[2bornot2b]

Hi everyone!

I just joined today and I have plenty of questions!

I'm in great debate over which route to take, either LPN or BSN. BSN is the way I want to go but, I have an awful lot of work to do to get there!

I'm 28 years old and feel that I will be ancient by the time I'd get done schooling. First off, I have 2 semesters of upgrading to do to get into the BSN program ( i need to take chem 20, math 20, then do math and chem 30, redo biology 30 and I have to rewrite my Eng 30 exam). This will bring me to 2009 and I won't be able to apply for BSN until fall of 2009. Then will be the 4 years of schooling after all that is said and done.

Going the LPN route would be much easier for me academically, I wouldn't have to do hardly any upgrading but, there is a waiting list to get in.

Could someone please give me the basic idea of the difference between being an RN and LPN? What is the difference in job duties exactly?

I know the area of specialty I would like to work in (NICU, peds or labor and delivery) but, should I bite the bullet and do what I need to to become an RN or put myself on the waiting list fro LPN?

[TheCommuter]

I have noticed that you're not considering the ADN (associates degree in nursing) pathway. Is there a specific reason for this omission? 70 percent of all registered nurses in the United States are educated at the ADN level. Edit: I see that you're in Canada.

I am an LVN, and my state's nurse practice act dictates that I cannot pronounce death, give certain drugs via IV push (such as vitamin K), and complete the initial assessment in the hospital setting. LVNs/LPNs have the greatest number of opportunities in home health, long term care, subacute, hospice, outpatient clinics, dialysis, and rehabilitation.

If you really want to work in the NICU, peds, or L&D, you will definitely need your RN licensure, since LPNs generally are not hired into these areas anymore. Yes, there might be the rare LPN who got the specialty of his or her choice, but you simply do not see many LPNs in critical care units such as the NICU, high risk areas such as L&D, or peds.

[Fiona59]

You should ask to have this moved to the Canadian Forum as what LPN's can do up here is very different from the States.

I have worked postpartum as a PN. One of our local hospitals has just hired 7 PNs for the LDRP programme. What they will be doing in L&D I'm not sure, but the mechanics of L&D were included in my education.

In Canada, it really depends on which province you live in. Here in Alberta, there are wait lists for PN and RN education. Again it depends on which province you live in because there are still a few where BScN education in not mandatory, for some reason Saskatchewan comes to mind.

Here in Alberta PNs work everywhere from Emerg to the OR. Calgary Health Region has PNs in their ICU.

We start and administer our own IVs and meds, we perform dialysis, work in the immunization programmes, LTC, cast rooms, the possibilities are endless.

Unlike where the Commuter works, our prospects are wide open.