LPN/ADN, was it by your choice or how did you decide?

Dixiedi · Jul 14, 2004

There are as many "ways" to get there as there are schools within each state. And, it can be very confusing sometimes, I am sure.

What I have still been trying to figure out is NCLEX. When I took the NCLEX-PN back in the early 70s, there were 5 individual tests, each of which had to be passed better than simply scraping by (don't remember the exact numbers but it wasn'tjust barely made it) and the 5 together had to have an average of something like 85% (I think, been a long time)

The NCLEX-RN was similar.

Now, I hear all kinds of things about 75 questions, 265 questions, etc. What??????

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2004

RN2BinPA, I think we're not-to-far-off neighbors - you're right, I've never heard of a college or university-based LPN program here. Here in PA you can take the LPN boards after your first year of an RN program. I think that option has both pros & cons depending on your individual situation.

My story: I'm in a diploma RN program by choice. It was the fastest way to get to my goal of being an RN. Pre-reqs were chem, bio & college algebra, but the rest of the courses that are often considered pre-reqs (A&P, etc.) are included in my school's curriculum and are taken concurrently with the nursing courses. After reading through threads on allnurses.com for a while, I realized that some areas of the country no longer have hospital-based diploma programs. Here in western PA they're still going strong - I can think of at least 8 that are within 40 miles of me. Many are well respected programs with high NCLEX pass rates and sought-after grads. I've done some research, and I think I'll be at most only about 8 credits behind ADN grads when it comes to finishing my BSN, which I plan to start working on after I've been working for about a year.

That's assuming of course, that I survive the next 11 months! :rolleyes: :chuckle I'm already approaching the upper limits of safe caffeine consumption!

Good luck to all!

mrsmoo2 · Jul 15, 2004

I'm choosing to become an lpn for now...mostly because I need to be employed asap & the lpn year will max out my student loan amount..also, I have 3 kids & I want a job in a dr office, which is 99% lpns. My program is through a college...the pre reqs for rn & lpn are the same..we are required to complete the lpn year after 2 years of pre reqs,,we can then take the nclex-pn & go on our merry way or go right through rn year...the classes are the same, they just teach the rn stuff from a more assessment skills position..we even use the same books. About half usually stay lpns because inthis town there are alot of jobs..we have 4 nursing homes within 40 miles, a major hospital, and a thousand dr offices. Also, all the nursing homes & the hospital will pay lpns to take their rn year..why pay for it yourself??? So, that's my story.....I have to say I'm already tired of the "so, are you going ALL THE WAY to rn, or JUST lpn?" I swear if I have to defend myself one more time, I'm going to stop trying to be polite...I already feel like I'm not as good as those "going all the way". Even my mom asked if an lpn wasn't just a glorified tech!!!! She had no idea they actually gave medicine & put in catheters & had some responsibility. Why don't people ask RN's if they're going to go all the way to their masters', or JUST be an RN? Can you tell I'm getting bitter?? I guess I'd better stop, I'm getting madder by the minute.

michelle95 · Jul 15, 2004

I understand MrsMoo...and, feel your pain. While I have no plans to "stay" an LPN, I get tired of those kind of comments. "Are you going to stay just an LPN?" I know that there are a lot of Lpns out there that are perfectly happy with what they are (a nurse) and that Lpns have a place in this world. Just like CNAs (just a Cna :rolleyes: ). But, I don't think the OP meant to offend anyone...they're just wondering what drew us to nursing and why someone may want to be an LPN instead of an RN. Is that a little better? :)

Me? I became an LPN for 2 reasons:

(1) I didn't feel like I had the time to go through RN school. I was a single mother at the time and needed to be able to make some kind of decent money (I was a CNA).

(2) And, this might tick some folks off, but, I knew that I would be a better RN by being an LPN first. (just like better nurses are CNAs first).

I still plan on working my way up that ladder. I actually knew a doctor that had worked as an oderly and another doctor that was a nurse first. Now, I don't want to be a doctor but I wouldn't mind being a nurse practioner.

If I would have had the option to enroll in the RN program and take NCLEX-PN after the first year...I would have done that. Sadly, we do not have that option here (at least I don't think we do).

RN2BinPA · Jul 15, 2004

i was curious how some of us chose this decision bc.....

[color=#ff8c00]i wasn't sure if i wanted "just" the lpn or go "all they way" for an rn. (lol) i just had to say it. i heard both good and bad about each of these. before i made my decision, i wanted to be an rn bc i "could" give meds and do the caths. after i applied, i found out that the shortages of nurses soon allotted the lpn's to have more responsibilites, adding these.

