I am in a different boat all together and don't know where to start. I have a BA but am looking to change careers to an RN in pediatrics but don't know where to start and if I start at a different level given I have my bachelors, or if it matters, considering it is a a new field. Do I go for my masters in nursing or is there a faster track to start working?

I have been an LVN in California for 30 years. I've worked in research, acute hospitals, doctor's offices and home health as well as intake and coding.

I seriously regret not getting my RN in the first place and I would strongly advise anyone entering the field to get your RN. Don't get your LVN with the intention of going onto the RN program later. Life happens in between and you may never go back to complete your original goal.

In the meantime, you will make between $10 and $30 an hour less than an RN and never garner the respect that you deserve, regardless of your experience. Don't cheat yourself now just to fast-track your career, because in the long run, you will wish that you had invested that extra year in school and had a professional degree to show for it.

Nursing is a highly rewarding career and RNs work just as hard as LVNs, but they have twice the salary and way more opportunities in way more fields.

Anon2615 that is going to depend on the school that you are attending. some small community colleges have high numbers of applicants, so many people that are qualified do not get accepted. In that case take your prereqs and see if you can get accepted. if not go get your LVN. in my state it is called an LPN and I was told by my school it would be easier to get in because some students fail out of the first year of nursing. that creates an open seat that the LVN/LPN going in to the second year will fill.

*anon2615*

depending on what state you live in, and the school you're going to it can be faster. it also depends on if you're doing the 30 unit course which gives a certificate, or the longer course which is around 45 units for your ADN. i advise going for ADN because you'll be more competitive when looking for a job. they'll be more likely to hire an RN with a degree rather tan a certificate. i live in CA and i'm now noticing that a lot of community colleges offer a couple options for lvns to become rns. if you do lvn first then rn you will take less pre-reqs, and less nursing classes once in the program. also if you want to get your lvn first, i strongly suggest finding a local ROP/adult school that offer them. they are way cheaper than tech schools, mostly costing around 5k, however some may want all the tuition before class starts. but it's better to be 5k in the hole rather than 13+. some tech schools want you to have your CNA certificate as a pre-requisite. some just want a high school diploma or GED. either way the work is time consuming, long, yet very worth it. money is something that can be increased over time. you're dealing with people's lives. they're not just a paycheck. Therefore, get ADN, not certificate for rn;

try ROP or adult schools for lvn; stay commited, study hard and often so you can pass the NCLEX the first time, like i did. :) Good luck, hope everything works out for you and everyone here. -- TC

First off i want to go into LVN, but most people are telling me it's going to take around four years. is that right? i need some help please.

I'm a Texas LVN. I went to a private vocational program that was only one year, no pre-recs required. Concorde Career Inst. The program included all required courses to satisfy the TXBON. It was not easy and I'm very happy with my career and pay. I've worked long term care as a charge nurse, corrections as a medical site manager, and my current position as medical services director in assisted living. $50k. I have a new house, new car, family, and my wife is a full time student. I'm *finally* happy and in just *two* years of becoming an LVN. One year of education has served me well and in no way do I regret it, *ever*!

I've work in California as a medical assistant for eight years. My salary is only $26,000. I have always wanted to be an RN but feel it will take too long. I'm considering taking the LVN course but worried it won't pay well. What should I do? I have three kids to feed and have no time to waste. Obviously I will need to continue to work so I would have to do part time school and work. Would like everyone's opinion on LVN or RN.

I agree Lvn training can seem like kind of a waste. if you just go to school for one more year you are making twice the income. Plus you have a lot more autonomy and job flexibility.

Having been an LVN in CA for 28 years, I can tell anyone who asks that it is far more beneficial to go for your RN as soon as possible after obtaining your LVN. I was a single mom with six children, and it would have been so much easier to raise my children on twice the income. I have finally decided to return to school, through the Indiana State program. It is done mostly online, and is cost effective. After about 5-10 years, the income stagnates as an LVN. My experience is neither appreciated nor compensated. Fortunately, I work in the Emergency Room, and function in nearly the same capacity of an RN, just cannot push IV meds. But I make half the salary, so go figure. Nursing is a tough but truly rewarding career, if you go into it for the right reasons. Very competitive now, and I am hoping fewer nurses will be imported from Asian countries. My experience is that most imports treat the profession as a money making opportunity, and not a calling, which is a terrible shame.

Can anyone tell me what are the pre-requisites to become an LVN?

It was great hearing all the advice and comments from LVN's and RNs who went down differing school paths.

It's inspired me to go for it. I wanted to add, that although it's expensive going private it is like a 1-2 years sooner you're in the work force and making more money. So it seems to make sense if it costs $50K, but you're out making $65-80K a few years earlier it's worth it.

All depends on if you must work or have money coming in of course.

I am currently thinking of attending an lvn program, and after i graduate i want to work, have experience then go back to an lvn to rn bridge because i have been hearing and seeing on this article that it may be faster, and it's great to have experience first! And i also want to make money while i'm going back to school. I think it sounds great. i used to get discouraged about going straight into the rn program because many of their waiting list are 1-3 years' wait.

I just graduated this year 2009 and i don't know what to do as a career. I wanted to do RN but I don't think I am going to make it. I am scared because what if i don't like it? I don't want to waste time. Should I do the LVN?

Im a medical assistant I just graduated and I am having a really hard time to find a job as a medical assistant. i am tired of hearing that you have to have 1 or 2 years of experience this is ridiculous. how am i supposed to get the experience if i can't get a job in the first place. every job opening i see is mostly for CNAS OR LVNS and i dont know what to do i'm confused?

I am currently in the LVN program. I planned on just doing the RN program, but have a child to feed and work while in school. I am in the one year(august to august) LVN program, and I plan on doing the LVN-ADN program. Its going to only be a 3 year program from freshman to ADN( i have to go fall, spring and summer). I would advise anyone interested in nursing to do this. I intended on going to a major university, but it was going to cost an ungodly amount of money. I'm going to a community college and will be getting the same education at less than half the cost as a university in Texas. I advise anyone interested in the medical field to do it! The need for nurses is rising and you will always have a job!

I am an LVN in Texas, and I find this "WISE GEEK" article to be very demeaning. I do not just "prepare rooms for new patients,clean up vomit, and wipe bottoms all day" per the article. I spend the majority of my shifts using my physical assessment skills to perform head to toe assessments, writing orders from physicians, and charting my findings. I have a charge nurse position, and I have CNA's and CMA's that I supervise as well as leading a shift of nurses. I am not ashamed of my title and position: just the opposite in fact--I am proud of my co-workers and their accomplishments an I am proud of my own designation. This comes from someone who also has 92 hrs towards a BSN, and I meet a lot of very intelligent, skilled LVN's.

Does anyone study or know about LVN program at Stanton University Garden Grove? I wondered why there's no stable teachers here for each subject.

thanks.

I did my LVN (14 years worth) before doing RN. I'm not sure who but I think someone mentioned it being so much faster and easier to do the LVN than taking much longer for RN. In Texas, at least, the main difference is in the pre-requisites. In the actual nursing program, LVN is 3 semesters and RN is 4.

In the actual workplace, hospital in my case, LVN's and RNs work alongside each other as a team, and there are only a couple of skills I'm aware of that RNs can do that LVNs can't.

These are some very interesting posts. I'm not an RN or an LVN, but I work in the medical field and have been doing so for about 11 years now. There are a lot of questions from young people wanting to know which path to go down; long schooling for RN or fast for LVN. I gotta say I would go for the RN hands down. Being an RN is not a glamorous job by far and I know many RNs that clean crap and do the work this article claims the LVNs do. But at least as an RN, you will make more money and have more respect. That may not be a big deal if you're poor and need a job now and have kids to feed, but in 10 years you will regret not going for the RN. Don't waste your time climbing up the ladder, it could take 10 years to finally make the money. If you're going to make the commitment to be a nurse, go for the gold and do the long RN program. Just my opinion.

