FOR LVN PROGRAM

lvn program

Thank you so much for your input!

Megan in OC in Westminster, California said: I would definatly go straight for the RN, I did the expensive LVN and wish I didnt know I have to start over with pre reqs it is frusterating

I think it is up to you all. I am trying to get into an LVN at a community college. I have a BA in Biology so I will be put at the head of the line. If you want to go RN, I would try for a program where they make you an LVN after one year so it will be worth your while. Good luck!

Do not go to a trade school... nope nope nope.. i did it and its a total tip off... i am currently going to a community college for the lvn program.

Melony in Palmdale, California said: I think it is up to you all. I am trying to get into an LVN at a community college. I have a BA in Biology so I will be put at the head of the line. If you want to go RN, I would try for a program where they make you an LVN after one year so it will be worth your while. Good luck!

Melony, I have a BS in biology also. Is it true that they will put you ahead of the line? Which college are you trying to get into?

Megan in OC in Westminster, California said: I would definatly go straight for the RN, I did the expensive LVN and wish I didnt know I have to start over with pre reqs it is frusterating

why did u have take the pre reqs again once u r a lvn u dont have to take them they have brige program it will take u 1yr more of school to get your rn.........

too everyone every that is thinking about taking the lvn or the rn classes please make sure u know what u r getting in to i have been a cna over 5yrs i am getting ready to start the lvn program in feb. being a cna for 5 yrs i have learned that a charge nurses that has no experiance in health care treat cnas wrong and want to over work them more because they think our job is easy and its not we are over worked and under paid but the charge nurse that has been a cna before knows how it is and they will get in there and help u when it is needed all i am saying is dont do your cnas wrong we are the back bone to the lvn and rns with out us u would have double work and the smelliest work espically in a nursing hm

Iwant2behappy in Los Angeles, California said: Melony, I have a BS in biology also. Is it true that they will put you ahead of the line? Which college are you trying to get into?

You always get fast tracked in an RN program when you already have a degree. You are in the Los Angeles Area, I would look into Mount St. Mary College. They have an accelerated BSN program on their website that explains it all. Good luck!

tanya in Inglewood, California said: too everyone every that is thinking about taking the lvn or the rn classes please make sure u know what u r getting in to i have been a cna over 5yrs i am getting ready to start the lvn program in feb. being a cna for 5 yrs i have learned that a charge nurses that has no experiance in health care treat cnas wrong and want to over work them more because they think our job is easy and its not we are over worked and under paid but the charge nurse that has been a cna before knows how it is and they will get in there and help u when it is needed all i am saying is dont do your cnas wrong we are the back bone to the lvn and rns with out us u would have double work and the smelliest work espically in a nursing hm

Exactly. I have been a CNA for only one year, my mother 12, and my sister one. And we can alll agree that LVNs tend to be-little CNAs as if we dont do anything. Not all LVNs but majority I would say oevr work CNAs and have us even doing there job part of the time. Being a CNA first is better. You understand the people working under you better. Us CNAs work very hard.

Jamie in Dallas, Texas said: I was wanting to be a nurse. However, I don't want to waste my time or my money going to a trade school if it's not going to pay off. I have done that before for dental assisting and will be paying back that loan for years to come AND couldn't even get a job! These trade schools (I went to Concorde) are cranking out students as fast as they can and there aren't enough jobs in the area! I was intersted in the the LVN program but was wondering if I should just bite the bullet and go for the 2yr RN at TCC. The wait to get in is huge and competitive and if I don't get in, I will have to wait another year to apply again. Thoughts, feelings, experiences are all welcomed.

Thanks!

I understand the frustration of trade schools, I am working as a LPN in Maryalnd for the last 15 years and I would recommend for you to check with the board of education for your state and first find out if the school is accredited. Then write your local Board of Nursing for the forecast of LPN jobs in your area. Finally, i WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPLY AND START THE RN TRAINING SOONEST. WISHING YOU THE BEST CAROL IN MARYLAND

Mona in Harbor City, California said: Exactly. I have been a CNA for only one year, my mother 12, and my sister one. And we can alll agree that LVNs tend to be-little CNAs as if we dont do anything. Not all LVNs but majority I would say oevr work CNAs and have us even doing there job part of the time. Being a CNA first is better. You understand the people working under you better. Us CNAs work very hard.

I agree to all who has replied to this posting. I have been in the CNA field for almost 2 years. First I worked in a facility/community with development disability challenged people. It made me really appreciate the activity of my limbs and the things everyone takes for granted like just walkig to the bathroom whenever you need to go or being able to feed yourself. I thank GOD daily. I do believe CNA's are OVER worked and UNDER paid:(. I was working in a hospital that made CNA's transport as well as check glucose on top of all the other stuff we have to do. I was pregnant at the time and was just plum worked to death. (if anyone should know the importants of a pregnant person not to lift anything over 10lbs, I think a nurse should?!??!? I am also considering the LVN program and excited about it. I was told that a bridge program will only take me 1yr to get my RN. I really enjoy working with people and after the experience I encounter, I almost gave up on the health field and was considering another career but my best friend who just got her CNA license reassured me that I was doing it for the love of people and nothing else and that every where I go is different and that I should just hang in there. I applaud everyone out there working as a CNA and want to take the time out to say, "At the end of the day, look at your patients face and see their SMILE...only then do you see that what you do is worth all the hassle" :)

I can not even find LPN programs out here in Chicopee, MA. I have zero experience, nothing. I thought it might be best to start off with LPN then go on to RN.

I'm deciding between a 10 month trade school LVN program in Calif. or back east an 15 month RN program at a trade school. What do you think? Not sure if I can work in Calif. if my RN license if for the east coast. Any thoughts on this? The cost is the same, about $30,000.

Lori in Salinas, California said: I'm deciding between a 10 month trade school LVN program in Calif. or back east an 15 month RN program at a trade school. What do you think? Not sure if I can work in Calif. if my RN license if for the east coast. Any thoughts on this? The cost is the same, about $30,000.

Did you choose? What's the name of the schools. Hard to answer without that info.

Medical Career Institute is the one back east and Westmed or Unitek in Calif. hmmm....did call calif. board of nursing and can get a temporary license if I decide to work in Calif. with a Va. rn license.

jelordelvn in Cathedral City, California said: hmmm... i went into a tech school for lvn cost was 20000. after i graduated, i worked for 6 months, made back more than my 20k and also gained valuable experience. plus, more doors/options opened up for me. a year and a half after my lvn grad, im finished with my prereqs/gened for lvn-rn, or lvn-bsn, so im contemplating of which options i should do. 9 months for an asn, or 2 years for a bsn. the choice is really up to you. try getting into a rn program that lets you get your lvn after the first year.

What school did you go to?

I think everyone should at least attempt the RN program first and using the LVN-RN Ladder program as one of their last resorts. The more you apply, the higher your chances get. I don't have the best grades, but I got into all the Nursing Programs I applied to. (it was a RN program btw). Also, many of my friends that decided to attend a Fly-by school, mainly concorde and American Career (in southern cali) are now LVNs and are just stuck working. They thought it would be faster and easier, but now, they are stuck as LVNs and none of them are even planning to go back to school. They settled with the pay between $16-22, depends where you work. while RN go from $35-48. Think about it, it doesn't hurt to try.

Go to the lvn it is easier to get in and most schools offer you the transition right away. You will graduate in the same amount of time as it takes just to get into an rn program and it will be much easier to comprehend once you are there. That is what i am doing and i would highly recommend it. I just graduated lvn school got my license, started working, and i am already taking rn classes.

thks for ur reply...i did attempt to go to a lvn school.....but for me i did like it....the teacher i had sucked....and when they told me if i wanted to transfer out of state that my credits wouldnt be recognize cuz i didnt do the require prerequiste that a community college requires....aslo the school was very expensive...and then i wanted to do the lvn/bridge program and that was 50,000 plus the lvn school 26,000 and the lvn program would be the same amount of time....so i figure for me just go for the goal...rn and be done with it ,,,,with out any outstanding loans

Megan in OC in Westminster, California said: I would definatly go straight for the RN, I did the expensive LVN and wish I didnt know I have to start over with pre reqs it is frusterating

y did u have to start over......for pre reqs

I am thinking about going to a tech school for LVN because of my age.
Right now it is so hard to find a job.

girlfriend listen here i just turned 40 last year...and i go to a j c college for nursing....age is nothing but a number....its all about how u feel inside and out.....trade school r tooo expensive...
o tried the trade school...i didnt like it...to fast and my opinion a waste of time cuz if u decide to leave the state u still have to do ur preqs classes

I am an LVN. all my friends are now trying to get their RN after just graduating a yr. ago. You will wish u went for your RN. about!10/hr difference in pay. you will b e happy you did it.

Am planning to do LVN come may,2009 at a private college in Tx, becouse they offer everning and weekend classes,i wish i could go to community college and do RN for 2 years,but i can't i have a baby to take care of during the day while community college offers day classes only,the preqs and the waiting will take me like 3-4 years before i graduate.I hope i'll be able to do LVN-RN brige with no difficulties.Anybody with some suggestion?

no alex i am taking preqs now it is not going to take 3-4 years. I have 4 kids. U can take the preq on line only about 5 classes but wait do u have a degree Ba I should have ask that first.

