r/LPN_LVN_Community

Hi y'all I am looking to start my LVN career. My main question is should I go to private college since it wouldn't require any prerequisites. I know it's more expensive and will be looking at about 30k, while the public school is about 10k. The only reason I am considering private is because I can get done faster. I already talked to one private school and said I could start this upcoming June and it would be a 1 year program. While the public school would be about 2 years since I would have to do the prerequisites. I am in the Houston area. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi everyone. i new here. Im a guy, And recently i have a degree as a Electrician apprentice but job market is not working out for it and pays good but slowly goes up. but i am choosing LPN since its good paying and health care always hiring but i know its competitive but thats why i wannna get ahead of the game. i plan to take the prerequisites this fall while working doordash, and this is first time going to actual college so im going to need a couple tips and resources to help me more. but let me know guys what i need to learn before starting so i wont have a hard time during school. and im based in ATL if it matter, Thanks yall and I plan to move to Vegas or maybe Cali

Hi everyone, I’m gonna be graduating as an RPN (hopefully!!) in 2028, and I was just wondering what kinds of opportunities would be available to me. I would love to work in either peds, oncology, LTC (or really anything with the least amount of blood possible), and im trilingual in english, french, and ASL. I am also comprehensive in another language that’s rarely spoken here in canada.

With that being said,

1. What kinds of jobs can I find?

2. What’s my likely pa

y?

1. and where’s my best chance of getting the highest possible?

2. What do I need to do to enter my preferred scope of practice?

Thanks!

Hi ... would like to know the insights from current LPN's. How satisfied are you with your financial income ? Are you able to clock some overtime on every paychecks ? If so what health settings are you working on ? Would you have made some other career choices instead of taking lpn if you knew things before that you know now ? I know mental & physicial exhaustion is always a downside in Healthcare, but anything else that you can think of that is solid enough reason to choose / decline LPN career at this point ?

Myself, am a CHW / Care Aide in BC who is desperate to upgrade myself to something better. With only $2-3 wage differences between CHWs & LPNs, is it worth taking the LPN program which costs 18 grand minimum ? Also CHW could always clock some overtime. Idk if thats the case with LPN.

Please share your instincts and what you think of my decision for upgrading? Any other health care choices you recommend that costs only 2 years of college programs?

For me RN program + 4 years schooling + 60 grand bank loan is not in the equation.

Here’s my situation

I’m 30F. I graduated cosmetology school in 2017. In 2019, I began working full time at a chain salon mainly focusing on haircuts. I stayed there until 2023 when I moved out of state, and I managed to find another job within two weeks at the same chain in my new state. I’ve been at this salon ever since. I make roughly 50-55K a year and it’s worth noting that I work at a particularly lucrative location. I have a steady clientele with many people that regularly tip $10-$20. I am very good at what I do and I’ve made great relationships with my clients. Last Christmas I had three clients give me $100 tips. I am constantly being showered with gifts, and I even have a client helping me pay for my wedding.

Here’s my problem: I feel trapped.

I’ve been with this company for 7 years and I feel like I’ve maxed out my earning potential at 55k. I know that as a hairstylist there’s opportunities to earn much more - but that involves strong entrepreneurial spirit and skills and I just don’t have that. Plus, I’d have to be able to provide high quality and high ticket services, like complex hair color and/or extension services. I don’t want to do any of those things. I excel at haircutting, but I can’t realistically open my own space and *only* do that and make a worthwhile living. There’s also the issue that I signed a mandatory non compete agreement, so if I try to take any of the clients I’ve made with me to another salon, I could get sued. With chain salons, it’s also highly variable - some locations are more lucrative than others and you just won’t know until you start working there. There are simply too many moving parts, not enough stability, not enough room to grow. I also just feel like I could do more, and be more. With each year at that passes, my legacy as “The [name of salon chain] girl” becomes more solidified. And it’s like… I’m in a good spot, but I know I can do more. The only benefit of this job is I get 80 hours of PTO. Other than that, I get no health insurance and no 401k contributions. As I get older, I worry more and more about carpal tunnel and how I will mange to retire, or if I’ll ever get to retire. In my area, 55k is just enough to scrape by. I’m certainly not impoverished, but I am not rich.

