Become An Lpn First Or Surgical Tech Then Finnally Become An Rn?

Nurses General Nursing

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I Have Been Having A Difficult Time Trying To Decide If I Want To Become A Lpn Or A Surgical Tech. I Eventually Want To Become An Rn, But I Need To Earn Some Decent Money Asap. Then Since I Would Be Financally Stable It Would Be No Prob For Me To Pay Bills, And Pay For Rn School. I Also Want To Work In The Er As A Registered Nurse, But I Have Heard Hospitals Rarely Put New Rn's Into The Er. I Feel That Becomeing A Surgical Tech I Would Learn Invaulable Skills In The Er And Be Way Ahead Of Other Rn's. But If I Become An Lpn It Would Only Take Me A Year To Become An Rn, But I Prob Wouldnt Be Abe To Work In The Er? I Would Hate Working In A Nursing Home. Im A Person Who Gets Bored Easily. I Like Going To Work Not Knowing What To Expect And The Er Would Be A Great Place For Me. Im So Confused Lol. Any Suggestions?

Crux1024

985 Posts

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

If your ultimate goal is RN, I would start out as an LPN. I am a surgical tech. And in deciding to go to Nursing school, I had to start at the very beginning and take the 2 years of classes and clinicals. The LPN's were able to transition into the class and only take the last year of lecture and clinicals.

Also, being a surgical tech does have its advantages, but it wont put you "way ahead" of everyone else. Also a surgical tech works in the OR, NOT the ER..theres a big difference. Some of the stuff is helpful and, and you will use the knowledge you acquire, but theyre two different worlds.

Working in the ER as a new nurse depends on the hospital. Some hire new and some dont. Whether you graduate nursing school from being an LPN or an ST, you will still be a new RN, and if the hospital doesnt hire new, youre still going to have to start out somewhere else.

Good Luck with whatever you decide.

LPN programs within schools with an RN program provide a smooth transition to becoming an RN. If becoming an RN is your goal I would get my LPN at a school that has an RN program or an agreement with other schools so it would be as seamless as possible... many schools also have p/t programs after you get your LPN so you can work and attend school p/t in order to get your RN license - ADN degree.

sunray12

637 Posts

I think lpn would be the straightest path to RN while Surgical Tech would be the scenic route. It just depends on which one you want to take. As for the question of new grad RN's in the ER - that seems to be a regional thing. Hospitals in my area have new grad programs for ER so it does happen.

Midwest4me

1,007 Posts

Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

Go the LPN route; it will give you actual nursing experience which will be a plus when you apply for RN jobs. By the way, as an LPN you don't HAVE to work in a nursing home. Doctors' clinics, dialysis centers, home health care agencies all hire LPNs.

RFWB

61 Posts

Specializes in LTAC, Med/Surg..

I agree with the above posters, getting your LPN would be a smarter transition step, if only for the fact that it will give you a basis in nursing theory and skills and also give you a chance to experience nursing and see if it's right for you before you go on for your RN.

Some other thoughts - I'm a new grad LPN. I work in a "nursing home" - meaning I work in long term care. The trend in many LT facilities, however, is a much more acute patient - there is some serious care given in my facility. We have a high ratio of skilled patients, and even the unskilled ones are not a walk in the park. I get LOTS of experience with wound care, and I've performed just about every procedure I was taught to perform already in my first two months. I'm learning daily. As far as I can tell, I'm using almost the same set of skills in the nursing home that i would expect to use in a hospital (although maybe on a different scale), except caring for MANY more patients and having to really develop my time management skills. It's rare that I have a "boring" day, and after a few hectic nights in a row, on the rare occasion when I have a quiet night (you say "boring", I say "quiet"!) I'm grateful for it. Maybe when I have more experience I feel like I need more challenge, but just starting out as a new nurse, I feel plenty challenged right where I'm at. In short, nursing homes (which AREN'T the only options out there for PN's, btw) don't have to be "boring".