I am a medical assistant, I am currently attending a tech lvn class. These schools are accredited that you can go into your 2nd year to the rn program. It is pacific college Fij.

I have a child with one single income. I want to work cause I don't want to rely on the govt for welfare!! So think about it, this is some sort of short cut. curls

I am an LVN. I have been for 5 years now. I didn't think I would still be an LVN by now but that's what happens when you live in California. The schools are full and competitive. If you don't have the right classes, GPA, or timing, it's very hard and frustrating! Trying to make your chances better by applying to other colleges can keep you in school longer too because everyone has different pre reqs needed to get in. I am trying online schooling right now because they don't have as many rules, like the 7 year rule of pre reqs. I hope it works out. I am so ready to be an RN. I am doing the same job at the hospital and being treated like a nuisance because an RN has to cover me with my IV meds.

In response to anon2615, is it better to get the lvn then bridge to rn?

I think it depends on where you live. With all I've read and in talking with the college counselors in my area (tx), I was told that I would have to basically start all over to get my rn which is a four year program at the most. Lvn is about a one year program with the pre reqs. The only advantage would be to have a decent income while you go back to school for your rn (and to make sure that is what you really want to do), if you can work and go to school full time the last two years plus the clinicals that would be in the other two years.

In my case, going through a divorce, I think I'm better off going for the rn because alimony will stop in three years and I don't know if I could afford to put myself through school on my own and be the mother I want to be. One counselor told me that after the first semester of my jr year I could get a job as a nurse tech if I needed to.

Hope this helps. I'm with the other anon writer about not using tech schools to get through fast, I want to be the best nurse I can be and doing it quickly wouldn't be the way for me.

Tech schools are very expensive and you will be in debt forever! Community colleges are cheaper and do not always take that long. One of the colleges in my city has an LVN program and no prereqs are needed as long as your test scores are at minimum college level. Best of all the program is only 1 yr. Two colleges also have the LVN to RN program which is also 1 yr., although, 1 yr. of prereqs are needed before you can go into that program. Altogether it would take 3 yrs. to become an RN, which is the same amount of time it takes to be an RN without being an LVN first because the RN program is 1 yr. of prereqs and 2 yrs. of the nursing program.

I believe becoming an LVN first is better than going straight into the RN because you will get more experience and also do better academically because you already have a background in the field and it will help out alot. You are also more likely to be accepted before other students since you are already an LVN. This will work to your advantage. You will also be making more money as an LVN than your current job so you may even be able to only work part-time while going back to school to take your prereqs.

will somebody just tell me what to do? i have the same problem as everyone else...what to do?...community college and take forever or those other schools for shorter time....i dont want to be in school forever i need to work...

I am a nursing student now. I am finding that my work as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Medication Assistant is helping me. I already know a lot of the drugs, anatomy, and medical terminology. So I guess it really depends on how quick you learn. Although, I would suggest becoming a CNA just to see if the medical field is really where you want to be. I believe being a CNA at the very bottom of all of it, where you see the good, the bad, and the ugly will either make or break ya.

I have a sister n Law who is going to a community college to become an RN. She has told me that it is better to do it that way rather than going up the ladder such as CNA, LVN,RN. I was wondering what way in fact is better, easier, faster, etc?

To my knowledge, only 2 states use the LVN designation - California and Texas. In Texas, a LVN may not legally sign medical records as a LPN unless she/he received that training in another state which utilizes that title.

I have started the process and I can tell you the RN programs are very competitive. The important thing to note here is that it is not a race. You are going to be dealing with peoples lives. Imagine how you would feel if you were responsible for hurting or possibly killing someone. I recommend a solid education at a slower pace if needed. You will be building a foundation for a very important profession.

