Licensed Vocational Nurses in Kern County currently earn an average of $29.94 per hour, and salaries continue to climb!
Do you want to earn good living while helping other people as well? If you do, make yourself proud by choosing a healthcare career as an LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse). The future looks great when you choose to become an LVN.
LVNs have become important members of the healthcare team. This healthcare career has grown by 9% from 2019 and beyond, making it one of the fastest-growing career opportunities for people looking to work in healthcare.
The increasing demand for nurses is not expected to wane even when the pandemic becomes a painful memory. Opting to become an LVN at this time is not only timely, but it is also the best way to earn well while doing your share of making the world a healthier place to live.
A fulfilling healthcare career that you’ve always yearned for becomes a reality when you take the first step to become an LVN. The journey towards an LVN career starts with getting trained and skilled to meet the demands of the job.
That’s where good nursing schools come into play. The choice of a nursing school, whether it is a public or private college or university must be chosen with care. Gearing towards a successful career as an LVN is achieved with the proper training and education provided by a reputable nursing school.
High Desert Medical College has 3 campuses: Bakersfield, Lancaster, and Temecula. HDMC offers 2 distinct LVN programs. The first is a 56 week vocational nursing certification program.
HDMC also offers a 101 week Vocational Nursing Associate of Applied Science degree.
There are benefits to both programs: the certificate program is quicker, a total of 56 weeks. The Associate of Applied Science LVN degree program incorporates additional science and general education courses. The general education courses can be delivered in a hybrid, online format.
High Desert Medical College's LVN program is fully accredited through the Accrediting Council on Continuing Education and Training(ACCET), and the California Board of Vocational Nursing.
HDMC also offers programs in Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, medical billing & coding, Ultrasound Technology, Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, and more.
San Joaquin Valley College's Bakersfield campus has a 15 month vocational nursing Associate Degree. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).
SJVC also offers other healthcare programs at its Bakersfield campus:
As the nursing shortage continues to worsen, salaries for vocational nurses and registered nurses continue to climb. The average base hourly rate for Licensed Vocational Nurses in Bakersfield is now $30.93, according to a report from indeed.com.
Bakersfield Adult School's LVN program combines supervised clinical experience with classroom lectures and hands-on labs. Bakersfield Adult School's LVN program is 22 months long. All applicants must be at least 18 years old, and have either a high school diploma or GED.
Before applying to the program, BAS has four prerequisites:
Many graduates of the Licensed Vocational Nurse program at BAS go on to take the LVN to RN 'bridge' program at Bakersfield College.
The passage rate for the PN-NCLEX, also known as taking the state boards exam, is often used as a gauge to judge a program's strength. 100% of students in the BAS classes of 2018, 2019, and 2020 passed the PN-NCLEX. Bakersfield Adult School's LVN program is considered top-notch in California.
The cost of Bakersfield Adult School's LVN program is $6,500 plus the NCLEX fee. This cost covers all books, laptop, uniforms, and materials.
The Licensed Vocational Nurse program at Bakersfield College provides a solid foundation for nursing students to become effective, competent nurses. Bakersfield College goes to great lengths to show respect for each student's unique experiences.
The learning model used by the LVN program is used to provide a pathway that aids in the development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Those students who complete BC's LVN program will be properly equipped to deliver high-quality care to diverse populations in a host of healthcare facilities.
Many graduates of the LVN program then go on to Bakersfield College's RN program
Students who wish to apply to the Bakersfield College LVN program must complete four prerequisites:
Prospective nursing students must also provide proof of either a high school diploma or GED.
Cerro Coso Community College's North Kern River campus has a 1,662 hour Vocational Nursing Certificate program. The program is accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nursing.
Once students have completed the vocational nursing program at the North Kern River campus, they will be ready to take California's NCLEX-PN exam.
Six prerequisites are needed to enroll in the nursing program:
The LVN certificate program at Cerro Coso Community College's North Kern River Campus takes 4 semesters to complete. A total of 47.5 units are taken. The total cost for the program, as of the spring of 2023, is $5,035(this includes the approximately $2,800 for supplies and books, as well as $2190 in tuition).
Unitek College's Bakersfield campus has several options for students enrolling in their vocational nursing program. They have a full-time 12 month LVN program, as well as a 17 month evening program.
The career services team at Unitek College provides all students with job search assistance before and after completing their program.
Unlike the vocational nursing programs at Bakersfield College and Bakersfield Adult School, the LVN program at Unitek doesn't require prerequisites. All needed skills are taught during the program. They have multiple program start times throughout the year, so prospective students may be able to sign up right away.
Unitek College's Bakersfield campus also offers something no other LVN program in Kern County has: Unitek has a 3 year BSN program. However, if you're ALREADY an LVN, the LVN to BSN program can be completed in as little as 2 years.
An LVN is licensed by a state in the USA to provide routine nursing care to patients. LVN is a term that is interchangeable with an LPN or Licensed Practical Nurse. LVN is used in California & Texas, while LPN is the title used in the other 48 states.
An LVN or LPN usually provides a host of essential services as that of RNs or Registered Nurses in medical settings such as surgical centers, convalescent homes, long-term facilities, or doctor’s offices.
While LVNs are usually supervised by doctors or RNs, they play an important role in the healthcare team. Assisting patients with the tasks of daily living is an important role played by LVNs in any healthcare setting.
The responsibility of checking vital signs and performing primary care services such as lending assistance to fellow nurses with medical equipment, feeding, bathing, and grooming patients are important tasks performed by LVNs.
