Lpn Or Surgical Tech???

Nurses LPN/LVN

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:confused:Could I have some professional opinions please? I am retiring from the military, I am now a 50 year old female. My plan was always to become a nurse, but life and kids and work got in the way. Now I'm either going to go thru a local Surgical Tech course and get my certification or go to LPN vocational school. Being 50, I"m not really intrested in going the RN route or working towards my BA. Looking in the local papers, there seems to be the same amount of job openings for both. You guys are out there in the profession, which job is better to you? I've been told as a LPN I will just end up working in a nursing home on night shift, I don't know if that's true. But as a surgical Tech, my job will not be hands on with patients. What are your thoughts and thanks!

I'm an LPN, now, how can I beacome a surgical tech as you guys discussed on here? I want to become one!!!!!!

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Thanks to all who took the time to give me their input. Opinions are definatly running towards LPN over the Tech. When I read that many LPNS can work in surgery I was suprised, then yesterday I looked in the sunday paper and there was an ad for an LPN/MA to work in a surgery center, will train! INTRESTING! I would not have noticed that ad if not for you guys and your input.

Also, Liz, I had the same problem. The surgical tech program I could get into was over an hour away. The LPN program is 25 minutes and that worried me a great deal.

Great input, I thank you all! YOu gave me some insight and I"m now leaning towards the LPN program (as long as I can get in!:D) Before I was definatly leaning towards the Tech program and my husband and I were discussing the long drive, the miles on my car and of course, how much the fuel would cost!

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Specializes in LTAC, Wound Care, Case Management.

Good Luck to you greenie. Keep us posted!

:yeah:

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In response to Remrimsgems, you may find by looking at some of the ads in your local paper or at some of your local hospital websites that some hospitals or surgical centers will train an LPN to become a surg. tech, just like Greenie discovered in her newspaper.

It seems to depend on what the hospitals/centers are willing to accept. And the local rules and trends will govern, also.

Liz

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LVN/LPN definately!!! The pay can be roughly about the same if not more as an LVN/LPN. Also, there is so much more you can do with nursing!!! :)

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Specializes in cardiac, LTC, postpartum.

Hello everyone, here in Chicago there are no hospitals that hire LPNs. I considered this route as well until I learned many of the LPN positions are hiring medical assistants or cna's to fill the job. I personally am looking for less bed side care so I have choosen to apply for the surgical tech program this fall. A close friend of mine just graduated at a local college and out of school she was offered a job starting base pay 17.00 an hour. Not too shabby!!! Good luck with your choices! I'm so exicted and I hope I get in to the program!!! :redbeathe :loveya::up:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
A close friend of mine just graduated at a local college and out of school she was offered a job starting base pay 17.00 an hour. Not too shabby!!!
For a major city with a high COL (cost of living), $17 hourly is a very shabby pay rate for all the responsibilities you must assume as a surgical technician. CNAs in some cities get paid similarly to that, but with a heck of a lot less stress.
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Up here a surgical tech is an LPN with post grad education. They start at over $19/hr and end up at $26/hr. The new contract apparantely will give them a 15% rise the first year and they will top out at just under $40/hr. The contract is currently being voted on.

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I am a surgical tech and i will try to explain the options that i dealth with when i picked my career. #1. age and flexibilty- if you work as a tech in a speciality such as gi-lab(which we do) surgi center(no weekends and no call norm 9a-4p and no holidays) However in the OR( depending where you work you will take call or have to work weekend however it is not always mandatory. Your responsibitly and patient interaction is simple. As for an LPN you will have more challenges mentally and physically in order to perform at the same pace with your peers. The income is alomost the same however you will start at base pay because it goes on the amount of experience. The other element is your retirement, dont get a stressful job to work yourself into a grave.....at least thats what my mom tells me. so here was my plan, at 19 i did a 9mth surgical tech program , then i choose to do my extern with gift of life organ procurment- my salary was around 50,000. I quit at 21 and started to travel as a surgical tech and on average with overtime i hit about 70,000. I did that until i was 25 moved to delaware (huge pay cut)worked at chritiana as a endoscopic tech that was about 42,000 now im 27 back in philly and im at 47,000. so weigh your options. i did !

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