Is it worth going to school for LPN (2014)?

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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I went to register for the LPN course that starts in fall, but the one of the women there told me that LPN aren't in demand and I'll have a hard time finding a job and if I do, I won't make much. But another said that it wasn't true. Am I going into a field thats not in demand and has a dead end? I they're any new LPN's can you share your experience and your start off pay??

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Specializes in Peds PDN, Med-surg.

It depends on your situation and also the area where you live. I chose to go to school for LPN because I could start right away so no waiting list unlike the RN programs in my area and I wanted something quick so I could start working soon. I don't regret it at all. I think being an LPN before becoming an RN gives you a good nursing foundation. As far as jobs, research it a little in your area. I got licensed in March and started my first job last week. I've had 3 job offers, I took the one closest to home but during my job search I applied anywhere and everywhere. My pay is 18 an hour with night differential. Oh and I live in beautiful Colorado :geek:

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I am a new grad and it took me 3 months to land a job. It is hard and frustrating but you have to be persistent. The job demand and pay depends on where you live and varies from facility to facility. If Lpn is the route you want to go, don't let others discourage you. I don't regret it one bit. and like the above comment, i think it is a good nursing foundation before going towards your RN. Good luck.

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I live in Florida & it took me exactly like 1 day from the time I started lookin to find a job...I think the hardest part is finding a place that will be "new nurse friendly" I make like $17 hourly

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Specializes in Allergy and Immunology.

Apparently they have said LPNs would be fazed out totally long time ago, and that still has not happened. They mostly have been fazed out of acute care or hospitals. But long term care will need LPNs. It took me about 2 months after passing NCLEX-PN to find a job back in 2009. It was at a Detox facility paying $19 an hour in MN. I also worked at a clinic as an LPN making about $15 and have now as of Feb. 2013 been working as an RN at the same clinic, I got a pay raise but not as much as I would be making elsewhere. Its ok for now. So like others have said, it depends on your area, so do a little research.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

In my area, an LPN will basically find work in LTC and that's about it. LPNs are being phased out of hospitals. If LTC doesn't appeal to you...you wouldn't want to be an LPN around here.

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i have to agree. it depends on a lot , personal goals, financials,family support, geographic-es , personally i think that nursing is a career not a job ! very few people go through nursing school and then decide not to be a nurse, i'm a new LPN i waited 9 months to get into LPN school after years of waiting for RN. i have no regrets! more nurses tell me that, the BEST nurses are the ones, that are LPNs first, because, you really need to take that first year and understand nursing. The job of a nurse, is nothing like going to school. Many RNs are lost when it comes to their skills ! and cant keep up with the stress and pace of the job. These are things that a nurse must master in that first year ! learning hope to cope with the job, time management is very important. The only thing worse then studying for one 1 year, working you butt, is working your butt off, for 2 years to start a job you don't love. Visit nursing homes, go out and talk to actual LPNs and RNs, Just this week, i started my first job as an LPN nurse, 6 months after i passed my boards. Getting that first job is very hard, for most of us ! It is true LPN are being phased out of hospitals, many LPN work in long term care facilities, assisted living facilities,nursing homes, doctors offices, so there is work out there ! LPN to RN programs are not as difficult and many nurses i talk to generally breeze through it, there isn't much difference from the two titles. Read my article called, What would you do Rookie! you'd like it ! hope this helps !

P.S the pay is the most per hour i have ever received, when you look at it like that, it will be great no matter what you get and only adds to it when you want to go for RN !

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Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

In my area LPNs are in demand in LTC, hospice, home health, clinics, in some hospitals on med/surg floors, as medication reconciliation nurses, assisted living, admissions, pre-cert. nurses...It does totally depend on your geographic location.

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Hello I'm an LVN (same thing as LPN ;)) in California and graduated in December 2012, and personally since I was already working in a psychiatric facility it took a month to start working as an LVN but most of my classmates took almost a year to land their first job and some of them haven't been able to find a job till this day, I guess it does depend on your location and how hard you tried to find a job, when I passed my boards I applied at 36 different places and had no calls :(. My started hourly pay was $23.19. I guess as soon as you find a job you will feel that is worth it getting your license don't give up and FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.

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I was told the same thing, but then I did a job search for LPN in my area and a TON came up. I am confident I will be able to find a job, even if my first job is not my "dream job". I have to work as an LPN for one year before I can apply to the LPN/BSN bridge program. That year will give me enough time to get all of the non-nursing classes done for the BSN program...History, ethics, math...

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I am in middle TN and there are lots of LPN jobs here. LTC, corrections, clinics, public schools, etc. I have a friend who is an LPN in a state prison and he started out at $18/hr. I just accepted a position in a VA clinic and will be making almost $17/hr, with no nights, weekends, holidays, or call.

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It depends on your area and what you want to do. Search LPN job advertisements or even LPN job statistics in your area. If you are only interested in a certain type of job that LPNs in your area can't get, it's not worth it.

However if you want to work in a field that hires a lot of LPNs that's a different story. I like LTC and in my area, the LTC facilities I would be interested in hire lots of LPNs and maybe one RN at a time. So obviously it's worth it to me. Once again, this depends on your area and field, but my mom (an RN) said around here the difference in starting pay for new grad LPNs and ASN RNs isn't that big.

Nursing schools can be difficult to get into with waiting lists, so it may be faster to do an LPN to RN bridge.

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