Thanks,i do not have BA,all community colleges around are taking admission now for the fall classes.Do you think i csn make it?

yes u can. Do not give up on a career. u can get a A.S. as a RN as well I hear that the pay is not that much of a difference. I have my BS degree I am just praying to get in a fast track program by next year may. Most of the programs are in the day time but it is for a year the most I seen was for 15 months. I hope that al works out for the both of us because I dont have a plan B(smile)

I don't have plan B either.Can't wait till next year,i have to move on,thats why i have to do LVN first hoping that i will be able to do preqs for RN once i start working as lvn.I believe all will work for us.

Omg!!!!!!! i hate this! 10 years ago we did not have this problem.......... 2 many ppl want to be nurses bcuz of the money and title....every cute lil girl wants 2 be a nurse 2! and this has made it unbelievably hard 4 ppl that have the compassion, heart, and desire 2 become nurses! 2 many times i have seen mean nurses that6 hate their job! that treat their patients bad! please anyone thinking about becoming a nurse godo cna work 4 a year or volenteer in a hospital.......it will save u from the reality after you wasted 4 yrs getting your rn! and seriously the whole school system is tottally screwed. yesterday i callled every jc within 200 miles and all lvn programs are jammed up 4 2 years....on top of it all jc pre reqs vary and by the time you wait u may have to take pre reqs again because they 7have changed requirments! thats why after 3 jcs and 2 yrs of college i am bittingthe bullet and living in debt to go to a 12mnth lvn program.....at least with a lvn cert you can go to any college and apply for a 1yr more rn! who cares if you may break in between for pre reqs, after u have ur lvn most pre reqs for rn, is only 2 classes like microbiology......just do it. but only do it if your heart is fully in it.

Of course people want to be nurses it is a secure job!!! which is hard to fine doing a recession. Besides there has been a shortage of nurses for years. That is one career that you can take to any state and be able to live. I do agree with you about the nasty nurses but that goes for any career. I have meet the worse teachers, sale person etc...I am going to be a RN taking my preq now. I want to be a RN for all the reasons I listed above and most importantly that was not mention is that I love people and want to be a service to them. Making a difference. Being a nurse is not an easy job. Most are over worked. They do a lot of hours so for those who are looking into being a nurse please think about it much sure it is not a waste of time

Im trying to apply for a rn program and cant decide between a jc or state college, apart from this I am a bit fearfull of the programs. I just found out last week that its taking two years for students to get in. I still have three classes to take that are not offered during the summer and dead lines for apps start in October. Also discovered that some colleges in area are not nationally accredited and they dont tell you, quick to fail in the fourth semester and drop you from program for good after two fails.

Can you be pregnant and be a LVN??

Jamie in Dallas, Texas said: I was wanting to be a nurse. However, I don't want to waste my time or my money going to a trade school if it's not going to pay off. I have done that before for dental assisting and will be paying back that loan for years to come AND couldn't even get a job! These trade schools (I went to Concorde) are cranking out students as fast as they can and there aren't enough jobs in the area! I was intersted in the the LVN program but was wondering if I should just bite the bullet and go for the 2yr RN at TCC. The wait to get in is huge and competitive and if I don't get in, I will have to wait another year to apply again. Thoughts, feelings, experiences are all welcomed.

Thanks!

I went throught the LVN program and recieved my liscense in 2006. It is definately not a waste of time, and it seems that more doors are opened to you for continuing your education in the RN programs. However, if I had it to do over again I would go straight through to get my RN. There are far more jobs available to you if you have your RN, even the associates of nursing. Not to mention the pay is substantially higher. Hope this helps!

I was reading some post from this site, and I read one that mention something about an RN trade school??? I'm in the bay area looking for an lvn program, I would love to do the RN program but i don't want to go to city college, does anyone know of a trade school that offers an RN program or an LVN program???

thanks

www.bvnpt.ca.gov/education/schools/vn_schools.shtml

www.rn.ca.gov/schools/rnprograms.shtml

You should be able to find similar pages for other states but these are the schools for CA. Be sure your programs are accredited before putting out ANY money!

Hope this helps!

I am looking into going into a nursing program. I DO NOT have an AA so its makes it difficult to find a fast-paced Nursing program. It seems like you have to complete a million prereq's before you can even ENTER the program. Any suggestions??? I need to decide within the next few days.

MINNIE in Los Angeles, California said: I am looking into going into a nursing program. I DO NOT have an AA so its makes it difficult to find a fast-paced Nursing program. It seems like you have to complete a million prereq's before you can even ENTER the program. Any suggestions??? I need to decide within the next few days.

