[Erin31]

Hi,

I'm actually just getting the ball rolling with my nursing school and I'm leaning towards the LPN program but I really want to work with babies and/or children. Can a LPN work in those wards? I have two small children of my own and they really are my passion. Insight?

[Dancin'Mom]

First of all, I admire you for going to school with kids. I also have 2 kids and went through an accelerated BSN program, took 1 year. This program required a previous bachelor's degree plus the necessary prerequisites. I would encourage you to get your BSN if possible; you would definitely be able to work with children, be more sought after than an LPN, and make more money. I believe you could also work in management positions as a BSN, not so sure about LPN. You just have so many more opportunities with a bachelor's degree. Good luck in your decision. Nursing is great!

[Erin31]

I might do the bacc thing a little later on but the thought of 4 years of schooling right now is not possible. 1 year of school seems extremely daunting at this point. I've never put my kids in daycare before, etc...

[racing-mom4]

I did an RN/ASN program in 3 years, part time for the 1st half. I am the mother 4 busy children and too had never put them in daycare. But you know what?? It is not that bad, the little one really liked his friends at day care..In fact there were some days when I was off he asked why he wasnt going "to school".

Nursing school is a sacrifice for the entire family, but the entire family will also gain. Gain not only on the financial side, but gain by watching their Mother do homework and learning about health and safety in an all new light. Gain by watching your self confidence grow--by watching you lead by example of work first play later . A nurse is a very special profession and my kids are proud of me. That alone is a huge gain.

Alot of my part time schooling was done at night and I was even able to take some weekend clinicals.

Best of luck.

[BayouLPN]

I went the LPN route. Financial obligations...how long we could hold out with one income (I'm not one of those people who can work, be a mom and go to school) I gave up nursing school years before when my son was little...I was working full-time, school part-time. I never saw him. So, this time I went the shorter route...and still had plenty of time to be MOM. This worked for me. BUT...I did this after he was older and we moved 600 miles from all family we have. With hindsight being 20/20, I wish I had stuck with school when has little and got the RN then. I had plenty of help from my parents and grandparents then. If it is possible for you to do the RN, that would be my recomendation. You won't regret it years down the road.

[BayouLPN]

And I almost forgot...I do work with mom/babies. The area I am at will hire LPN's for LDRP's but we can't Labor/Deliver. We do post-partum couplet care, undelivered's, 23 obs., ect. I can't push IV drugs or start a PCA, although I can monitor it and d/c it. I am much more restricted in this setting and pay shows it. At a LTC facility, I had much more responsibility and pay showed it there. Good Luck with your decision.

[ale_kat03]

I have been an LPN for almost a year now and i work on a surg/trauma unit at a childrens hospital! i love my job its just very stressful, so yes you can work with kids as an LPN. i would say if you have the money/chance go for your RN. i am trying to go back to school now and its hard, i am burnt out. i dont regret getting my LPN but there are certain things that you will not be able to do and the charge nurse will have to do for you and it gets really old. i just want to not have to count on someone to sign off my orders and stuff! but i will say from talking with other nurses i think as an LPN you get a little more hands on and skills! good luck to you!

[cherokeesummer]

I agree with the above, if you can time and money wise do the RN I'd say go for it in case later down the line you wanted to do the BSN and go for management but its really up to you. I work in Postpartum/couplet care and work with some great and wonderful LPN's and RN's and we all do pretty much the same things however the LPN's do have some restrictions like certain meds, pushing things, etc. I know it frustrates them b/c they have to depend on someone else to get something done.

The other reason I suggest it is b/c there were several LPN's in my nursing courses going back for RN and I work with some LPN's going for RN. So I think in some ways if you can it might save time in the long run. But it definitely depends on your time and money situation.

I have a two and a half year old, I got pregnant mid-nursing school and took a semester off then went back to school. I worked full time up until then also. Daycare was hard to do but if you go back to work as a nurse, you may end up using daycare then, and like posted above, my son really does enjoy his time at daycare. I did an evening/weekend program which was very helpful for working

Good luck either way, LPN's and RN's are both great!