[davb]

HI! I have been reading all nurses for a while and have learned alot of good info doing it. I am a first semester nursing student. I was wondering what everyone thinks is the best route to take. I am interested in ICU, or ER. After the second semester in this program I was thinking about testing out as an LPN and working for at least the summer to get some experience.

Do you think it is better to work at a hospital even though they pay quite a bit less than LTC?
(I was thinking it would be easier to get a job I want if I do)
Have any of you done this, and is it worth it? or is it better to wait 'till the end of the ADN program and go straight to RN?

Thanks.

[SteveRN21]

I would look into nurse externships available at hospitals near you . I was able to spend an entire summer working alongside an RN doing RN "stuff" in ICU one year, and ER the next. I made some great connections, learned a heck of a lot, and had 2 guaranteed jobs offered to me after I graduated. I also made $13/hr.....

[Gauge]

You bring a point I was curious about to my head. I am currently a first semester nursing student as well doing a 4 year BSN program, so I'm in the sophomore level. Anyways, would I be able to sit for the LPN exam and obtain an LPN license after I complete this semester and the one this spring? I asked a professor a few weeks ago (this is her first semester teaching) and she had never heard of this. I would really appreciate any information on the topic. I would love to get some actual experience in this summer as an LPN if I could and the pay wouldn't hurt much either.

[Conrad283]

Some hospitals don't hire LPN's anymore, so I'd check into that first. But as mentioned above, you can do a nurse externship.

[ewattsjt]

I would think of doing the nurse externship. The allure of the money seems good, especially while going into debt for the nursing degree. One thing you must be careful of is not to get caught into a “trap”. There are many people who will do similar things and drop school because they are making decent money in the position they currently hold.

The externship will give you experience and a foothold to that facility if they like your work. I work in surgery and have seen them hold a position for a year to fill it with someone who was good in their externs. In the same token, they only hire LPNs with one year of surgical experience.

Only you know what you are capable of and what your areas policies are in regards to LPNs.

[Gauge]

So does anyone have any update as to if BSN students can test out and get their LPN license after their first year of school? I currently work for barely over minimum wage and I would love to have a better paying job for at least the summer. I am almost done with my first semester and would like some links to know if I can actually go this route. I asked some of my instructors, but they have never heard of anything like this.

[frail316]

Doing LTC will definitely get you more money, but your brain will never forgive you for it since you will learn very little. You nursing skills might even deteriorate in this route. Experience in the hospital is never bad, but if you have it in you to complete the ADN I would suggest you focus and go all the way and save some time. Once you're in "school mode" its better to keep it in that mode rather than taking a work break and coming back much later with some difficulties getting back into that mode you were in. I doubt having that extra work experience will help you THAT much in completing your second year. This is from personal, current, experience.

[Gauge]

I'm actually in a BSN program so it's 3 years long instead of 2.

[SteveRN21]

Getting your LPN while in BSN school is possible, but it depends on the school. My school wouldn't let us do it. They didn't want to risk us dropping out to work as LPNs.