Changing Departments

[mgalloLPN]

i haven't started nursing school yet but hope to do so soon. how easy is it to change departments if you get bored or stressed out with one department? i really want to do ob, surg, nicu, and er. is it possible to try all of them and see which one fits me better?

also, is lpn school a little easier than rn school? i am starting as lpn because i don't have time time go all the way to rn at this time. i do want to go back and get my rn eventually. maybe through an online program.

i am so excited and cannot wait to be a nurse!

[nursesaideBen]

To be perfectly honest, you're probably not going to be able to work in the more specialized units such as NICU, PICU, etc as an LPN. It's difficult enough to get on a Med/Surg floor as an LPN. However, becoming an LPN is a great stepping stone to becoming an RN which is where you'd have the opprutunity to work in those units. Good luck!

[Hoping LVN2BSN]

I don't know about LPN school being easier to US, since this is usually a first stop to an RN program, it seems hard at first, more like overwhelming. I think once we move on to an RN program we would have been in the mix of things for a couple yearss and know what to expect. I think they are differently difficult. Where in LPN school your creating a base and RN expanding on it.

[Fiona59]

During your time in clinicals you'll be exposed to different areas of nursing. In my province PN's don't work in any level ICU, some do L&D in rural areas, we do public health and emergency.

So by the time you graduate, you will have an idea of what areas appeal to you. I discovered that I would never work Peds ever. Between small children and over anxious mothers to stabbed teenagers, no thanks. I'll stick to adults or school settings.

The thing is research your area. Up here the health authorities are all unionized. Once you are in the system, the world is your oyster, if you have seniority, experience, or show willingness to learn and be flexible, you can try anything.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I really want to do OB, surg, NICU, and ER. Is it possible to try all of them and see which one fits me better

Perhaps you should carefully research your local job market for LPNs. I have seen LPNs find hospital positions in med-surg, day surgery, and psychiatric nursing. However, it is extremely rare to see LPNs working in the NICU, emergency department, and labor & delivery in this day and age since these specialty positions almost always are worked by RNs.

It would be a disservice to tell you otherwise.