Anyone else decide to not to go on to RN and stay an LPN?

Nurses LPN/LVN Nursing Q/A

Hello fellow nurses,

I have been an LPN for going on 11 years; worked in LTC for MH/MR, LTC for the elderly,hospital setting and currently homecare. I have always debated and even started at one time working on prereqs for an RN program. I love learning new things and I do love being a nurse,mostly..LOL . LPNs will be around forever and I already make a pretty decent pay and only need to work PT(and if ever needed I can work Ft). I love my life;kids raised, great marriage, awesome doggies and it just is pretty relaxing overall....I will continue to learn and take if ever needed CEUs or any classes for knowledge, but I seriously may be done with the RN option. Has anyone else come to this conclusion? Thanks:-)

At this stage of my life, it's about quality and life balance. An LVN is perfectly respectful and in this litigious culture I do not want the liabitly and stress that RNs face these days.

...That being said, I will probably start my prereqs after my LVN and change my mind if cost permits. I'll cross that bridge later.

Specializes in Wound Care, Education, Mental Health.

I have been in school and the more I did it the more I decided to be happy where I am. I made great grades, but I have kids in middle school, high school, and college. I also have a husband that travels. I think that I want to be apart of my family. My kids are growing up fast. I make a good living as a LPN and I am in a position of leadership and don't have to work weekends and nights.

I totally know how you feel. I've been an lpn for 5 yrs and keep on revisiting the thought about becoming an RN. I've taken a few prerequisites myself. I decided that I'm happy where I'm at. Who knows if I'll change my mind again. However, I am sure lpn/lvns are very valuable to the medical field. We DO have less responsibilities than RNs, that's a +. I'm happy being an lpn! We care for people within our scope and we're all nurses. The very best to everyone:nurse:yes:

Specializes in School Nursing.

I have mixed feelings. I start to get "bored" in my career (LVN) and I think I want to go back for RN but then reality sets in and I just don't have the time,money, or drive to go back to school. My job, my income, my family, and my happiness. Right now everything is as I want it to be, so why change it?

Specializes in Gyn.

I'm a newly licensed LPN and I'm 53 years old. There are no bridge programs here so I'd have to go back to school for 2 years and then do my BSN after that. I know people that have done this at my age or even older - but honestly - I just don't have it in me. LPN school was stressful enough and I honestly can't see going through all that (not to mention the cost and paying back students loans) just for a few years - if that - of work. If I had gone into nursing right out of high school I would have definitely gone for RN (or higher).

I'm also having a hard time finding an LPN office job. I always wanted to work in an office but where I am, CMA's rule the roost. So I'm not sure if it's my advanced age or the flood of CMA's, but an LPN job (whether it be office or SNF) is proving rather difficult to find. So, to the original poster, if you have the time, money and stamina, I would encourage you to go for it.

Specializes in Peds Homecare.
Hello fellow nurses,

I have been an LPN for going on 11 years; worked in LTC for MH/MR, LTC for the elderly,hospital setting and currently homecare. I have always debated and even started at one time working on prereqs for an RN program. I love learning new things and I do love being a nurse,mostly..lol . LPNs will be around forever and I already make a pretty decent pay and only need to work PT(and if ever needed I can work Ft). I love my life;kids raised, great marriage, awesome doggies and it just is pretty relaxing overall....I will continue to learn and take if ever needed CEUs or any classes for knowledge, but I seriously may be done with the RN option. Has anyone else come to this conclusion? Thanks:-)

I am comfortable where I am.I've been an LPN since 1980. I have no desire to go back to school. I don't care what others think of my career choice, I am happy with my life the way it is. I've never ask anyone what floor has the least poop, or asked if I really had to clean up vomit. When I took my boards I studied with a few of my classmates from my Saunders book we got in school. I didn't spend hundreds of dollars on courses and books to help me study what I was supposed to learn in school. I don't care if anyone thinks I'm old and chubby, I could care less. So I guess I will end this with my most favorite Dr. Suess quote:"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

Specializes in SN, LTC, REHAB, HH.

Good for you. if you're satisfied where you are in your career that's great. for me tho, i'm getting my rn. i want better pay and more opp. i absolutely dislike long term care for a number of reasons and this is where the majority of lpns are working. the facility i work there are 3 lpns with at least 25yrs. on the job. one of them will be retiring soon she's been a nurse for like forever. i know the job market is tight for all nurses but i'm going for it anyways.

Specializes in Rehab.

well im a new grad lpn and i am proud, i do plan on going back to get my bsn or higher because i want to be a clinical instructor. i work at a acute rehab in pa and some of the best nurses i know are lpns, or they are rns that started as lpns and they are the best, so i aspire to be like them, i am proud of my decision and i am gonna succeed no matter what i do. a lot of the lpn and adn rns at my job say they are not going back to school and i support there decisions 100 percent. nurses are nurses whether im a lpn at a ltc or rn at a rehab the patients really dont care as long as they are taken care of with respect. and another thing i can gaurantee u that i can run circles around any new rn grad because my clinical experience was superb and i got the gift of caring

Hi Juzme:

I went back to school to become an LPN 10 years ago when I was in my late 40s. If I went back to school now for my RN it would take me three years, so I'd be 60 by the time I finished. I think there are a lot of people who become LPNs later in life and the cost of getting the RN would take years to make up, plus the 2-3 years of lost wages. I think it depends on how many more years you plan to work before retirement.

Thank you everyone for your input:-) whatever position we hold; CNA, MA,LPN, RN or even an advanced degree it is important to just try to enjoy where ever you are in life...if you want to go on then do so, if not then that is wonderful too...whatever brings you happiness and career satisfaction is the key....all of us healthcare workers are valuable and play an important role in our patients lives....I think more though even more important than advancing your degree, is to never stop learning in this field and always be ready to learn something to be the best patient advocate we can!

Mj

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
It seems like it was a lifetime ago when I posted a response. In March of 2013, after working as a LPN in home health for a year, I made the decision to enroll into an online LPN to RN program. Although I have surpassed the 2 year deadline I gave myself, I am glad I made the decision to advance my nursing degree. I really had no intention on becoming an LPN but I do not regret having to take that step back. The amount of experience I gained as a home health LPN is what has helped me the most in this program. I am so happy to FINALLY see the light at the end of this tunnel. Unfortunately my previous response on the limited areas in the healthcare field for LPNs in my area held true. My choices are STILL limited to home health, LTC and clinics (if you have the experience) even with almost 5 years work experience. As I prepare for my clinical exit exam (7-12 month waiting list) I smile even more because I know that even when I FINALLY earn a RN license, I will ALWAYS be a LPN at heart.

Sounds like you and I attended the same college (EC).;)

Specializes in Psych/Substance Abuse & School Clinics.

I went to school for my LPN when I was 56 yrs old. Surprised myself by passing the boards(although I did bust my butt to EARN it!!). I wanted to go for RN, but am now 62 and just got over lung cancer treatments (which took my hair, my hearing(Hard of hearing now), and my long term memory. So I really don't think I could do it even if I still wanted to.

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