LPN Vs RN

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Just wondering why people pick LPN over RN program??

what's your story?

I picked RN because I had already gone to school for a year for medical assistant- which was a waste of $$ since I could of done LPN program for a year as well.

So when I found about LPN, I was already done with MA program therefore decided to just go for the RN.:nurse:

I started out in an RN program in the summer of '06 and that year they had brought in new teachers and it was just a mess. I felt it was disorganized and I was not learning anything. So come Jan '07 I decided to switch over to LPN and wow what a great choice. I felt like I learned so much more!! I felt more comfortable in clinicals and everything. I also liked that we spent more time in clinicals than we did in the RN. I graduated Dec'07 from the LPN and now im working in a hospital on a med-surg/neuro floor. Im back in school bridging over to my BSN. I think switching programs was the best choice for me. I have a friend that did the same thing and is in the LPN now and she said the same thing...that she feels like shes learning more. My LPN instructors were amazing!! The LPN program I came from has like a 98-99% pass rate on boards and now I know why!!

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Specializes in Tele.
I think that the OP has an excellent plan. I have a B.S and MBA and i will be going to school as soon as accepted , via the LPN program at a technical school. Right now, I am taking A&p1 and lab, Sociology and Gen Psych at our local community college.

I have all of my other pre-reqs done except A&P2 and lab and Microbioloby. I know what some what say, why go the lpn route when i can take apply for an accelerated RN program for people with BS degrees or when I can apply for the RN school.

Here is the skinny, some folks prefer a straight shot to school rather than waiting 1-2yrs to get admitted to a RN program and also some folks need to work right away.

At HCC in TAMPA, I believe that they only accept ~165 students for both the Plant City and Dale Mabry campus per the Advisorn and some 400-500 people will apply.

I have applied for the LPN program at Erwin tech and I am exempted from taking the TABE or TEAS. The next day programs aren Aug 2009 and Jannand March 2010.

I would only be able to apply for HCC's spring 2010 class as the deadline for Fall 2008 was Jan of this year and Spring 2009 was June 2008. Fall 2009 deadline is Jan 15 and i would not be finished with AP2 and Micro until May 2009. Therefore, I am only eligible to apply for the Jan 2010 classn which would mean me wasting 1.5yrs without the gurantee that I would be even accepted.

By going the LPN route in my case, if I'm accepted for the Aug 2009 class, I would be finished Aug 2010 and I can go on to apply to SPC's bridge program for Jan 2011 AND work and make money AND get valuable experience.

The LPN will pay me less than what I make now but hopefully, when I bridge to RN, it will equal or an exceed my current salary with an extra shift.

I wrote all of this because it seems that some think that LN is a low class route to go when it is not and can fit some people's situation.

I believe that university of tampa has an RN program also, where there is no waiting list.

I don't think that LPN is a second tier job--- it's a great place to start a nursing career-- but if you have your bachelors degree in something else, it doesn't make sense to go to a technical school when you can get your BSN in an accelerated program for proffessionals.:twocents::twocents:

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Specializes in Tele.
I started out in an RN program in the summer of '06 and that year they had brought in new teachers and it was just a mess. I felt it was disorganized and I was not learning anything. So come Jan '07 I decided to switch over to LPN and wow what a great choice. I felt like I learned so much more!! I felt more comfortable in clinicals and everything. I also liked that we spent more time in clinicals than we did in the RN. I graduated Dec'07 from the LPN and now im working in a hospital on a med-surg/neuro floor. Im back in school bridging over to my BSN. I think switching programs was the best choice for me. I have a friend that did the same thing and is in the LPN now and she said the same thing...that she feels like shes learning more. My LPN instructors were amazing!! The LPN program I came from has like a 98-99% pass rate on boards and now I know why!!

Everyone has to choose what is best for them---

I was told by one of my classmates at my BSN program that the school that I went to (ASN) was very disorganized and horrible things about it.

I agree that it's not the best school--- but to me, it was organized.

"beauty is in the eye of the beholder" ---------- sometimes we perceive things in many different ways.

It's good that everything worked out for you and now you are on your way to your BSN!!

:twocents:

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I have checked into UT and i am not willing to pay $1320 per class or ~$20k. I have loans from my undergradiat and grad program and i have barely made a dent in over 13yrs.

