[scorpiostudent]

Every nurse that I've talked to (at the clinics etc) has said that they would not stay as an LPN any longer than humanly necessary. The RN that did my pre-employment paperwork said that she was an LPN and then got her RN and WITHOUT A SINGLE CHANGE IN JOB DUTIES got a raise of $6 p/hr. That was at a small rural hospital, working part time day hours. My husband got his vasectomy and his RN also told him that I should get my RN asap (or even skip the LPN) because "its the same amount of work for twice the money". I'm not suggesting that RNs are not worth what they are, but I definitely think that doing the amount of work that we do, LPNs should be paid more.

That being said, there is an LPN that I know that cleared like $60k, but thats with a decent amt of overtime. Its better than nothing, and its a first step towards a better life, but in itself, I don't know that I would become an LPN, if I had not had plans to continue.

**its not solely a money issue either... its a respect/responsibility issue. Having to 'answer to' an RN who has 2 semesters more of school than I do, and makes double what I do, but does the same work that I do, would be frustrating to me.

[Fiona59]

As I read these posts, I'm wondering, are any of you people unionized? If not, why not?

Nearly every facility nurse (be it LTC or acute care) is unionized in Canada. And it shows in the pay and benefits. Some provinces are more pro-union while others are not. My province if proof of that. The richest (due to oil) but very anti-union in sentiment and it show in the fact that LPNs here are the second lowest paid in the country.

It also depends on how strong the union you are in is. The RN union seems to have friends in high places, they are the highest paid in the nation and get whatever they want.

[scorpiostudent]

I've not heard anything about unions in SC. That being said, I'm still a student so I havent had the opportunity to hear about it.

[Thornbird]

I've seen many ads for the same, Social workers with masters degrees, paying nearly nothing, are there that many social workers and is a masters degree the minimum required education level to get a job? Wow

Funny you should mention this. I was in my 3rd year as a Human Services major, back in another decade, working as a CNA in a nursingh home to pay my way. Then, I started externships. Discovered that #1 Social Work doesn't pay. As a BS grad I'd make less than I was as a CNA. #2 The kind of job I wanted required a MSW. The kind I could get as a BS grad would consist mainly of "referrals" AKA "red tape". #3 The job outlook was poor.

Yet, at work I made a difference every day in someone's life. I worked with dedicated nurses, RN's and LPN's, who got to do so much more. Now, back then, nursing pay was awful compared to now, but still better than for social workers. I didn't have the "hard" science courses I needed to get into my college's nursing program and just didn't feel like basically starting college all over. There were almost no ADN programs back then, so I opted for LPN. Although I am now finishing my degree and plan to go for my MSN, I haven't regretted my choice. Being an LPN has helped me raise 3 kids, bought me a nice house and a few cars over the years. Here in New England, pay for a "staff nurse" only varies a couple of dollars between RN and LPN. Of course, the LPN can never move above that level but many RN's choose to stay with bedside nursing instead of "moving up" the ladder.

I am thankful for my many years as an LPN. I've made a difference, which is what I really wanted all along. And, I've supported my family as a single mom in a pretty decent style.

[Plagueis]

Obviously, LPN salaries will vary across the country. However, around here in southern New Jersey I know LPNs who have started at $18 to $25 per hour. They tell me that is a pretty good salary, especially after 1 year of schooling.

[dreamon]

Thanks everyone for their opinions. This is all still confusing though, as it should be I guess since we all have different situations.

LPN Pros:
1. Go to school, get license, get to work the fastest.

2. If you continue education, you'll be ahead of other NS because of your work experience. (So that should make nursing school a little easier right?)

3. You can earn some money while continuing education.

4. Tuition costs are usually cheaper than going the ADN/BSN.
LPN Cons:

1. Pay is not proportionate to work workload. (Although RNs have this problem also)

2. Not much hospital work if that is what you are looking for.

3. LPN college courses don't usually count toward RN courses. (I think)

4. You paid for LPN tuition when you could have been paying ADN/BSN tuition.

I think I summed it up somewhat?

[bobs201]

Ok, my cousin is an LPN that makes $24 an hour in LTC working a baylor shift which she works 2 12hr night shifts every wknd, and gets paid an extra 24 hrs for every wknd worked. so thats about $2,300 every 2 wks before taxes about 60,000 per year.
plus she works for a staffing agency during the week for about 2 days and is paid about $300 per 12hr shift, which is another 600 per wk before taxes ($31000 per year).

last year she cleared $87000 and only worked 4days per week!!!

So its definately worth it. I will graduate soon and she's been my role model so far!!!

[bobs201]

LPN classes do count toward RN. At my CC a lpn with all prereqs only need 4 additional classes to finish RN. Or for BSN with all prereqs its about 2-3 years from lpn. And a BSN from adn can be done in a little over a year at some schools.

[scorpiostudent]

LPN courses do count to some degree. Basically they replace the first year of nursing courses in the Associates RN program. The problem comes when your LPN courses did not give you the same general ed classes that RN school would...and then you have to take additional classes to fill in the gaps.

So I have Intro to Algebra for LPN, but I need College Algebra for my RN, so I need to take Intermediate Algebra and then College Algebra before I can apply for the LPN -> RN transition program. There are a few other courses as well... only taking Eng 1 as part of my LPN and need both Eng 1 and 2 before I can apply for my bridge program, etc.

But it does mean a year less of clinicals. I havent done enough research into the LPN to BSN program, although its on my 'to do list'.

Another bonus, if it wasnt mentioned, is that there are a lot of hospitals willing to pay for your RN portion, in exchange for you working for them for 2 yrs. Every hospital in my area that I've talked to (3 of the 5) offer it, so its a promising opportunity if you need to stretch your dollar.

[da_hood_model]

i think whether its worth it or not (if you just going off pay) depends where you live, i'm from nj and as several people have mentioned LPNs can start making 18-25 dollars an hour, i'm a single mother and 18-25 hour is good enough for me plus on top of that i will have valuable experience if i decide to get or an RN or have enough money and the flexiblity to get a degree in another field if i choose ( i'm thinking of dental hygenist the make about 60,000 with just 2 years of school and the waiting list is way shorter than RN plus still in the health field and no nights or sundays) plus to add my mother is an LPN and she cleared 78,000 (with overtime though, and bounses plus two raises due to her union)