Nursing school or become a teacher?

In a city like Orlando, just from years of reviewing salaries, it would surprise me if an LPN is making more than $36,000 a year to start. I used to live in a major city as well, and LPN's didn't even crack $30,000 for first year and new RN's didn't make that much above $36K as a new grad...you made it up in shift diffrentiation and overtime.

You also have to look at the entire picture. You don't pay into social security, because it's a state job, and you have your pension. Your healthcare benefits are paid for you vs out of pocket. A school year is 9 months of working, plus you have your Fall Break, Spring Break, Thanksgiving and Christmas, along with other holidays like Labor Day, Martin Luther King Day, etc.

You are currently making the equivilent to someone that makes $48,000 per year, if you worked year round at your same salary. When you calculate it over 9 months...that is $4,000 per month that you are ACTUALLY working.

If you are wanting to be an RN, I say go for it, but don't quit your job to work as an LPN along with a new grad, because I will guarantee you, it will be a massive pay cut because you'll be paying into SS and have you pay your own healthcare premiums at a group discount along with short and long-term disability, most likely. I believe that is already included in most teacher's salaries.

As a teacher, most states have the option of 20 year retirements at full benefits and I believe you also get supplemental healthcare in addition to medicare when you retire.....you don't get that with most hospitals anymore.

Too many people don't factor in the benefits when they are looking from job to job, and the yearly salary doesn't give you the full picture.

Have you thought about getting your LPN on a part-time basis and then doing home-health care during the summer months and occasionaly on the weekends? THAT would give you the best of both worlds.

Another suggestion I would have is to apply to a private school. I have a close friend who did that as a last-ditch effort before leaving teaching and she said it was a WORLD of difference, BUT, again, the reason the private schools pay more is because they cannot compete with the state as far as benefits.

I would check with your benefits department of the School Board before making any major decisions so you can compare apples to apples.

Hmmmm...in alot of states teachers of public schools teachers don't pay into FICA, your state obviously does or you are very correct, it would not appear on your payroll.

That's good that they are paying your short-term disability for you..you are more likely to use that.

The only other concern I have is if the LPN is a W-2 or a 1099 employee of the home health that she is employed with, AND if she is receiving benefits. Shift diffrentiation is usually with hospitals, I can't remember if I have ever seen it on home healthcare paychecks or not.

1099 means she is on contract and she has to pay her own taxes, social security, etc.

W-2 can work 2 ways...you can either get a paycheck like any other employee with benefits, or the recent trend of hiring certain employees at a very high rate of pay, but they receive no health insurance or any other benefits at all..other than the fact taxes are taken out for them and FICA.

You are very welcome..I wish you luck!

I am from Connecticut, in the town I live, the teachers get $40,000 a year with a Master's Degree. A new graduate nurse makes $62,000 in a lowest paying hospital for first shift. You have to weigh out benefits and other things before you decide. LPN starts with $24-27 per hour.

7-3pm,