I love people and I’m very good with people. I’m already used to working with people. I LOVED human anatomy in high school and enjoyed the small portion of that we did in cosmetology school. I already encounter and have a high tolerance for some smells and some bodily fluids. I know that I’m an intelligent person and I learn quickly. I took a practice TEAS just to see where I am, and scored 70% without studying. I feel very strongly that I can do this - but is it worth it? Is it worth walking away from everything I know and everything I’ve built for almost a decade, leaving behind my awesome clients? I don’t know.

There’s almost too much info online. I hear people say the money and benefits are great. I hear other people say they only make as much as I do and to not do it for the money. And I’ve even heard some people say they don’t get benefits. If any of these things are true, I might as well just stay with what I’m doing. I’m scared I’ll get through the program, do all this work and spend all this money and end up earning the same amount and not getting benefits. My plan is, if I get into the LPN program and get through it, that I can bridge to RN quickly because it seems like that’s where the best money is. But I’ve also seen that people can get denied bridge programs, so I really don’t know.

I’m posting this because I’m wondering if anyone has been in a similar position before, and I’m at a crossroads. Has anyone gotten into this and regretted it? If so, why?

Thanks for reading and I’m looking forward to getting some responses.

Is there anyone here who has both their LPN and a bachelor’s degree in another field (not rn/bsn) who was able to combine the two into a higher-paying career? What was your degree in and what do you do now? I have my LPN and a BA in Psychology, and I’m looking for ideas/options outside of traditional bedside nursing.

Hey all!! I've been searching for an LPN to ADN program that won't make me retake pre requisite classes (all are over 5-7 years) and accept my classes from Sumner (a tech school). I went through OCCC's LPN to ADN admission process only to find out theres only 10 spots available (there were over 50 applicants) including the $200 application fee. I'm gutted but still holding out hope (we find out at the end of this month who got in).

I honestly don't understand the 99% of schools that won't accept trade/ tech school credits and have a 5-7 year pre requisite timeline. Why don't other community college follow in Oregon Coast Community College's footsteps and make becoming an RN attainable? Oregon has a huge amount of LPN's, many of which want to continue their education but have families, mortgages, and can't start from zero when we've gone to school and worked years in the field as nurses.

If anyone has any insight/ advice/ ideas for schools (other than Sumner who would charge 78k and take 2.5 years for its BSN or Chamberlain who just opened their 2 year LPN to ADN program for almost the same amount, only for an associate degree), I would be grateful.

I can't leave the state permanently though Im willing to drive (there are a bunch of these programs in the mid west) and I'm definitely not willing to retake a bunch of classes I've already done, whether its due to their "expiration date" or I took them at a tech school.

We all took the same NCLEX and are educated and proficient as mandated by the state. If there are that many LPN's in OR, why not remove these ridiculous barriers and make it easier for them to become RN's? The nursing shortage is real but community colleges seem to care more about making money than helping their communities.

Thank you!

I’m attending Galen because of the direct bill option with my job. I’m starting the LVN (12 Month) program on the Austin, TX campus. Registration was a breeze! I took the TEAS after worrying so much because I didn’t get a chance to study. I scored high enough for the BSN program but I really need to start working within a year so LVN it is. I’m excited and want it more than anything. My plan is to start the LVN to ADN program and the online BSN after that. If anyone has any experience with this campus or program, feel free to chime in! Congratulations to everyone as we start this new journey!

Hey, guys I’m starting my nursing journey today i am supper excited, but I’m nervous because I work full time, and I’m going to school right after!