I believe U should shop around for the different colleges, most only require that u have science courses done Chem to take Micro, Anat 101 & 102, plus a phyc class U could nock out 3 of these in 1 semester. It's my opinion to go straight for the RN but when U apply @ school, apply to both RN & LVN it's an accepted practice in most schools. Also the more credits U have the farther U get on the waiting list, so if U dont have to many credits U R already ahead of the game.
Good Luck

Jamie in Dallas, Texas said: I was wanting to be a nurse. However, I don't want to waste my time or my money going to a trade school if it's not going to pay off. I have done that before for dental assisting and will be paying back that loan for years to come AND couldn't even get a job! These trade schools (I went to Concorde) are cranking out students as fast as they can and there aren't enough jobs in the area! I was intersted in the the LVN program but was wondering if I should just bite the bullet and go for the 2yr RN at TCC. The wait to get in is huge and competitive and if I don't get in, I will have to wait another year to apply again. Thoughts, feelings, experiences are all welcomed.

Thanks!

do not go as a nurse. go as a radio tech or something. lvn right now are not getting a job. and the job itself is not even inspiring or nobel anymore. save yourself. and please this time, do not go to concord. go to a community college. you know they will just rip you off.

It doesn't matter which shool you choose. If you r closer to your family and recieve moral support from them, I suggest you stay close to them wherever that may be otherwise the location you choose to sudy at does not make a difference.

Mona in Harbor City, California said: Exactly. I have been a CNA for only one year, my mother 12, and my sister one. And we can alll agree that LVNs tend to be-little CNAs as if we dont do anything. Not all LVNs but majority I would say oevr work CNAs and have us even doing there job part of the time. Being a CNA first is better. You understand the people working under you better. Us CNAs work very hard.[/QUO
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many cna tend to be lazy . certain people may requiring turning to prevent ulcers and they cant even do such a simple thing due to laziness. at night they love to go to sleep while on the job and when awake they think they know more than an lvn and not thinking of the rationale why lvns do what they do or say what they say. to be honest with you cnas are not the brightest people in the world.

nursenicoles in League City, Texas said: Go to the lvn it is easier to get in and most schools offer you the transition right away. You will graduate in the same amount of time as it takes just to get into an rn program and it will be much easier to comprehend once you are there. That is what i am doing and i would highly recommend it. I just graduated lvn school got my license, started working, and i am already taking rn classes.

Are you going to RN class at night? If so where do you attend? I'm looking for RN evening classes myself.

hello....u know what im attending a jr college here in my area..the name of my school is elcamno college and i love it...matter of fact some of my classes my class mates or lvn...for me the fast track is a waste of my time and money...i work fulltime and im in school fulltime...my plate is full....but im soooo happy because after this semester and in 2010 i only have to take four more classes and i can apply for the rn program...and most important to me is when im done i will have a a.s.n. degree so im cool.....but u know u have to do whats best for u....i wish u all the luck and stick with it..

Hi. Thanks for your reply. I am currently going to Harbor College. But I need about 9 more classes to get into the RN program there. I have just heard that it is very limited. And I work full time so now sure if that can work for me. I just found out about a program throught work though that they will send me to school during my working hours and I can complete it that way.

Thanks!

Paul in Valley Village, California said: I think everyone should at least attempt the RN program first and using the LVN-RN Ladder program as one of their last resorts. The more you apply, the higher your chances get. I don't have the best grades, but I got into all the Nursing Programs I applied to. (it was a RN program btw). Also, many of my friends that decided to attend a Fly-by school, mainly concorde and American Career (in southern cali) are now LVNs and are just stuck working. They thought it would be faster and easier, but now, they are stuck as LVNs and none of them are even planning to go back to school. They settled with the pay between $16-22, depends where you work. while RN go from $35-48. Think about it, it doesn't hurt to try.

which school you going too and how is it?? cause Im planning to attend concord for LVN

jelordelvn in Cathedral City, California said: hmmm... i went into a tech school for lvn cost was 20000. after i graduated, i worked for 6 months, made back more than my 20k and also gained valuable experience. plus, more doors/options opened up for me. a year and a half after my lvn grad, im finished with my prereqs/gened for lvn-rn, or lvn-bsn, so im contemplating of which options i should do. 9 months for an asn, or 2 years for a bsn. the choice is really up to you. try getting into a rn program that lets you get your lvn after the first year.

hi jelordelvn can you tell me which school that you attended the LVN program? thx because im trying to find a school right now...

jelordelvn in Cathedral City, California said: hmmm... i went into a tech school for lvn cost was 20000. after i graduated, i worked for 6 months, made back more than my 20k and also gained valuable experience. plus, more doors/options opened up for me. a year and a half after my lvn grad, im finished with my prereqs/gened for lvn-rn, or lvn-bsn, so im contemplating of which options i should do. 9 months for an asn, or 2 years for a bsn. the choice is really up to you. try getting into a rn program that lets you get your lvn after the first year.

hi jelordelvn can you tell me which school that you attended the LVN program? thx because im trying to find a school right now...is that a private school?