Is LPN school easier than RN?

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So many people have told me that I am crazy to go to LPN school that I should go to RN school. I will be working full-time while going to school. I chose the LPN program because I will be done in 11 months. I don't think I could handle school and working full-time for 2 years. I too am hoping that LPN school will be easier than RN. Has anyone here worked full-time while going to school? Also, can anyone who has been thru LPN & RN school tell me if one is easier than the other?

Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

LPN's and RN have totally different scopes of practice.

In theory? Yes. In reality? Not so much.

I was in an RN program at the community college. The program at the college was less structured and information flying all over the place. It was very hard to understand things. The teachers seemed to act superior to us and many failed including LPN's. Now at my new school I am learning alot. The teachers are on our level more,explain things and have faith in us. They respect us as people. I have been going there since March and started clinicals in June. In that time I've learned basic care, vitals, charting, wound care, did a straight cath and a foley procedure and instilled a protein shake through a J tube. When we start at the hospital we will begin oral meds. The most I did at the other school at med surg level was basic care, vitals, assessment, and meds. A woman that graduated from there did not even put a foley in until her very last semester. So in reality I may not get as much pay as these RN's but at least I'll understand more about nursing care. We get more clinicals. and I'll be more prepared once i go for my RN

LPN school's not easier, it's shorter. And I don't think your plan is so bad. Go to LPN school and then you can work as an LPN while you do your RN bridge. The experience you'll obtain after you've graduated from LPN school as well as while working through RN school will help you immensely in completing this goal.

I went to the same college when I first did the RPN/LPN program and the RN program. When I did the RPN program, the first semester was EXACTLY as the RN program, some of the students in that first semester transferred into the RN program (first semester drop-out rate) to continue, they had been advised to get into the RPN program first because the RN program was full when they applied for first semester. Second semester for the RPNs was entirely different from the RNs.

The nursing instructors taught both programs, I noticed in the RN program they made a point about how valuable the role of the RPN was.

Both courses were alot of hard work, I do believe that having been an RPN for 10 years did give me an edge when I was in the RN program. :uhoh3:

Specializes in LTC, med-surg, critial care.

More than likely the reason some say LVN school is harder than RN school is this. They entered RN school with a big knowlege base of nursing. They still need to work because RN's and LVN's are different but they don't have to work as hard because they have something to draw from so concepts are a little easier to grasp.

I hope I made sense. :confused:

LPN/LVN school is NURSING school. So it is very challenging. Many RN's who have not gone to LPN school will say it's NOT nursing school. A nurse is a nurse all day long. It's hard and I've had many classmates flunk out. If you think it will be easy, get that out of you head. This reply is not meant to be rude at all, I'm just saying get ready to be stressed the heck out. Best wishes!

Anytime you're in ANY nursing school - LPN, RN, BSN, it is HARD work. There is not one that is harder or easier than the other. Most LPN programs have an RN program attached. I'm pretty sure the teachers will not cut certain curriculum/material between the LPN and RN program (except for starting IVs). Please don't start with the mentality of "RN is harder because it's a step above LPN" or with any kind of nursing programs. The bottom line is that nursing school - LPN, RN, BSN is HARD, regardless.

PS: About to graduate from the LPN program in March, hoping to get in to the RN program and BSN after that. I'm crossing my fingers and saying a prayer :) I've been doing my pre-nursing reqs, volunteering/CNA work for 6 years before FINALLY getting accepted. Came from a family of nurses.

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