RFWB

61 Posts

Specializes in LTAC, Med/Surg..

ohhhh.....and another point.....i don't know about your area, but at least in my area (metro cleveland), you're more likely to make significantly more money as an LPN than as a surg. tech. If you aren't partial to what shift you want, you can really clean up. I nabbed $23/hr, fresh out of school. This is working 3rd shift and every weekend....but I wanted 3rd shift anyways and with the weekend program I'm full-time only working 3 days a week, so it's perfectly fine with me. It's also a perfect schedule for me to go back to school for my RN should I choose to, and you're likely to get tuition assitance from your employer if you go back for your RN while onstaff as an LPN. You're less likely to find that arrangement as a surg. tech., and in my area at least, your hours are not likely to be as flexible.

Hope that helps. Good luck with whatever route you choose.

devon_2009

2 Posts

Wow! Thanks To Everyone For There Reply's. Looks Like I'll Be Taking The Lpn- Rn Path. I Never Thought A Nursing Home Could Offer Such Professional Experience And Excitement. I Though Most Nurses In Nursing Homes Just Sit At A Desk Most Of The Day Filling Out Paper Work And Calling Doctors Lol. Thanks For The Clarification. Also It Seems If I Look Into The Right Place I Could Make Some Decent Money Right Out Of School. Also The 3 Day Weekend Shift Doesn't Sound Bad At All.

adorblepuppy

218 Posts

Does anyone know how long a surgical tech has to go to school? That is something i won't mind doing. I do not want to go for rn or lpn. Just kinda getting my feet wet in the nursing field

Satori77, ADN

516 Posts

Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

I thought about surg tech. I think it would be fascinating and fun. But no, they don't make as much as lpn's (though with on-cal and shift differentials, they can make decent money, a friend of mine makes 50k a year). But if you eventually want to be an RN, LPN is the way to go. If you wanted to only be in the OR, then maybe going the surg tech route would be ok first, but you stated you wanted to b work in the ER. Also, if you can get some EMT training, you can probably work in the ER before getting your RN. Just a thought.

"Does anyone know how long a surgical tech has to go to school? That is something i won't mind doing. I do not want to go for rn or lpn. Just kinda getting my feet wet in the nursing field"

Anywhere from 9 months to 2 years. You can get a certificate or an associates (some of the pre reqs are the same for nursing school). Check out ast.com website, lots of great info. There is a discussion board as well. The members there are very helpful answering questions, many have been doing it for years.

stewiegriffin

28 Posts

I shadowed a RN in surgery one day. I'm still not sure what her duties were. She spent a lot of time sitting on a stool reading the newspaper & she never touched the patient once. She and the Doc did get into a couple arguements about equipment. She assured me, though, that she played an important role in advocating. Unfortunatley, she was never able to verbalize her duties to me. That was the hardest observation paper I ever had to write!

However, the Surgical Tech had an awesome job. Hands on, right beside the Doc, really involved. If I wanted to work in surgery, that's what I'd want to do.

I was told that at facilities without Surg Techs, the RN does that job.

This particular hospital runs its own Surg Tech program, so that may be why the Surg Techs were so on top of things. Anyway, I was impressed.

rrmitch2000

82 Posts

Hey RFWB --

I have read your posts and I would love your opinion. I am currently attending Tri-C for my nursing pre-reqs. I have only A and P 2 and micro left. It was my intention to enter their accelerated RN for those who already hold a bachelor's degree. For the generic track, I could apply now as soon as I take the NET.

Anyway, long story short....I am considering application to the LPN program as it is shorter and less expensive to obtain. I definitely want to finish an RN program one day, but I am becoming increasing nervous about doing so -- I have three young children and this past summer with BioChem and A and P 1 was a killer.

I wondered what you thought about the cleveland job market for lpn's right now -- seems a lot of hospital lpns are being laid off or no one is hiring new grads. My goal is to work in LTC nights -- this way I don't have to pay for childcare which is a fortune around here. Additionally, I am not sure I can pass the NET with a 80 percent on the math -- I can do the math, but not as fast as they want it done. Tri-c requires 80 percent on the math for the RN program and 50 percent for the LPN program. I think I can surely manage a 50 percent.

Any advice would be great....

Thanks in advance,

Becky

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