How many LPN's Don't Plan To Pursue the RN Title?

Southbeach23 · May 25, 2013

Hi,

Would you please tell me the scope of practice of an LPN. I live in GA, got accepted to an RN program, felt lost as all get out because I'm more of a "hands-on" type of person. What are the main differences of LPN or RN?

Thanks

charlelvn · May 29, 2013

ive been a lvn since 1993 and that is my hearts desire.............

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 30, 2013

Hi,
Would you please tell me the scope of practice of an LPN. I live in GA, got accepted to an RN program, felt lost as all get out because I'm more of a "hands-on" type of person. What are the main differences of LPN or RN?
Thanks

At the risk of sounding like a total jerk, look up your state's Nurse Practice Act, because that's going to tell you what is and isn't within your own borders.

What LPNs can do in relation to RNs varies quite a bit by state.

Don't worry. As an experienced RN I can tell you: we're in a very 'hands on' profession. What about being an RN do you think isn't hands on? Just a question.

HazelLPN, LPN · Jun 7, 2013

I was happy being an LPN until the late 1980s when I was told by upper administration that all LPNs in the critical care units would need to become RNs or would have to stop working in the unit and take jobs elsewhere in the hospital. Critical care nursing was all I knew how to do. I hadn't worked on the floor in over 25 years and I really didn't want to go back to it. So...I returned to school for my BSN. There were no bridge programs back then. I enrolled as a non traditional student at a private university that had an excellent reputation for its nursing program. I was given no credit for anything that I took from my diploma program because it had been so long. I completed all of the pre-recs and science coursework and loved it so much that I took premedical level science classes just for fun...chemistry, physics, calculus. I secretly enjoyed being that "old lady who studied all the time who broke the curve". My husband, a pediatrician, tried to help me, but I insisted I could manage on my own. Before my final semester when I was about to do my professional rotation, my husband got sick and I dropped out of the program to care for him. When my husband died, things changed for me. I really didn't care about finishing school or getting my RN. I was too sad to do anything and nursing is that last thing that I wanted to do. I wasn't sure I even wanted to go back to work again. Eventually, life goes on with or without you. I couldn't stay home and cry forever. Nursing, aside from being a mother and grandmother, is what I did best. I decided that I would NOT complete my RN. Instead, I would go into semi retirement and cut back my hours drastically from full time to eight hours a week, plus contingent shifts. Fortunately for me, my nurse manager and head attending physician fought the upper administration and won to allow the remaining LPNs in the ICU to stay put and finish their careers with dignity.

Would my life be much different had I become an RN? I would have made more money I suppose. I had a full scope of practice and there was little that my RN charge nurse had to do for my pts that I couldn't do myself. I had no desire to be in charge or to train to run the ECMO pump or move into some administrative role. I did learn quite a bit when I went back to school, but it paled in comparison to what I learned on the job as an LPN. In my day, an LPN was simply a nurse who took care of the patients. Period. That is what I did best. If I were graduating from high school today, however, I would definitely go straight for my BSN because it's unlikely for a new LPN grad to have the same career options that I had in my day.

HippyDippyLPN · Jun 8, 2013

If we were allowed in hospitals, I would stay an LPN. I like the bed side nursing, perfecting my skills. I have no desire to get into management. But as we all know, there are few LPN's among the hospital staff and I want to work in one for a few years. So I start my pre reqs for my bridge this fall, my program will take me two years if i stay on track and unless I have to get a BSN, I will be so done with school. I'm also tired of the vast pay difference when my RN cohorts essentially do the same job with a few exceptions .

NCmcMan · Jun 14, 2013

I actually have a question about this.... If you went to community college, and got all of your prereqs done to get into the nursing program, and you just couldn't get into the RN program for some reason, and ended up in a LPN program, and graduated. What would then be required to get your RN since you've done all your RN prereqs? I've been thinking of this, but keep on forgetting to ask around about it. Does anyone know? THanks..

PS I didn't mean to steal your thread, it just came to me now, and I couldn't resist.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Jun 14, 2013

I have been an LPN going on a year now and am quite frankly happy with the way my career has progressed so far...I started out doing private duty cases and agency work which I still do. I recently got hired by the VNA to be a crisis care/hospice nurse. I am IV and phelbotomy certified. I plan to obtain certification in hospice/palliative care since this will be my nursing specialty. I thrown around the idea of pursuing an RN degree, but I realized my heart isn't into it, that I would be doing it under societal/family pressure. Just wondering if I am the only one that is content being an LPN, or are there others that feel the same?

There will come a time in your career when you'll be tapped out as far as how much they are willing to pay you. You will be severely limited in any career advancement opportunities.

You are only a year in, with a long career ahead of you. If you are married and don't need the extra income, you never know what life may throw your way..I have seen it too many times to count.

LPN's, at least around here, make on average $10 less than an RN. To me, that is worth going for alone.

lovedijah · Jun 14, 2013

At the start of LPN school, I thought I was LPN and done. Now? Im going back to get my RN. My reasons are- my husband is military and I cant say for sure where we move will have a market for LPN's. Where I live now, the local hospital only hires LPN's on the rehab floor. I just want more options than that, if were going to be moving around. Also, I have a bachelors. So one year in school and I can have a BSN. Do I think I can have a rewarding career without being an RN? Sure. But depending where you live, I think LPN's are limited. I know LPNs making 9.00 an hour. I also know LPNs making $25.

CLUVRN, MSN, RN · Jun 14, 2013

Update: I'm in an RN bridge program that began in May. Now I see the i mportance of moving up the nursing ladder and becoming an expert in one's chosen profession, a fact that I didn't realize when I started this thread a few years ago:)

NCmcMan · Jun 15, 2013

See, there ya go. Never stop moving forward. :) The possibilitys await you, not just in nursing but ANYTHING you choose to do in life.

CLUVRN, MSN, RN · Jun 17, 2013

See, there ya go. Never stop moving forward. :) The possibilitys await you, not just in nursing but ANYTHING you choose to do in life.

Amen! I couldn't agree more!

allnurses Guide · Jun 17, 2013

Thanks for the update!

I do think that if someone is an LPN and they are happy or don't choose to become an RN it doesn't signify that they aren't moving forward, though. You'd need to know a lot more about a person's life to determine that. There are people on this board who are LPNs, don't plan to become RNs who have such accomplished real lives that I cringe when they are the recipient of put-downs or the target of assumptions about their work ethic no matter how politely they are framed.