In hospital settings, there will be times when LVNs are tasked to do clean-ups. Preparing rooms for new patients is another vital task performed by LVNs. However, when there are CNAs and medical technicians, LVNs take the role of directly supervising them in performing these clean-up tasks.
Probably the best opportunity provided for an LVN is the chance to further their career to an RN. While dedication, time, and experience are involved in this career development, becoming an RN from an LVN is always a worthy effort.
The typical LVN program takes anywhere from 12 to 18 months to complete. Some programs can be completed in the evenings and part time. More & more students are going through an LVN program for the specific purpose of “Bridging” over into an RN program. This can get you through quicker than if you went the standard route of “Enroll at one of the California Community Colleges”, “Take your prerequisites”, “WAIT FOREVER!!”
These days, more and more students are taking the LVN program with the intention of bridging over into Bakersfield College’s RN program. That seems like an awesome route to go. Of course, one of the major problems is finding a program that doesn’t have a waiting list, that you can get into right away, and that doesn’t cost an arm & a leg……
The most affordable one is the old Tried ‘N True Bakersfield College LVN program. The total of the program, including tuition, fees, books, uniforms, and everything, is listed by the school at approximately $5,100.00. AWESOME!!
Bakersfield Adult School's LVN program is also an incredible value. Unfortunately, there's typically a longer waiting list at BAS.
A couple of downsides, though: The waiting list. Yes, the LVN programs at both Bakersfield College & Bakersfield Adult School have waiting lists. You’ll also need to have your CNA certification as a prerequisite, as well as Anatomy, Physiology, and Psychology. You also must be CPR certified. The upside to taking these prerequisites is, you’ll need them anyways if you’re planning on advancing to a Registered Nurse at any point in your career.
If you’re thinking about Bakersfield College’s LVN program, PLEASE look into the Board of Governors Tuition Waiver. Between that, Pell Grants, and other free financial aid, it’s possible to go through the entire program and have it paid for. So, whether you think you qualify or not, check out the financial aid.
Keep in mind, there’s tons of scams out there when it comes to financial aid, so be careful. As it says on the Fed’s financial aid website, and you’ll read about in every financial aid office at the schools in Kern County, you should never have to pay to apply for assistance. If anyone or any site is asking for money to apply for financial aid, it’s a scam. There is a lot of “scholarship” information out there, and a lot of them claim to be legitimate, yet require an “application fee”.
Now, for the private LVN programs, the obvious upside is the general lack of a waiting list. So, if your ultimate plan is to go through the LVN program and then on to an LVN to RN, you’re looking at paying anywhere from 20k on up. Ouch!
But, if you can finish the RN program a couple of years earlier than if you went the traditional route, you can more than make up for it once you’re earning RN wages. All in All, there’s something for everyone when it comes to our local LVN programs.
Cheap & long, and expensive & fast. Regardless, all 6 of the accredited LVN programs in Bakersfield offer financial aid. So, check out the info we have for each program, and feel free to send us a note via “contact” page if you find any additional info on these programs. All of the information is updated as of June 2023.
But, if you can finish the RN program a couple of years earlier than if you went the traditional route, you can more than make up for it once you’re earning RN wages. All in All, there’s something for everyone when it comes to our local LVN programs.
Cheap & long, and expensive & fast. Regardless, all 6 of the accredited LVN programs in Bakersfield offer financial aid. So, check out the info we have for each program, and feel free to send us a note via “contact” page if you find any additional info on these programs. All of the information is updated as of June 2023.
Every year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publish average wage and salary estimates for over 800 occupational specialties, including the field of nursing. In 2022, the average pay nationally for LVN/LPNs was $48,800 annually. That works out to about $23.00 per hour. However, the salaries for nurses in California are significantly higher.
As an example: California's Employment Development Department just released their numbers for 2022. The average salary for an LVN in California is $63,676. That works out to an hourly rate of $30.62. The EDD also breaks the salaries of nurses in all 58 California counties. The average salary for an LVN/LPN in Kern County is $58,595.
In the first chart below, you can see from the 2022 BLS and California's EDD have Bakersfield LVNs making nearly $14,000 more annually than the national average.
In 2022, there are more than 5 million nurses in the US. There's over 4 million Registered Nurses, and 930,000 Licensed Vocational Nurses. Demand has never been higher for nurses of all stripes. As a result, pay has been steadily increasing over the years. The average annual salary for LVNs currently sits at $48,800. For RNs, it's $75,330.
In California, the Salary differences in pay between LVNs and RNs is even greater. Fortunately, there are many LVN to RN programs available. Some LVN to RN programs can be completed in as little as 12 to 18 months.
In Kern County, Bakersfield College has an LVN to RN program which is only 2 semesters long. The cost of the LVN to RN program is $3,919. The costs cover tuition, books, student fees, the NCLEX exam, and California's Nursing license application fee.
In the realm of healthcare education, online LVN programs have become a viable alternative to traditional, in-person training, especially in states like California. However, it's important to understand their validity and how they are perceived within the nursing industry. A crucial aspect to consider is whether the program is accredited. Accreditation signifies that the program meets the educational standards required for competent practice in the nursing field.
While these programs offer flexibility and convenience, they typically require some in-person components for clinical experiences. This hybrid structure ensures students gain practical skills needed for nursing roles. While not all employers may accept online degrees, the perception is changing as more reputable institutions offer online LVN programs. However, it is always advisable to confirm with potential employers or the state's nursing board to ensure the acceptability of an online LVN program.