Online LVN Programs In California

Why are clinical rotations important?

Clinical rotations are an important aspect of any licensed vocational nurse program. These rotations give students the opportunity to be involved in a real-world healthcare environment. The exposure to the day-to-day complexities of intricate health-related problems helps students navigate the workplace after graduation.

Out of all the courses and classes in nursing school, clinical rotations offer the most realistic view of what it's like to be a nurse, because students are working and taking care of real patients.

Both Private and Public Colleges Offer Hybrid LVN to BSN Programs

As the nursing shortage worsens in California and across the US, more colleges are offering nursing programs that "step up" from LVNs to RNs. These integrated programs give students alternatives to the years that can be spent on waiting lists. Most of them offer a "hybrid", or partially online, format.

In Bakersfield, 3 colleges offer a chance for students to go right into an LVN program, and work their way through to an accredited registered nursing program. Let's use Unitek College as an example:

Private Program(Unitek College)

UC offers both part-time and full-time programs. The full-time program takes 12 months to complete, while the part-time program takes 17 months to complete.

Students in both programs are eligible to sit for the state board exam after program completion. There is an 80 hour prerequisite class to gauge your abilities to work in a healthcare environment. After that course is completed, there are numerous start dates throughout the year. There is currently no waiting list.

Once the program is completed, some students go straight to the workforce. However, some students stay to complete a 2 year "LVN to BSN" program. This 2 year program is called a "hybrid-online" program.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must possess a license to practice as a vocational nurse in California
Clear a criminal background and drug screening
American Heart Association "BLS for Healthcare Providers" CPR card(this is a 4 hour class)
Physical ExamGovernment-issued identification

So, students can go from no experience, to completion of a BSN program in just 3 years.

Now, let's look at Bakersfield College...

Public Program(Bakersfield Community College)

Bakersfield College has a 2 semester LVN program. This program is full-time. There are 4 prerequisites that must be completed prior to enrollment:

Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology
General Psychology
ENGL B1A (Expository Composition)
College Algebra
Current CNA certification

There is currently a waiting list for the program at Bakersfield Community College.

Once the program is completed, students are eligible to sit for California's state nursing boards(NCLEX-PN).

After completion of the LVN program at BC, students can apply for the "LVN to RN" associate degree program. However, newly licensed LVNs must complete at least 1 year of work experience. There are also 3 additional prerequisite courses that must be completed prior to applying to the program.

There is no waiting list for the associate degree RN program. Rather, applicants who are not accepted into the program must reapply every semester. So, there's no guarantee that a prospective student will get a spot.

RN to BSN at Cal State University Bakersfield

CSUB has a 15 month RN to BSN program. This program is for students who already have an RN license.

Private is Fastest, Public is Cheapest!

There’s plenty of ways to get through nursing school while still juggling all the things going on in our lives. Have Kids? Check…Have to keep working through school? Check…Financially strapped? Check…Yes, getting through school is a major challenge.

But we also have tons of resources available to us. Everything from tuition waivers to free tutoring. If your ultimate goal is to finish the Registered Nursing program, becoming an LVN first can get you through school much faster. But it’s also more expensive. One of the benefits of going through a Private LVN program is that you don’t usually have to worry about waiting lists, and you can get started very quickly.

Community colleges, on the other hand, can't be beat when it comes to cost. The average cost of an vocational nurse program at Bakersfield Community College(including tuition, books, and all other assorted fees) is only $7,300!

The average cost of a California accredited private LVN program can range anywhere from $25,000 to $38,000. That’s where financial aid comes in. No matter where or what type of program you plan on taking, make SURE you take advantage of the Federal Government’s FAFSA (Financial Aid) Program. There’s grants that don’t need to be paid back, such as the Pell Grant, Scholarships like the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, & more. There’s also the Board of Governors Tuition Waivers to help you pay for some or all of your education.

Online LVN Programs In Texas

The Texas Board of Nursing(TBN) is in charge of accreditation of both RN AND LVN programs. Like their counterparts in California, the TBN decides which schools are authorized to offer nursing programs.

The TBN addresses online LVN programs much like California does. There are NO accredited programs in Texas that can be completed totally online.

"Hybrid" programs, which allow students to complete prerequisite and science courses online, still have in-person clinical rotations. Clinical rotations are what allows for students to work hands-on in a clinical setting.