Licensed Vocational Nursing Program

Our local community college is very cheap and has a wonderful nursing program. Odessa College here in Odessa, TX. I don't know what all they offer online, but we are known for our nursing program and they add online classes all the time.

Hi there, I am an R.N., if you can, try and get your R.N. and not your L.V.N. my hosptial does not hire L.V.N.'s anymore and if you are an L.V.N. in a Doctors office, you will be making about secretaries pay. I am not trying to discourage you. I have seen other L.V.N.'s get their R.N. in an online course. So, you could start as an L.V.N. and get your R.N. later, but don't wait too long!

Hi N.. It sounds like we have a lot in common. I am also 31, mother of 5, and am in school for nursing. I had researched LVN school before, and I'm not sure how much they would offer online since a lot of it is hands-on learning, but if basics are required, possibly those would be. When I was researching going to school for nursing, at my age, and needing the income I thought that would be the best way to go for me, but the school was expensive, and even though I could finish in a year, I'd be going full-time pretty much. I then found at my community college there was a Associates in Nursing Degree to become an RN in essentially 2-1 1/2 years time. I applied for financial aid and received a pell grant which pays for everything including my books. Most of my classes I take online. I even took Chemistry online last semester and just bought a Chem kit and did my experiments at home! I am also taking Speech this semester online, and only have to actually attend class 3 saturdays 8-11, so it's not that bad. I have nearly completed all my required classes to apply for the program and I just started last Fall, and haven't even gone full time. Once I am accepted into the nursing program-I then begin clinicals and then take the NCLEX to become a licensed RN. When you look at the salary difference, and the time isn't that much longer I decided to go that route. Brookhaven(where I attend) also has a new children's program/school to watch student's children. It starts at age 3, and my youngest and only one not in school right now will not be 3 until March but I'm looking into it so she can attend once I begin clinicals.
Regarding the LVN program, I'd say do a google search for LVN and your city or 'Dallas' and just call or email and ask each one and choose the best program. Good luck to you, and if you ever want to talk just let me know!
C. :-)

i WOULD SAY DO NOT GO TO hIGH-tECH IN iRVING. It is sooo ghetto, and way to high.

I'm an LVN and I haven't seen online classes for LVN's. I have 3 kids and I tried to take online classes for RN and it's very hard and costly especially when you are a single parent. Your best bet is to just take your time. If not you will be wasting more time and money! If you are trying to take the prereqs the community college should offer some classes on line. If you have any questions you can contact me.

Basically all the private schools that offer LVN programs online are going to be EXPENSIVE. (Several thousand dollars, I looked into it a couple years ago and they wanted upwards of $5000 for the entire program)

Your best bet would be to do the classes through a community college, if you aren't already. They offer financial aid and aren't nearly as expensive as a regular university. (About $170-350 for a course, depending if you are in district or out of district)

Keep in mind you don't want to rush these classes, you say you don't want it to be time consuming, but the degree you have chosen is a time consuming one to get, you really can't rush nursing :-(

I see you are in houston, so I can't recommend any schools, but from what I can see the Houston community colleges offer vocational nursing, is that where you are going to school? Can you go ask a counselor up there if they offer any of the LVN classes online? The community colleges here in Dallas offer some of the required classes online, (things like nutrition and biology, etc) but the actual nursing curicculum is not offered online.

I also saw that you want to get your CNA, and again that is an EXPENSIVE program to go through (usually only offered in those private technical schools, one of my best friends has her CNA and it cost her $10,000!!!) and it takes about 10 months to get done.

Good luck mama!

I am actually looking into LVN school right now at St Phillips here in San Antonio. It is 3 semesters long (1 year)and is going to cost about $4000. That does not include books. Hope this is helpfull

Hi,
I know West Texas A&M has a lot of online classes. There are now some degrees you can get completely online. I'm not sure if they have nursing classes, but their nursing program is growing so it is definitely worth checking into. Their website is www.wtamu.edu
Good Luck!
T.

do you know about "child Life Specialist?"

This profession I think? requires an undergrad degree and then X hours of internship.

Dell Children's Hospt and most children's hospt have this invaluable nursing component.

Have you tried St Eds" for their indiviual undergraduate degree plan,"?

Check out HCC. I'll bet they have a program. Their main "medical" courses are taught downtown at the medical center.

I am also a nursing student who decided to take a break.....that is not possible to do in nursing school. I learned the hard way. When you say that you are attending college, are you taking your pre-req courses or are you in a nursing program already?

My personal experience is that I was nearly done with the RN program at the community college in Ft. worth and I quit. I only had a semester and a half left. I was feeling so much pressure, very tired, missing the kids, house was a WRECK all the time, etc. What I learned is that they wouldn't take me back so I started looking for LVN schools. They are 10 times more expensive! Not only that, but when I interviewed with one in my area, they were completely honest in telling me that it costs much, much more to attend any type of LVN school (whether online or not) and you get paid much, much less. Also, it's rare to find a job in a hospital anymore. You have to be prepared to work with the terminally ill (nursing homes). That's perfectly fine, but keep in mind that your choiced are extremely limited. So is your pay.

So before making such a rash decision, talk to a college counselor. You should take the time to talk to the nursing dept. as well. You might see that you are seeking the wrong opportunity. One would think that LVN school is quicker, easier and cheaper, but I found the opposite to be true (well, quicker....yes). As a matter of fact, it seemed to me that they were bogged down as much as we were in RN school. Seems unfair.

Good luck!