What's better: Nurse Extern or LPN???

[CrazyPremed]

Hey folks,

In my area - after year one - a nursing student can take the LPN boards or work as a nurse extern while finishing nursing school. Some people recommend the LPN, and work on med-surg. Then, when you graduate (as a new grad nurse), you'll have a year of med-surg under your belt (as an LPN). Others say, 'find the area that you want to work in and get an extern job. Then (especially if it is a unit hard on new grads, ER, ICU, etc.) you'll have better experience as a new grad.'

What do you guys think?

CrazyPremed

[nursebearfeet]

choose carefully and find out your facts. lpns at my hospital can start iv's, give push meds, do conscious sedation, dressings, caths, ect. their scope of practice is very close to the rn, and the money is decent. either way, the final stop is the same. just find out which will give you the best experience. remember, there is a social difference between the two, it may be a great experience for you to understand from the lpn's point of view. it will help you be a kinder rn, not that you wouldn't be anyway!

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

choose carefully and find out your facts. lpns at my hospital can start iv's, give push meds, do conscious sedation, dressings, caths, ect.

wow! where i work, only icu rns can perform conscious sedation!

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

?????????

do conscious sedation

[nitesky83]

Do the LPN. I am a nurse extern and I have to work under the nurse. U basically shadow them. LPN is closer to the RN role...

[smk1, LPN]

Hey folks,

In my area - after year one - a nursing student can take the LPN boards or work as a nurse extern while finishing nursing school. Some people recommend the LPN, and work on med-surg. Then, when you graduate (as a new grad nurse), you'll have a year of med-surg under your belt (as an LPN). Others say, 'find the area that you want to work in and get an extern job. Then (especially if it is a unit hard on new grads, ER, ICU, etc.) you'll have better experience as a new grad.'

What do you guys think?

CrazyPremed

I would say extern if you won't be working long, because you have to pay to take the test for LPN, and licensing. Depending on the pay difference and the amount of time you have to work, it may not be worth it to go through the hassle of getting licensed.

[destiny5]

?????????

You never know what different facilities allow their LPN's to do. I know that I was told that LPN's can't give IV-push meds or start/hang blood by instructors but they do at the hospital I use to work at. The only difference I saw at my hospital was that the charge nurse had to sign off on LPN's documentation and the $$$$$$.-- $8.00 an hour less on average. I never knew who the LPN's or the RN's were because they did exactly the same thing. Right or Wrong---it happens.

[rayofsunshine]

I live in Maryland and I'm working in as a Nurse Extern. The LPN's at our hospital have the same job description as a tech. They don't give any kind of meds and are responsible for am care, answering call bells, and duties like that. As a extern, I shadow a RN. I'm basically performing all of the duties of a RN. It has been a great experience. I graduate this May and know that I'm going to have much more confidence because of this externship!!!