[color=#ff8c00]after my acceptance, i wasnt sure if i wanted the paperwork of the rn. i have many friends that are nurses and i hear more complaints from the rn's than the lpn's. the rn's tend to have more paperwork, while the lpn's get the patient contact. therefore, i wondered if this was what i wanted or did i want to .....ugh...i am running on. and believe it or not even with my rn "all the way" i hear, why dont you go all the way for your masters....i just want to be a nurse!!!!!!

[color=#ff8c00]and yes, mlos, i am in nw pa also, south of erie north of you. i will be attending clarion university!!! yeah!!!

[color=#ff8c00]i looked into a diploma program, but didnt really know what the difference was?:uhoh21:

[color=#ff8c00]good luck to us all!

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Jul 15, 2004

Here's my story-

the lpn program where i went to school req a one semester all inclusive a&p class and the rn req the 2 semester class. after attending school 6 semesters straight and trying every poss way to get into the the first of the 2 semester a&p class i was accepted into the lpn program (and still not able to get into the longer a&p class)...soooo i figured i would do this, work and finish a&p and do my rn and it would only take me that extra year as at this school you take a test and get into 3rd semester of the rn program. it was a good plan! but life has a way of changing things-including marriage, divorce, 4 kids, and relocating twice...but hopefully will finally be finished within 6-8 months thru excelsior. so, i am one who definetly fell into being an lpn-and people look at me funny when i am inquisitive or want to know more about something atwork, like lpns don't know a thing and aren't supposed to want to learn more...can't tell you how many times i've heard 'oh, i thought you were an rn'-at my school we learned a lot that the area hosp didn't let you use and was very frustrating. ug, i'm rambling! anyway, it's nice to work in georgia where we have greater autonomy and are able to do more skills.:) s

michelle95 · Jul 15, 2004

missnurse, it's funny you mention the autonomy in Georgia. I worked in GA last year at a nursing home and could not believe the things we, as LPNS could do. The only thing we couldn't do was pronounce someone dead. Flush central lines, push IV morphine, you name it. I wouldn't though....because I hadn't been trained.

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Jul 16, 2004

hey michelle95,

i'm a michelle too! when i was moving here from nh i called the ga board to find out what are limitations were, and they didn't even understand what i meant! they said, if you have been trained to do it, than you could do it. the only thing i can't do is triage (i norm work er). when i first started that drug book was my best friend with all the iv stuff-i had taken an iv med class that nh offers, but it was only for specific meds. the downside is that i think it makes lpns not have a great desire to push to finish their rn...the responsibilites are not so different, just the money! it was very different from cali where i went to school and worked for a while before moving. they are sooo strict there, can't even push silence on an iv pump if there is any med running through it-at least that's how it was at a few of the hosp that i worked at. gotta run to md appt!:)

jschut, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2004

I started out in a BSN program. I decided that it wasn't quite the "thing" for my family life at the moment (real reason: I guess I just wasn't prepared for 4 yrs of school!) and I wanted to be a nurse NOW! I'm bad that way..I want everything now...

anyway, I did my LPN, am currently employed as a LPN and enjoying it. I do get alot of patient contact and there is a TON of paperwork to do, but that's ok. I do the same amount of work as a RN, and really, there is no difference in our job descriptions.

I am returning this fall for my BSN again, this time I am ready and will make it through. I have thought it out, and I do not wish to remain in LTC the rest of my working life (which is what we have pretty much around here), I wish to go on and do something else, and I feel that having a BSN behind my name will open more doors for me and as I progress in age, I may wish to stop working the floor and work behind a desk.

And besides, I figure, I'm going to be 44 in 2007 anyway, why not do something with it and further my career?

Good luck to you! :)

LouisianaNurse2006 · Jul 16, 2004

I am in an ADN program for RNs by choice. I am 40 years old and needed to get into the work force soon (about 3 years), but not immediately (1-2yrs), because I really wanted my youngest, 7 yr old to get a little older before I started working full time. Just my choice. If my gpa would not have been high enough to get into the ADN program, I would have went with Plan B (ALWAYS have a plan B - of course the B stands for Backup!) Which was for me Administrative Health Care Management, also an associate degree here at my school. I did not consider LPN or CNA, that's just me.

If I were younger - teens or twentys - I would have considered a BSN degree.

It does bother me when BSNs or anyone else for that matter, look down on ADNs, LPNs, or CNAs. We are all important to the health care team! We all have our jobs to do! When we work together and help each other, it benefits the patient most.

Always be proud of what you do and do it the best you can! It doesn't matter if you are Head Nurse or Ditch Digger.

jschut, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2004

it does bother me when bsns or anyone else for that matter, look down on adns, lpns, or cnas. we are all important to the health care team! we all have our jobs to do! when we work together and help each other, it benefits the patient most.

amen!!!!!

wonderfully said!

and i wish some folks could get off their high horse and realize this!

for this comment alone, i offer you a :biggringi :balloons: and a :kiss

(couldn't have said it better myself!)