Is it possible to work as a practical nurse once I finish my ADN degree?

Nurses General Nursing

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As a child, I always wanted to be like the nurses in my pediatric doctor's office.

Is it possible for me to pursue this after receiving my ADN?

What jobs are available for people with an ADN?

RNs with ADNs can work in a lot of different places. Depending on the part of the country, and ADN can go into management.

By practical nurse, do you mean LPN? You can't work as an LPN unless you take LPN boards- but if you're going through an ADN program, I don't understand 'practical nurse'....:confused:

Do you mean an office nurse? Office nurses can be LPNs or RNs- depending on the preference of the office/company you work for. :)

RNs with ADNs can work in a lot of different places. Depending on the part of the country, and ADN can go into management.

By practical nurse, do you mean LPN? You can't work as an LPN unless you take LPN boards- but if you're going through an ADN program, I don't understand 'practical nurse'....:confused:

Do you mean an office nurse? Office nurses can be LPNs or RNs- depending on the preference of the office/company you work for. :)

SORRY!! I'm very new to this. and yes, I suppose I meant LPN.

I was just wondering what I would need to do after my ADN to be able to work in a pediatric office doing things like taking vitals... etc. I'm not exactly sure what degree I would need for that.

RNs take vitals in many MD offices. Many MD offices hire primarily RNs- some have LPNs (or LVNs depending on which part of the country you're in). LPNs do not have degrees. It's specific training for practical nursing. But they have their own state boards that are not the same as RN boards (ADN, diploma, or 4-year university take the same RN boards).

You might want to talk to one of the career counselors at a local community college to get more info on what is available, and what you really want.

All you'd have to do after ADN classes/graduation is pass boards, and get hired in a peds office :) As an RN, you have a lot of options. :)

thank you so much! you're the nicest person that has helped me on here!

Thank you- keep asking questions :)

Specializes in SICU.

ADN or BSN = RN you can work anywhere that will hire you

LPN = certificate --> you can work anywhere that will hire you

Specializes in ICU.

If your goal is to work in a Dr.'s office you really need to look at an LPN program. It is only 3 semesters compared to 5 for RN. In my area Dr.'s do not typically hire RN's in their office because everything that can be done in an office can be done by a lower paid LPN. One other thing you may want to consider is LPN's start out at approx $13 hr. while RN's start at approx $22. This also is in my area. Here LPN's are limited to a Dr's office and a nursing home. They do not hire LPN's at hospitals anymore.

Specializes in Emergency Department.
ADN or BSN = RN you can work anywhere that will hire you

LPN = certificate --> you can work anywhere that will hire you

I live in the Bay area of California, and I actually just received my ADN from an LVN program...when I started my CC back in fall of 2006 after I graduated high school, my CC offered an Associates in Liscensed Vocational Nursing. I just graduated from my program in May and received my ADN. My school doesn't offer it anymore, only if you declared your major lvn before 2007.

Right, my goal is to get my ADN.. I have already started the process.

However, there is a lot of rumor that the hospital I was planning to work at only hires BSN. So i was hoping to maybe work in a Dr.'s office part time while completing a RN-BSN program..

It's all really confusing to me and I'm just trying to map out my education in advance so that when I finally finish my ADN I know what to do next and I have an actual plan to follow.

"LPNs do not have degrees" is not an accurate statement. Neither is "LPN=certificate". Not all the time anyway. I went to a two year associates degree in nursing program for my LPN. Lots and lots of LPNs have associates degrees. Just wanted to clear that up.

If you get your Associate's Degree, you have many more options work-wise than if you get your LPN degree.

One thing you may run into is that more and more doctor's offices and clinics are hiring MAs and LPNs at a much lower pay rate than RNs. While a high-end practice with specialty docs might use RNs, many of the primary care practices just use MAs and LPNs. They do this to save money.

If you want to work in a primary care kind of clinic, be prepared to accept lower pay than if you worked in a hospital or other facility. I don't want to discourage you. It can be done. Just know that good, decent-paying positions are not that easy to come by.

Best wishes with your endeavors. :up:

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