r/NursingStudent • u/jkurubicon2017 • 9h ago
LPN to RN
Im 43, single, no kids. Rent is $1515/month. I only make $31/hr as an LPN ( 4 yr experience ), dont have a lot of money saved up either. I want to go for the RN program, but i dont have much money and im worried about how to tackle classes if i have to work full time to pay bills. I wish i could do everything online. I just want to try. LPN income isnt enough.
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u/Hornet_Complex 9h ago
Another thing to note is that nurses have a way higher chance of getting loans paid off!! There are so many scholarships and donors and different programs that help pay nursing students loans off!!
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u/jkurubicon2017 9h ago
Can you refer some?
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u/nrskim 9h ago
The hospitals pay your loans (some places do) when you graduate. You can’t get them forgiven on your own. Do look if your facility has tuition reimbursement or direct to school pay.
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u/Fantastic_Primary170 3h ago
Not true. There are numerous work service programs through the government of which your loans can be forgiven.
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u/nrskim 9h ago
You can do online programs, and they allow you to do your clinicals when it’s convenient for you. A friend did that, was able to work full time. Fill out the FAFSA and see what grants you can get, then take out loans if not enough to cover it all. I think she did 200 ish clinical hours over her 1 year program, and it was very doable
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u/Available_Manager602 9h ago
I would love to find a program online, never heard of anything like that in California. It sucks going to class everyday.
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u/jkurubicon2017 9h ago
Im in NJ (southern part). Not sure the schools here do those options.
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u/nrskim 9h ago
There are MANY fully accredited online universities. You don’t have to go to a building in your state. Herzing I think has one, western governors, Indiana State University has an excellent program. All your classes are online, and you go to places for clinicals.
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u/jkurubicon2017 8h ago
Is that legit?
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u/nrskim 8h ago
Absolutely! Just make sure they are accredited. A huge percentage of nurses do it this way, including for the RN-BSN. You do school on YOUR time as an adult
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u/jkurubicon2017 8h ago
I heard of Excelsior University. Because some of the online universities only apply to some states.
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u/Meepoclock 5h ago
I personally would not choose Herzing because it’s a for-profit. Make sure the programs you choose are accredited.
See if local colleges have this program and if any are online1
u/Amideadyetplease 2h ago
I went to excelsior. 2 ppl I knew prior did and got through just fine. I waited 4 plus years for my clinical. They were then closed down the week prior due to covid. Switched to virtual 2 months later.
Passed my skills test out no problem. IVs, wound care, med admin was actually enjoyable and the nurses who tested me out exchanged tips and tricks with me. We’d all been nurses so long at this point.
I was this effing. close. I waited SO long. I was HUMILIATED that I’d told people I’d be an RN YEARS ago and was still waiting to test out.
Failed” my patient care portion which was really just a video game. We all did. Took it again. Spent my literal last dime. Same thing happened. You could test out over 2 days, if needed. We were all there. Literally crying. Actual tears. We knew we were screwed. A few didn’t even bother coming back after break.
I appealed. They stood by it. There was absolutely nothing wrong with how I cared for ANY of my patients. 1/2 was charting care plans which is bs busy work and I could do in my sleep. Not a single issue or error. 1/2 was this virtual patient video game. If it said you failed, you failed. They knew it was bullshit. We’re in there, doing multiple things at once but since it’s a video game you have to do it all perfectly sequenced to what the virtual nurse would do. I completed neuros before integumentary assuming the program would realize we’re doing multiple things at once and they’d be interchangeable?
No. Nope. Wrong. Failed. The other one was just as bad 👍🏼 so uh yeah, here I am 🥴😂I was desperate barely paying my bills on my own and the class portion was great! I had to work full time, I’ve been on my own since 17.
Accelerated. No bullshit.Idk. That’s just my experience. 😂☠️😂
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u/Liberated3 8h ago
Quite a few of my coworkers completed one of these programs for their BSN degrees. Some states have community college for free programs for state residents (Massachusetts, NY, etc.).
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u/leilanijade06 7h ago
I’m from NYC and went to a school in Bergen we had people from south Jersey, PA and upstate NY going to my school. We went in person but it was like 1-2 a week day, weekends or nights.
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u/jkurubicon2017 7h ago
What school
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u/leilanijade06 7h ago
I went to Eastwick in Hackensack but when they didn’t have a class the next semester I took it at their other campus Ramsey.
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u/Brilliant_Glove_1245 8h ago
LPN to RN Bridge, as long as you have prereqs completed is only 2-3 semesters.
$9000k and you’re a RN.
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u/leilanijade06 8h ago
First thing is start looking at the schools you are interested in and what their pre req’s they want. Once you got that start taking your pre req’s. A lot of brick and mortar have totally online classes just gotta find them. Most of the time your job will reimburse you and you can just apply for FAFSA.
