Have been told LPN BAD idea

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I have been told by several people that LPN degree is basically useless now and that it would only offer me the option of working in a nursing home and that the pay is horrible. I can't change my current work schedule and don;t know if I could pass a full time AS or BSN program. Any advice would be fantastic at this point as I'm feeling rather discouraged.

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What area are you living in? In some places, LPN is very marketable ....not so much in others.

What age range are you in? What are your financial circumstances like? What are you doing for work right now? How competitive would you be as an applicant for various nursing programs in your area?

...all things to consider.

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I live in NJ. I'm currently a computer operator but the field is being fazed out so I needed a career change. I am 45 and have a mortgage so mobility is not an option. I make around $50000 now and we are just getting by. I thought about mri tech by need insurance and heard most jobs were per diem now

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vspaniel said:
I live in NJ. I'm currently a computer operator but the field is being fazed out so I needed a career change. I am 45 and have a mortgage so mobility is not an option. I make around $50000 now and we are just getting by. I thought about mri tech by need insurance and heard most jobs were per diem now

You are on the opposite end of the country as me, so hopefully someone in your area will chime in.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

You won't likely make more than 50,000 as an LPN, especially as a new grad. Will you also have loans? Taking on debt may not be worth the return investment.

It depends what the salaries and job prospects are in your area.

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You are correct. Don't do it. LPN's don't make much in NJ ($18-$28). RN's make an average of $37 per hour.

New Jersey - May 2013 OES State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

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I am bridging LPN to RN, it is essentially 90% review. Do not enter an LPN program because you are looking for something less demanding, because it is not. I was in school 3-5 days a week, then attended clinicals 1-2 days a week. Nursing school is intended to challenge you, even the LPN program.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I spent the first four years of my nursing career as an LPN and it has served as my foundation. LPNs in your geographic region work in LTC, rehab, methadone clinics, jails, psych, private duty, home health, group homes, assisted living, and so forth.

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Being an LPN is not a waste of time. And you can make money as an LPN. I know, I've made no less than $76,000/yr. I even had two years where I pulled in 6 figures. And there are plent of areas for LPNs to work other than nursing homes. Because I am back in school for my RN, I returned to peds private duty so that I can work all the hours that I want and still be able to study. I am certified in wound care and vents. I've worked at the county jail, visiting nurse, hospice nurse, and clinics. You get out of it what you put into it. And despite what some will have you to believe, LPNs are not being phased out anytime soon. How do I ask, let's ask the RNs how many of them think that they're too good to work any place else other than a hospital or in a position that is behind a desk, dictating orders. Somebody has to do what too many RNs won't do. Go get your license and don't let anyone discourage you from doing so.

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Do you mind if I ask what part of the country you are in?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

My experience was similar to LaDeeBug28. I made enough money during my LPN years to pay my oldest son's college tuition out-of-pocket. I did this by working as an agency nurse who was accepting assignments in hospitals, nursing homes, home health vent-case assignments, visiting nurses, etc. But, I was working 16-hour days (leaving one 8-hour assignment and reporting to the next) before finally heading home.

You have to have experience and not be afraid to learn new things. Sometimes that might mean traveling to wherever is the case is that has the need. Some people would have you to believe that there is nothing around for LPNs when the fact may be that they were willing to drive any further than 10 miles from the house. Your financial needs and goals will contribute greatly to how much profit there is for you as an LPN. It was great that my assignments were in the next county over; that made it easy to line up the hours that I needed. But my 12-hour hospital assignments were sometimes 60-80 miles away. The daily and weekly pay made it all worthwhile.

After the last of my three kids graduated high school and were no longer in need of my assistance, I began to take a CLEP exam here and there over the years because it really was not in my plans to become an RN, but ultimately ended up in an online LPN-RN bridge program, which I completed in 10 months, 6 years ago. Most LPN-RN community programs are no more than a year in length, anyway. So, if you want to become an LPN, do so. Becoming an LPN does not mean that you would have to remain an LPN. Having a nursing license, period, opens many doors in areas that are rarely, if ever, phased out.

One more thing, you will find that the experience as a new-grad LPN are very similar to that of the new-grad RN (ASN & BSN) when it comes to finding a job: most employers want nurses with experience (at least 1 or 2 years)...totally disregarding the fact that nursing schools do not produce experienced pre-licensure graduate nurses ever.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
vspaniel said:
I live in NJ. I'm currently a computer operator but the field is being fazed out so I needed a career change. I am 45 and have a mortgage so mobility is not an option. I make around $50000 now and we are just getting by. I thought about mri tech by need insurance and heard most jobs were per diem now

I live in NJ. Ordinarily I tell people to absolutely go for the LPN if they lack confidence about RN prereqs, or need to make money faster. I know quite a few LPNs. But in your case, I am reticent because you will likely not make more than 50k to start. You will start around 20-21/hr here in South Jersey. I don't think it is much better in North Jersey, even though cost of living is higher up there. With overtime, you could maybe get to your 50k mark in the first year, but it would be close.

Initially you would be taking a pay cut and then would work up to getting on par with your current salary in 5 years or so.

If you absolutely hate computers and want to get into nursing it would not be a terrible idea to go to LPN school though. You could do the LPN, then bridge to RN then BSN or something similar. You would definitely make more than 50k as an RN in Jersey. Start off around 70K. Nursing does have a lot of upward mobility. You would just be starting out with slightly less than what you have now.

I would stay away from the healthcare tech jobs. No upward mobility in them whatsoever. That's why a lot of them wind up going to nursing school.

Good luck, I am sure you will figure this out.

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