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Please help!!! LPN or RT???



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Sep 14, 2006 09:06 PM

Please help!!! LPN or RT???


I really need help!!!

I have came to a crossroad and really need help with deciding.

I have the the oppertunity to either go to Respiratory Therapy school or enter a LPN program.

The RT program is 16 months and then additional 24wks to become a RRT.

The LPN program is 13 months and then I would "hope" to bridge over into the RN program. This would he a way I could "hope" to get into a RN program eventually and also be able to work.

Any advice would be appericated!!! I really need it

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16 Comments
No. 1
from dconnors
Old Sep 14, 2006, 09:39 PM

Default Re: Please help!!! LPN or RT???
I am so there in that boat with you.
Good luck in your decision.
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No. 2
from Coloradogrl
Old Sep 14, 2006, 10:01 PM

Default Re: Please help!!! LPN or RT???
Originally Posted by dconnors
I am so there in that boat with you.
Good luck in your decision.
If you dont mind me asking what are you leaning towards?
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No. 3
from jamangel
Old Sep 15, 2006, 12:07 AM

Default Please help!!! LPN or RT???
You know I would suggest that you do RT which I believe is at least an Associates degree. At least you may have a good bit of that core out of the way and you can do RN afterwards. Personally, I always encourage people away from LPN unless they just want to be a LPN. If RN is your dream don't baby step it by doing LPN first . Just an opinion .
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No. 4
from Coloradogrl
Old Sep 15, 2006, 01:07 AM

Default Re: Please help!!! LPN or RT???
Originally Posted by jamangel
You know I would suggest that you do RT which I believe is at least an Associates degree. At least you may have a good bit of that core out of the way and you can do RN afterwards. Personally, I always encourage people away from LPN unless they just want to be a LPN. If RN is your dream don't baby step it by doing LPN first . Just an opinion .
Thanks so much Yes, RT is a assoicates, but I have to ask you why you discourage people from going for LPN.
I would love blunt honest answers....I need it at this point in my decision process!!!
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No. 5
from dconnors
Old Sep 15, 2006, 06:56 AM

Default Re: Please help!!! LPN or RT???
I think I am leaning towards LPN simply because there seems to be more jobs and because it is a step in the direction I really want to end up which is L&D and pre/postnatal. I think if I get the LPN out of the way, I can work Part time and then take LPN to RN classes online or get into a bridge program. I am so confused about this...and classes start in less than a month.

What about you?
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No. 6
from Jules A
Old Sep 15, 2006, 12:46 PM

Default Re: Please help!!! LPN or RT???
Originally Posted by jamangel
You know I would suggest that you do RT which I believe is at least an Associates degree. At least you may have a good bit of that core out of the way and you can do RN afterwards. Personally, I always encourage people away from LPN unless they just want to be a LPN. If RN is your dream don't baby step it by doing LPN first . Just an opinion .
I wonder just how much transfers over with the associates in RT? It might be just as long to go from RT to RN as from LPN to RN. As an LPN I have almost all the pre-reqs done for the RN program anyway and so its only 2 semesters to bridge. I have zero regrets about doing LPN first especially because with RT you are limited to RT and with nursing there are almost unlimited opportunities.
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No. 7
from TheCommuter
Old Sep 15, 2006, 08:01 PM

Default Re: Please help!!! LPN or RT???
RT jobs tend to pay more than LPN jobs; however, there tends to be more nursing jobs available. If your goal is to become a nurse, why are you going to veer off the path by becoming a respiratory therapist first? It doesn't make a great deal of sense, unless you want to become a pulmonary nurse and would like the respiratory experience.
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No. 8
from Coloradogrl
Old Sep 15, 2006, 08:41 PM

Default Re: Please help!!! LPN or RT???
Originally Posted by TheCommuter
RT jobs tend to pay more than LPN jobs; however, there tends to be more nursing jobs available. If your goal is to become a nurse, why are you going to veer off the path by becoming a respiratory therapist first? It doesn't make a great deal of sense, unless you want to become a pulmonary nurse and would like the respiratory experience.
Your absoultey right I orginally was going to go in respiratory therapy because there really wasnt any waitlist and it was on "some levels" quick and easy at 22 months. Before I moved to Denver I didnt really know there was any LPN programs and I really didnt know to much about bridging over to RN. I thought it was on some levels "all or nothing"

I know that making a dollar or to more a hour isnt a big deal if I am doing what I want as a career and that is begin a

Side note....RT's can make 22 and even more when doing per deim but they are for the most of a time from 17-21 a hour(at least to start) they dont ever get to RN level or even close unless they are in a very special situation
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No. 9
from RN_2b_thatsme
Old Sep 15, 2006, 08:56 PM

Default Re: Please help!!! LPN or RT???
If I was you, I would check with your local hospital and see if you can follow a RT and LPN for a shift or a few hours to get an idea of what each of them do. When I was in nursing school, during clinicals I had the chance to follow RT and I found it very exilerating. They really do have quite the job. It is focused of course on the respiratory system, but there is a lot to what they need to know. I think you would get a better idea of which way to go or which way feels best to you.
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