I took my Anatomy and Physiology classes first, because they are the hardest. Then I took Micro Biology, These are typically the classes you need to get an "A" in so you have a competitive score when applying to a program. I had an MD for an anatomy teacher and it really paid off. The harder you work at A&P the easier the nursing program will be. Keep in mind in most states your A&P and Micro expire after 5 years. If you dont get into an RN program consider going into an LVN program instead of waiting for a spot in the RN program, and also for your sciences to expire. RN programs generally will take LVN's into the bridge program before they take anyone else. The reason is the almighty NCLEX passing rate for that school. They all want a 100% passing rate and LVN's have field experience and can almost guarantee the school a 100% passing rate. This also breaks up the journey into one year of LVN school a short break (6 months) then you take the second half of the RN program which is usually just one more year. The RN program on the other hand is 2 straight years with no breaks a lot more check off's and a higher washout potential. This has been my experience.

I have decided to do RN, but am not sure what classes i should take in my first year of college. plzz help???

I had finally decided to do an rn program so I took anatomy, physiology and microbiology but got less than a 2.5 gpa. I applied to a rn program but was not accepted due to my gpa for those courses. I've taken physiology twice but at different schools. Can I retake it a third time at the same school I took it at the first time for a better grade? I really want to do the nursing program but I'm getting discouraged and worried I will never be able to do it.

I just got my rn, and now that i work in a hospital i see that the lvn's do about everything i do! With less schooling!!! How does that make sense?

i am right there with the one who posted anonymously.. i am in the process of going back to school too, i was wondering the same thing if it was easier just to go straight thru to the rn....????

I also don't know what to do. I'm a medical assistant and I'm thinking of going to a school called palladium technical academy which is going to cost a lot of money but it will take 12-15 months. Am I doing the right thing or should I go to a regular college? I just so confused right now.

I want to be an lvn but i'm not sure what classes to take. Right now i'm a freshman in college but i'm thinking of going to everest or itt tech schools. Isn't it easier and faster to go to those schools? Because at community college i have to take courses and pass them in order to graduate. So what should i do?

Congratulations on your plans! wiseGEEK has a lot of different articles with advice for students looking for scholarships, choosing colleges, etc. I would do a search for "scholarships," or "financial aid" and see what comes up; there are a lot!

I recently decided that i want to be an RN. I am 20 years old, have 2 kids, and haven't even started the college process, but i would like to have it going by next fall. I got set back after high school with being undecided about what to do as a career, and the kids. I need some help on EVERYTHING! Grants, or any help financially, and just how to go about everything. I would love some advice...

I am undergoing the same dilemma.

However, I have a bachelors degree (4 yrs.) Similarly, I am finding that I may go to CSUF and undergo a 3 yr program to attain a/n (RN) license to the price of a university.

A/n (RN) may be an AA/BA/Mrn program.Meaning it should be quick. However the RN programs are so overly sought that most institutions have a (3 yrs wait) just to enroll or utilize the lottery system.

At private trade/tech schools they also offer the RN program, less time, more money,etc. Normally they require one already has a/n lvn degree.Calling the program lvn to rn program.

The lvn is available through (ROP) a subsidized program (cheap) and through junior college with less wait time and tech schools, aha!

Now, once the individual has the lvn, many coursework are completed and has precedence in applying to the RN program, furthermore after having the RN title one has clout in the medical community; underscore that with one years experience and an RN license an individual can now apply for the CRNA a program allowing one to administer anesthesia thus earning 150k annual salary.

sincerely,

financeblonde

I'm a college freshman and i need advice on LVN to RN im not sure whether i should do it most nurses say that its faster that way...instead of going all the way to RN...is that true? please I need advice!!!... im taking some prerequisites now to go into VN program and get certified as a LVN then go to RN after that...i know its not easy but can someone help me...