LPNs with a Diploma vs LPNs with an Associate's Degree

Nurses LPN/LVN

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andreasmom02

372 Posts

I am an LPN with an associates degree. I got my LPN through a local community college. The way that college's nursing program works, you work on your associate degree in nursing until you become an LPN. Once you've taken all of the classes to be an LPN, you can exit the program & get your LPN license, or take two more semesters of nursing and become an RN. I had a small child while in nursing school... So after I got my LPN, I exited the program. I only need two more semesters to be an RN. I hope to go back in the near future and get my RN... I think having an associates opens more "doors" in nursing & other careers if you didn't want to stay in nursing.

2ndcareerchange

157 Posts

oh, thanks for explaining that. What is your associates in? I thought the associates was for the RN, not the LPN. My program is accredited thru our community colleges, I have 42 credits and need 26 more for my ADN so I can also go for two more semesters for my RN but I have to go in full time, (we dont have any parttime State programs) and there is only one evening program in the State. Also you have to wait until your class catches up to you. So if I got in to the Fall 2011 class, i would not be in class with my mates until Fall 2012. But I am going to gather up my credit and get a general studies associates, just for now.

andreasmom02

372 Posts

Sorry for the confusion... My associates will be in Registered nursing. I technically need 2 more semesters to "completely" have the associates. Since I exited the program early, I have a diploma at the moment. But have taken all classes to be an RN, except the final 2 nursing classes my college requires to be an RN. Should have been more clear on that. I guess I should have said "will have" my associates! lol

HazelLPN, LPN

492 Posts

Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.
I have seen similar postings where they are asking for an associates degree. I am not sure if the HR person who is posting the job has any idea of what they are asking for or its the new thing to see if you have an associates degree as well. But it has been a common theme during this lagging job market. Also I have seen postings for an LPN II?? what is that?? Are their different levels of LPN or is it again an HR person who has no medical background posting these things?? The jobs didnt read any different then just the "LPN" jobs. Just curious....

Several years ago an LPN II in my hospital meant that they could give medications while the LPN I could not. Years ago, some LPN schools did not teach pharmocology (mine did) and thoes LPNs who graduated from thoes schools had to take additional classes and then pass a state med test. We also had an LPN III position for a while which meant the the LPN could give IV meds. By the mid 1990s all of the LPNs working in the hospital were LPN IIIs, and we dropped the roman numeral system sometime in the late 1990s. I would find it very hard to believe if there are many LPNs still in practice who can not give any medications, so perhaps the roman numerals mean something different in your state.

Best to you,

Mrs H

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