advice please! stay in BN program or switch to LPN i have two weeks!

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Hi everyone. I have been making posts over the past couple of years looking for advice, and here I am again with some more questions. Okay so I am in a BN program in Canada to become an RN. It is my second degree, (sort of my third) and I am pretty exhausted. I love the program, and I really think Nursing is the right thing for me! I am still planning to pursue my other career and do both part time, i worked VERY hard to earn my first degree, and am kind of coming to the conclusion that I may have to give it up to pursue a bachelors in Nursing. There is an LPN program part time where I live that would allow me to pursue both at once, and I have heard it is a very good program too. So here are my questions:

1. I know many LPNs say their employers won't let them practice to full scope, is this true? that would drive me crazy....

2. Can Canadian LPNs get hired in the states? I have been desperate to move somewhere warm (Florida, Hawaii, ANYWHERE thats not 50 below 6 months a year) since I was a small child and this is very important to me

3. I keep reading these posts about phasing out LPNs in the states, please tell me if this is a real concern becuase I am not knowledgeable on the topic and just sincerely want to know

4. Is the scope of practice different in the U.S. than Canada? I know LPNs here do alot and there seems to be many jobs posted all of hte time for both LPN and RN in a wide variety of settings. People have been discouraging me to switch programs and I am actually getting a bit upset because I think many people (students) are just very uneducated about the role of an LPN

I really appreciate any input! Like i said, I seriously need to find my warm sunny beach soon and I need to know if being a Canadian LPN graduate can get me there. I have two weeks to decide what im doing. help! thanks!

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.

I think this is a big decision that you need to decide on your own. Make a list, pros on one side, cons on the other. See which list is the longest and go from there.

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I have! Its pretty even right now, lots of pros and some cons to both. I know the bridge program through AU is always an option later, and i looked through it right down to all credits and truthfully its not that much more work than doing your bachelor's right off the bat, regardless of other people saying it is. Adds up to about the same doing BN or LPN-BN bridge. But, yeah I really see so many pros with both. I do feel though at age 25 I do need to start enjoying my life a little bit more with my husband, make some decent money, travel a bit, and being in school full time for 4 moe years is not feeling overly realistic but,,it's the moving to the states that is the big factor too...

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Specializes in Cardiovascular, ER.

I would recommend (if you know what states you are interested in) looking online for jobs there, LPN vs RN. See which has more openings and let that guide your decision.

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Specializes in SRNA.

Just my two cents about my experience with LPNs I've only worked in Nevada and Washington state and in the two communities I've been employed in, LPNs are not employed in hospital settings. They are employed in long term care facilities/nursing homes, and the dept. of corrections hires LPNs to work at our local prison. There is also a large difference in pay of at least $10-15/hr.

As far as whether or not an LPN can work in the US with Canadian training, you ought to find out for sure before making the change if you're ultimate goal is to live in the US. It'd be a shame to see your training go to waste.

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