is becoming an LPN a mistake?!

[hn7201]

Hi, I am a canadian High School student, interested in becoming a LPN and want to know a little bit more of the life of a current LPN... Some questions I have is, how are your working hours? I heard that they're insane and that you never have time for yourself/family/friends. Do you feel that you are you looked down upon in the health care community? and how is the salary? and your work placements? because i want to work in a hospital, but I'm thinking about the future, because i heard that hospitals aren't hiring LPNs anymore:(

[Aunt Slappy]

If hospital is your goal, then pursue a BSN or whatever the Canadian equivalent is, because that is what hospitals want. As to hours, I actually felt I had a pretty decent work/life balance when I worked three 12s per week. I now work M-F with weekends and holidays off, and that has its own set of challenges but with older kids who go to school and are involved in activities, it works out okay for us.

Stress is job dependent. I've had jobs that tore up my stomach, some that offered reasonable support along with a fair amount of stress, and now one that is super low stress. You just need to decide what you can accept and what you can't, and that will be a learning process for you.

I don't think becoming a LPN is a mistake (obviously), but make sure it aligns with your goals.