Considering LPN.

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hi, my name's Matt. I'm 24 years old, and I've been working at a dead ender for 4 years now.

I've always wanted to become a nurse, but because of limited cash, and time, I haven't been able to go to school. But I can't stay at my current job anymore.

I'm considering becoming a LPN to get my foot in the door, and would surely further my education to a BSN in the future. I've been told by a lot of nurses in the workforce that ADN graduates are just not being hired anywhere in central Ohio anymore. Does anyone have any experience, or advice for me?

Specializes in Dialysis, Facility Administrator.

I live in Columbus, and it is extremely difficult to get hired on as an ADN. My best advice is to see if you can go straight for your ADN, get a position at a SNF or a doctor's office and then go back to get your BSN online.

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I to have seen negative comments about getting your l.p.n. doing and getting into the nursing program is very high and even getting into the l.p.n. program is hard in Oklahoma where i am anyways. I have been trying to get into the l.p.n. program i have tryed twice. I will try once again for the 3rd time in January. The process is not fair too others who aren't book smart so to speak they will take someone off the street with no prior nursing knowledge whatsoever and let them into a program someone who has never worked in a nursing home never taken vitals ect ect . I have since also looked into Private schools in tulsa that offer the r.n. with no prior knowledge og nursing and the cost is astronomical . I believe there are plenty of nursing jobs both as a lpn and rn there is no shortage whatsoever.

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I to have seen negative comments about getting your l.p.n. doing and getting into the nursing program is very high and even getting into the l.p.n. program is hard in Oklahoma where i am anyways. I have been trying to get into the l.p.n. program i have tryed twice. I will try once again for the 3rd time in January. The process is not fair too others who aren't book smart so to speak they will take someone off the street with no prior nursing knowledge whatsoever and let them into a program someone who has never worked in a nursing home never taken vitals ect ect . I have since also looked into Private schools in tulsa that offer the r.n. with no prior knowledge og nursing and the cost is astronomical . I believe there are plenty of nursing jobs both as a lpn and rn there is no shortage whatsoever.

Nursing schools generally use an admission standard based on academic abilities, not necessarily the experience or skills learned as a nursing assistant (which are usually taught to new students within the first 3 weeks of school). It is critical that students can perform at a set academic standard because nursing school demands the student maintain the high academic standard throughout the program. Classes such as Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Algebra or advanced math, English composition, etc., are general requirements for most programs, and the foundation of nursing itself. In a limited enrollment program, if the school is unsure that an applicant can get through these classes, they are more likely to choose a student with a great academic record.

Did the school where you applied give you an admissions test? If so, they should have provided you with the areas where you need to concentrate. Take their advice if you really want to go into nursing as an LPN or RN. You will need whatever it is they are asking of you.

I wish you all the best! Please let us know if you found a program, and take care. :-)

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
they will take someone off the street with no prior nursing knowledge whatsoever and let them into a program someone who has never worked in a nursing home never taken vitals ect ect

Almost all entry-level nursing programs (PN and RN) are formulated with a specific design that converts students with no prior healthcare knowledge into functional nurses by the time they complete the program of study.

In other words, no prior healthcare knowledge and nursing skills are needed for admission into nursing school. The only exceptions are the nursing programs that require students to possess CNA certification prior to the start of school, and the bridge programs that allow LPNs to transition to the RN role through advanced placement.

As a previous poster stated, an applicant's academic abilities often carry more weight in nursing school admissions than the fact that the applicant has worked as a CNA, home health aide, MA, phlebotomy technician, or hospital unit secretary. The nursing program directors need to ensure that candidates have good reading comprehension, basic math skills and a somewhat decent science background before allowing just anybody to enroll.

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I've been an LPN for 25 years. It's a saturated field that pays very little. The few new grads that were recently hired at the facility I'm at say that they applied to dozens of places prior to landing a job. The workload is overwhelming and the training isn't there.

DO YOUR RESEARCH. Find out if the education costs are worth the hourly pay. You might consider being an STNA and see what nurses do on a daily basis. It's not pleasant, but you'd make enough as an STNA to qualify for grants and scholarships. It might make you decide to go into another more rewarding field.

If I knew at 24 what I know now, nursing would be at the bottom of my career choices. I ALWAYS wanted to be a nurse...until the last ten years. Times have changed. Nursing has changed dramatically.

A Northern Ohio nurse.

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I agree with Shelby. I am an LPN, I work on an inpatient Hospice unit. I could only take a limited time off of work. I needed to be working quickly on a full time basis. I supply the health insurance in my home44. I love my job. With that said, I am going back October of this uear to complete my RN. I only have 9 months worth of school left, so it seems like the logical thing to do. I only work three days a week so I will continue to work as an LPN while in school. My LPN program was very expensive.

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Thanks for all the replies everyone!

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Matt:

I started out in nursing as an Aide (for 5 years) then became a LPN (for another 2 years) while going back to school for my RN. There is nothing wrong with getting your LPN first, to get your schooling started and your foot in the door somewhere. I too live in Central Ohio and while the hospitals in Columbus aren't hiring many ADN RN's the Long Term Care facilities ALWAYS will... Just remember, whatever schooling you do (should, most often) transfer toward your RN, whether it's your ADN or your BSN... I am now a RN and just started my BSN program. I have been looking for a job in a hospital but haven't landed one yet, but I do have a job. I worked in a LTC facility for a few years and now I do Home Health... So the point I am trying to make is, starting out with your LPN isn't always bad, it can actually get you some great experience; and you can always be working toward your RN.... I didn't think I could go to school either, cause I didn't have the money; but that isn't true!!! Please feel free to contact me back on here and I will be honored to help you find some resources...BEST OF LUCK, YOU CAN DO IT!!

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