I understand what u are saying but i nneed to work and i would not be able to apply to USF until summer 2010 as i have to take micro in summer 09 and chem Fall 09.

Because of HCC's crazy amont of time that an app need to be in before the class start, i won;t be able to apply until Jan '10 for Fall 2010', same for SPC.

i am trying to get into PHCC and Manatee Community college for the RN program as my first choice as their deadlines for Fall 09 is May 30 and Sept 1 . If I am not accepted then I will apply to 4 LPN schools as a backup.

I can;t afford tosit around for 1yr hoping to get into HCC/SPC with no job.

I have to work-I plan to bridge to USF,s ADN with different B. s bridging to the MSN.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
if you have your bachelors degree in something else, it doesn't make sense to go to a technical school when you can get your BSN in an accelerated program for proffessionals.:twocents::twocents:

Although I am not a Florida resident, I'd like to respond. :)

My friend earned a BS degree in public health back in 2001. She decided to become a nurse in 2004, but her collegiate grade point average of 2.5 was not competitive enough to get admitted into RN programs in her area. She completed a community college LPN program in 2005, and is now hoping for an easier bridge into an RN program. In our area, LPN-to-RN bridge programs are easier to get into than the generic RN programs.

My point is that not everyone with a previous bachelors degree qualifies for accelerated RN programs due to low grade point averages from their previous college experience.

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Specializes in Tele.

You are so right--- not everyone is the same and would qualify for the accelerated BSN program if they have a B' degree in something else--

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This is true. However, in my case, my cummulative GPA for my nursing pre-reqs based on my past classes from my AS and BS degree is 3.449 and my GPA for my B.S is 3.33.

However, I hope to get a 3.75 or higher GPA this semester and the same next semester so I'm hoping to have at least a 3.6GPA for nursing school.

Please excuse my typos above as I was half sleeping last night when I responded. TheCommuter makes an implied point which is great and the one that I have been making.

Everyone's path to a RN is not nessarily through a RN program even if they have a prior BS/BA degree. Other variables such as the need to work, GPA, timing when apps are due to be submitted also plays a big part.

The problem with HCC and SPC is that with HCC you are required to sumit your app at least 6 to 7mths in advance of the next class. With SPC for example, their selective cutoff date for apps for Fall 09 is March 09. I was hoping that it was May 15 but they changed the date.

This makes no sense as it prevents the people who are finishing up pre-reqs in that semester from applying.

In both these cases, I wouldn't be able to apply until Fall 2010 which makes no sense for me to be twiddling my thumbs for a year if my job is outsourced next year. If I am not accepted to PHCC or Manaetee, it makes better sense for me to apply to a LPN program for Fall 09 class where I could be finished and working by Fall 2010.

Again, everyone's path isn't necessarily a straight one, others may take curves but we all get to the same place which is to be a RN.

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Specializes in med surg.

hey this is to bummblebeern i'm a lpn and proud of it i chose this route due to losing a job of 24 yrs in a factory that went overseas to china , so with 2 kids and a hubby that also works in a factory momma needed to make a decision go back to another factory or try something different also i graduated from high school in 1979 so almost 20 + yrs doing the same thing over/over i neededto prove to my self that i could do nsg

it pays good for me .now up to date ..i have a 23 old son who has a job he likes and a 18 yr old daughter who is a freshman college and i'm glad i choose this route cause i can do just as much as you i work on a med-surge floor the pay may be 5.00 less than most rns in ky ours make 23.00 hr we make 16.85 hr but that is ok for now i will be going back for my rn but right now it's all about family making sure they are ok .. also i just signed up for some agency work for lpn and they pay 28.00hr so everybody has a reason! so have a happy day:specs:

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Specializes in Tele.
Just wondering why people pick LPN over RN program??

what's your story?

I picked RN because I had already gone to school for a year for medical assistant- which was a waste of $$ since I could of done LPN program for a year as well.

So when I found about LPN, I was already done with MA program therefore decided to just go for the RN.:nurse:

This is my OP, just a question nothing personal!!;)

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Specializes in med surg.

hey bumlebee thanks your insite on why we choose lpn over rn as i said in a earlier thread i apologize if i sounded like i was shouting but i was not and had no intension of making any one feel uneasy as i said before i'm from ky and love to read all the posts from other states and how much we are all a like so keep posting so i can keep reading ...:jester:londaj

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