Hi. Needing some encouragement...I spent this semester working on prerequisites for the RN program. My husband and I looked at our finances - there is no way for my husband's income to sustain us until I graduate the program. I was looking at our local ADN program and I wouldn't graduate until 2029. I'm looking at the LPN program instead - I could start in Spring of 2027 and it's only 12 months. We're a young family with three kids. The LPN program would get me to work faster, we need the money. Anyone find themselves in a similar situation and went the LPN route and bridges to an RN program later? I'm 34 now, so I feel like time I'm getting old. Also, reading all the stories of "Just go get your RN! You're doing the same amount of work for less pay!" has me feeling 😮‍💨

Edit: I live in MN!

I just got accepted into a community college LVN program and on my first try. This is huge and I am very lucky. I cannot give this up nor fail. I’m a single mom who has to work. I am fine with no social life, but my school makes it to believe that working is impossible while being in school.

I am very scared after my orientation and would love to know anyone’s study habits they had with kids or any advice.

I plan on studying at places like trampoline parks, parks, mc Donald’s play places to maximize my time and make sure the kids are entertained.

I think I can do it for 14 months, but I also don’t want to end up failing.

I’ve loved everyone’s help on Reddit so far, thank you 😊

Like it says, I'm 57. I'm a database analyst right now and getting burnt out on jobs that don't have an end. My community college has an LPN program. Yeah, it's 2 years, but I'm seriously thinking about it. My question is: am I too old to do this?

Hello, I wanted some advice . I’m someone who didn’t do well in school so I’ve been jumping from job to job. I’m so tired of it and want a career that can help me create a better life for myself. My problem is my anxiety. The thought of being responsible for another person’s life, being able to pass classes and just overwhelming thoughts. Honestly I’m mainly looking for encouragement and possibly stories if you struggled with any of this but made it through. In what ways did becoming an LPN/ LVN change you for the better?

I want to start my LPN career but Im not sure if I can do it with a one year old and with no help. Im working part time on days I dont have my child as its dad’s days which is basically just 2 full days. I moved back with my mom so Im not paying rent but with limited finances I dont think I could make it either. I used up most of my FAFSA grants because Im supposed to be in my senior year for my bachelors in Biomed but since I got pregnant I stopped. On days I have my daughter I dont put her on daycare as Im scared dad would use it as a reason to take custody from me. Im stuck and I dont know what to do

Hello!! I am a Hospital Corpsman (Navy Medic) that is going to take advantage of one of our programs that allows us to challenge the LPN exam one time for free. I am getting conflicted answers of what to study. I have practiced a lot of medicine, but most of it was trauma or deployed tactical medicine. So I do feel unprepared. I’m getting out of the military soon, and will love if I can pass this for me to fall back on something.
Please recommend me study material and anything else helpful. I would appreciate it so much. I will be taking the exam in July.

Peds home health is a hidden gem!!! I wish I would’ve done this years ago. I can take time off literally whenever I want because we pretty much make our own schedules. It is perfect for me being in school. You are not obligated to work a patient. If it’s not a good fit, you try a new patient. I get to watch Disney movies haha and hang out with sweet kiddos! When your patient has appointments, you ride along with them and the family (usually mom) and that makes the day go buy super fast. Also if your patient needs a nurse with them to be able to go to school, you get to go with them. Not to mention… I make GREAT money especially as an LPN. I live in GA and make $36/hr.

I’ve had some difficult families before. Guess what? I let my job know, and didn’t have to go back. After years of bedside burnout, I am loving this.

Any other happy peds HH nurses? I’d love to hear other experiences. :)

At my SNF we have tube feeds catheters wounds and trachs. Ive observed a pretty huge triple would being wound vacced and ive put drops into someone's trache . But theres a lot more that goes on on some sides of this place and i know i wont see them all before i leave orientation. This is what stresses me out the most. I also haven't done an admission or discharge . Tonight I'm going to tell them to let me do every treatment i can instead of prioritizing the med pass. but i still dont think ill see everything before i get to the floor. Any advice or words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

Any study tips??? Taking mine on Monday and I’m so nervous. I’ve been taking practice a and b but idk if that’s enough studying to pass the exit 😭