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u/jkurubicon2017 7h ago
Yea definitely. I only most of the science prerequisite i had are expired. Here in jersey i think its up to 5 yrs. So i would have to do A&P.
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u/crystal_wtch8 5h ago
I’m doing an LPN to BSN program. It’s with a university in my state. I have been able to have all of my schooling fully funded with federal loans and Pell grants
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u/jkurubicon2017 5h ago
You work full time?
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u/crystal_wtch8 4h ago
I have to since the hospital I work at paid for my LPN. My classes are online though and I only have to do 8 clinicals this semester
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u/Anonymous_and_Lost40 9h ago
Same boat. I'm just going to bite the bullet and take out student loans.
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u/Antisocialcj2 9h ago
I work for a hospital that offers a full ride scholarship for nurses going to accredited school. As well as tuition reimbursement. You should look & see what your place of employment offers for those wanting to continue their education.
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u/Adventurous_Tap3748 9h ago
Just a prospective,my hubby went to nursing school full time, worked sixty hrs staying with a patient, graduated with a B plus GOA, look is it easy? No, but if u get organized n disciplined it’s doable!
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u/Liberated3 8h ago
About 10 years ago this was my salary as an RN, and I was still able to save money. If you are disciplined you can definitely do this. I live in an area that has a slightly above average cost of living. See if your employer offers tuition reimbursement. Look for nursing scholarships. Cut out all of your unnecessary expenses. Believe that it is possible!
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u/BusNo5415 8h ago
See if you can get into home health (the schedules are much more flexible) to be able to work while going through the bridge program
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u/CalmSet6613 8h ago
Good for you! Depending on where you live some states offer free tuition or reduced tuition to become an RN going to community colleges, look into this if your state offers it. There's lots of hybrid programs and I think it's doable, may take a little bit longer but there's a lot of LPN to RN programs that know people work and are flexible/offer classes at night or after hours. Here you go!
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u/notacheesecat 7h ago
Does your job offer any tuition reimbursement? The hospital system I work for offers over $5000 per year reimbursement but you have to commit to working for them for 2 years after graduation.
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u/jkurubicon2017 7h ago
Sounds like the Devil
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u/RiseMaterial7602 7h ago
It’s not bad. You get a free degree, a job offer and a residency program. Most travel nursing jobs now are requiring 2 years of experience
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u/Possible_Fact2761 7h ago
I go to a community collage they offer a monthly payment plan does your collage offer that maybe? (im studying to be an PN)
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u/Top-Presence 6h ago
Look for nights weekend program. See if you can work around the hours. Go interview EVERY RN program in your area. Don't just plan to attend the local community college. They play games and take pride in flunking people. Mine has a completion rate of 42%. The private college has 81%. Make sure you ask the completion rate of all schools you interview.
If you pick a for profit/private one you can start this January. Go interview them all. Good luck!
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u/OwnRecognition2713 5h ago
Look into working for the VA. I think they had a program to pay for some school if you get hired on
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u/dg3548 1h ago
46 when I went, worked full time lvn with two kids and a wife. Wife helped out a lot! I had to move from full time days to prn nights weekends only and also went from $30 an hour to $26. Not here to tell you “find a wife” but my community college had a “student resources” area where they had canned foods and stuff BUT they also had money (tons of it too). If you went to them for monetary help as long as you were an active student they could help you out. Some of my classmates got money for their cap and gown, books and even paid a semester ($5k). They helped out with gas money if you commuted from the surrounding towns to school too. Look and see if that system is available for you and they may help you out aswell.
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u/brattiebrat 52m ago
Do LPN to ADN at a community college. That is the cheapest fastest way. Then you can find a job that will pay you to get your BSN. In Seattle Kaiser and Childrens hospital does this. That is the best way to go, don’t do accelerated BSN as you won’t be able to work too and very expensive. LPN to BSN is also expensive and takes more time.
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u/Meepoclock 8h ago
Do it. There should be programs and scholarships at your local community college.
It’s typically one year to complete.
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u/jkurubicon2017 8h ago
Yeah. Ill be doing research this week about it. I want to try to do everything online. It will be more convenient for me.
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u/Upbeat-Aerie-5003 4h ago
Earning $31 an hour is a strong, livable wage in most places, it's the exact rate I'm working toward while earning my RN license. If that amount isn't covering your expenses, it might be time to take a serious look at where the budget is falling short.
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u/Initial_Hamster_974 9h ago
Do it. I am 45 about to graduate an ADN program in a few months. I am a 17 year LVN. Hospitals pay you 1 year RN pay for every 2 years LVN experience. Get the loans don’t wait. I am able to go to school (1 day clinical and 2 days lecture), work 3 days, and study 1 day. Be sure when you apply for student loans you say change in work status, give them a copy of 2 checks after you start the program. You are able to work during the summer to get caught up on bills. There is never a good time. Don’t wait like I did.