What's best for me, RN or LPN?

[char1976]

Hi, I'm 29 yrs old, a mother of 2 and one on the way. I'm seriously considering RN or LPN. I must take a few courses first like Bio, Math (to bring up my marks); I'm starting that in September. I was a stay at home mom for my other kids, but this time I've decided to do things differently (I'm due next month). One day I'm all excited and determined I'm going to go all the way with RN, and the next day I change my mind to LPN again. I just keep going back and forth, back and forth. I'm a little obsessed. I'm very excited about going back to college and doing something for myself. It's all I think about. BUT...here are the things that worry me about taking RN. First of all, the price of the course. If I get a loan and quit or fail I'm so screwed . We cannot afford that at ALL. Also, I wasn't strong in math in high school, and heard people say that if they had not been strong in math they wouldn't have made it through it. Now, if I take LPN everything is covered for, daycare, gas, the course itself etc. But here in Canada, you can't go from an LPN to an RN. In other words you don't get any credit towards your RN at all. It's completely two different things. It would take me 2 yrs to do my LPN, and then if I decide to go for my RN, it would take me another 4 yrs. In a way I feel if I don't go for my RN right away I'm just wasting time. I also wonder if I have what it takes. In high school, marks were really NOT my priority. I was into boys and parties. I finally graduated but with very LOW grades. Now that I'm an adult my priorities have changes of course, but I'm scared RN would just be too hard for me. I don't know, maybe I don't give myself enough credit. It's such a hard decision. Thanks in advance!!!

[BWitt71]

I'm currently an LPN in the United States and I'm working on a home study course to obtain my RN. I've been an LPN for nearly 10 years now and I've exhausted every opportunity that an LPN might have available to us. I'm working towards my RN because I want to have more job opportunities and flexibility (not to mention more money). Becoming an LPN first was a good decision for me, but everyone has a different opinion.

As far as the price of the course - we did have a program within the school (for LPNs) that I attended for low income families which DID cover the full cost of the tuition and books. It paid for uniforms. It reimbursed for daycare and mileage for the use of our own vehicles to/from school & clinicals. I don't know if this is similar to what you have found, but I wanted to throw it in for one of the others folks who posted a reply in regards to this.

I don't know how things work in Canada, but in the States - we have student loans that you do not have to begin paying on until 6 months after you have graduated from school and then the monthly payment is fairly nominal.

I would suggest considering going directly for the RN ONLY AFTER you have made the commitment to go through with the process. I would never suggest anyone make this big of a decision if you don't know what you want to do in life.

Nursing is a very rewarding career. However, it is very difficult as well - during school as well as on the job. Once you've decided to go full force, I don't think you will regret making the decision.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Can you possibly shadow some LPNs and RNs and perhaps ask THEM what it's like? Nothing like SEEING with your OWN EYES the process and what they do. That may help you decide if nursing is even for you. And if you decide it is, I would recommend going for your RN. NOT because RN's are "better" (we are not), but your options will be broader and more numerous. Good luck whatever you do decide.

[KrisRNwannabe]

I am doing an LPN program right now but, only because that is the only program I could get into due to waitlists. I graduate in august, take the boards in october. I will start the 2nd year of an RN program in the winter semester, have the summer off and then finish in the fall semester. I have no desire to be an LPN and probably won't even work as one. Where I work as a tech now, they don't hire LPNs. plus, I already make over $13 per hour which is more than LPNs start at in the hospitals in this area. Sure, i could go make 20 bucks an hour passing meds at a basic care nursing home. But that is not something I want to do. right now, i can pass some meds, put in caths, wound care, draw blood, trach care. I would say do whatever program you can get into right away. if it is an LPN program look at the options to bridge. RNs have more opportunties than LPNs do. In my area, of the 3 hospitals, only 1 hires LPNs, it is $11 per hour and only in med/surg. Even nursing homes around don't want to hire new grad LPNs because they work for a year, than have their RN and they are gone. good luck and keep us posted

[Fiona59]

Your EI officers are in much better moods than the guys on the West Coast. I tried to get some funding for a technicians course (6 weeks) and found it would be easier and less invasive to apply for a student loan! They wanted all our financial records, lists of assets, etc.

Had to put up 50% of the tuition, then do about 2 inches of paperwork to "document a need" for this training in my area. Supposed to call the different health authorities and find out how many were hired in the last year, how many are they planning on hiring. The health agencies in my area just wouldn't hand out that info.

The joke was I only need about $1200 to cover living expenses while taking the course. Would have to go to the mainland.

The final straw was after all the work there would be no guarantee of funding because theres only so much money per geographical area and all the applications go to a regional committee who decides who gets the money.

So we decided to pay for the course ourselves and if I can't find work in the next three years, then I'll apply for retraining funding in another field. Seems like a waste to use the funding on something I could pay for myself.

The EI guys out here act like its their money. Had to explain why I wanted to take a three hour aweek night school class while I was collecting benefits. Now, I always thought what I did after 5pm was my own business but not according to EI.:rotfl: :uhoh3: