Hi, all. I was just wondering how many of you are really, truly happy being an LPN? I'm 28, and have been an LPN for 8 years now. I work in primary care, with super awesome hours, M-F, 8-430, no weekends/holidays. I have toyed with the idea of returning to school for my RN, but have realized that in my clinic (VA Medical Center,) the RN's don't do much hands on care. They sit behind a desk, and triage phone calls. For years, I wanted to go back to school and get my RN, just to have that title. The more I look into it, the more unappealing it seems to me. I love being hands on, but I don't want to be on a med cart on a hospital floor. I think if I did go back it would be solely money driven (as horrible as that sounds,) however, I am at the middle of the LPN pay scale ($24.80/hr), and I live pretty comfortably with that. It would take me 3 years starting this fall, and that's if I got into the actual program after my pre-reqs are done. I'm terribly indecisive. Just looking for stories from other, advice, or inspiration. Thanks :)
Thank you all for your stories/input. I have a lot of anxiety with how I am going to balance work, home, and school. I know it can be done. I do plan on taking as much as I can online so I can do it at my own pace. There is a community college about 2 hours away from me that does the LPN to ADN bridge all online, and you do clinicals at approved sites near your home every weekend. For now, I am just going to enroll in pre-reqs and get those started. Also, and I don't mean to offend anyone over 30, but I feel like anything I do after 30 makes me too old. I know it sounds irrational, but its just a personal thing I need to overcome! I should just keep my mouth shut because my wonderful mom went back for her LPN at 36, and finished at 38. She's 52 now, and never had a desire to go back for her RN.
I was 44 when I went back for the RN...had to. I could no longer find enough hours in my area when the economy went belly-up. Otherwise, I'd still be an LPN, too. Sometimes, unforeseen forces removes us from our comfort zone. And I tell you, with 24 years of LPN experience, I was really nice and tucked in. Then everything changed for me. If you're ok where you are, don't change unless you really want to.
Got my BS in Business at 25, never found a job. Became a CNA at age 27, LVN at 29, and now at 31 I'll be finishing RN school. I was a single mom until a year ago right before I started RN school. I don't feel "old" at all. For living in CA getting that RN is essentially. I only worked in LTC which was horrible (too many patients, too many meds and opportunities for errors) and home health (pay is just so low I'd get more as a CNA). I have a job I really like in Beverly Hills which I get paid well as an LVN but it's an hour away due to traffic. The RN responsibilities are more than an LVN as they act as the supervisor and do all the initial assessments and teachings. They'll have to delegate a lot of tasks to the CNA or LVN because they do have tons of paperwork. Of course, in the acute setting there aren't really any more LVNs unless it's a very tiny hospital. Having the RN means more job opportunities and better pay, but I'd you're comfortable where you are, there's no rush to get that RN. You may not get the opportunity later as some nursing schools require 78% to pass rather than 75% and NCLEX seems to get harder and more and more are adding exit exams you're required to pass before graduating. You can still work and go to school, it's doable.
I forgot to add I'm getting my ADN. I already applied to RN-BSN programs, but I probably won't start until next year because I need $$$ to pay for it lol.
I have been licensed in the state of California for 3 years now as an LVN and I had to start out in home health care. I work for a home health company that specializes in pediatric care but I try to get clients that are over the age of 18 years old, I feel like I have a better chance using my skills in home health because I get patients with gtubes, trachs, and ventilators. The problem I run into is keeping clients because it is like match making and scenarios that the families may be in like insurance wise or discrimination because in the hospital patients take what ever nurse that is giving them care but the real truth comes out doing home health. I can agree that having an RN license will take you further when it comes to having job in the speciality that you choose because to many LVN's in California have limited options that include nursing homes, home health, and urgent care clinics.
NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN
2,690 Posts
I was 44 when I went back for the RN...had to. I could no longer find enough hours in my area when the economy went belly-up. Otherwise, I'd still be an LPN, too. Sometimes, unforeseen forces removes us from our comfort zone. And I tell you, with 24 years of LPN experience, I was really nice and tucked in. Then everything changed for me. If you're ok where you are, don't change unless you really want to.