Is LPN as great a job as a RN?

Lovely_RN, MSN · Jan 3, 2009

I say do the LPN then come to NY and finish up your RN while you work. I am doing it that way and I'm managing just fine, thank you. Unless you get into a 1+1 program it will NOT take 2 years to get the ADN. It's more like a few semesters for pre-reqs then 2 years for clinicals. I have two children and one on the way and no one is going to support me for a few years while I get my RN so I had to do it this way.

The pay for LPNs in NY is pretty good. There are plenty of moms single and married in my RN class so it's not like you can't go on once you get your LPN.

If you want to get your RN after your LPN nothing will get in the way of that but you. You can even work and get the RN through Excelsior if you are disciplined enough to do a distance program.

I have one more semester of RN school but I have no regrets about becoming an LPN. I have learned so much this year and I think the experience is going to help me out a lot once I get my RN.

Lovely_RN, MSN · Jan 3, 2009

The ADN takes more than 2 years to complete because clinicals are 4 semester (2 years) at traditional CC programs. The thing is that NO ONE jumps straight into a clinical seat. You must attend that school for at least one semester before you are even eligible to apply to the nursing program and most people do not come in with the pre-reqs completed so that adds more semesters to a program. In a traditional BSN program you spend the first two years doing pre-reqs and liberal arts courses then the final two years doing clinicals.

Also clinical seats in most ADN programs aren't easy to get. The tution is cheap and hundreds are applying for 40-80 seats. You might have a 3.6 GPA and all 40-80 of those selected have a 3.7 or better. So you may be forced to take a class just to maintain your enrollment for another year while you re-apply.

Where are you from? This is very common with the CC system in NY.

Bsn= 4 years to complete.
Adn=3-4 years to complete even though its a 2 year degree.
Please do not crowd me for saying this but Why do a lot of people say that it takes about 3-4 years to complete a two year rn program. I haven't seen many catalogs but every ADN program catalog that I browsed through includes pre-requisites & nursing courses within a 2-year slot.
The only way I can see someone not finishing a 2 year program within 4 years is if there is either a waiting list or the student is attending part-time. (or failing their @** off).

gcupid · Jan 30, 2009

Im from a place where if you decide to attend an adn program full-time, if there is no waiting list and if one is not failing, you will complete your degree before a bsn grad.

It may not be completed with in a 2year time frame but it definitely shouldn't take 4 years. (once again, unless part-time, failing, or/and waiting list).

My question is why bsn=4 years, & adn=3-4yrs? In most cases, Bsn's are required to have more pre-reqs completed before entering nursing school, more electives during nursing school, and more criteria to be met prior to exiting the program.

Do not down grade a BSN's accomplishment. If it takes 3-4 yrs for an ADN, it takes 5-6yrs for a bsn that's all I'm saying.

Lovely_RN, MSN · Jan 30, 2009

I'm a little perplexed by what you are saying? I am not downgrading a BSNs accomplishments I'm just telling you what I know for a fact. If you start out in a traditional BSN program with no college credits you can and will finish in 4 years if you take the required courses in the correct order. This does not happen in with "2 year" ADN programs because they are harder to get into.

I'm not saying that they are harder to get into because they are any better or worse than BSN programs. The reason they are highly sought after is tuition. Some private colleges charge 10-15k per semester and it's a deterrent to people who don't want to be 60-70k in debt once they graduate if they do not qualify for a lot of grants and scholarships. At some CC the entire ADN program may end up being 10-15k even after 3 or 4 years.

No downgrading anyone from me.

Im from a place where if you decide to attend an adn program full-time, if there is no waiting list and if one is not failing, you will complete your degree before a bsn grad.
It may not be completed with in a 2year time frame but it definitely shouldn't take 4 years. (once again, unless part-time, failing, or/and waiting list).
My question is why bsn=4 years, & adn=3-4yrs? In most cases, Bsn's are required to have more pre-reqs completed before entering nursing school, more electives during nursing school, and more criteria to be met prior to exiting the program.
Do not down grade a BSN's accomplishment. If it takes 3-4 yrs for an ADN, it takes 5-6yrs for a bsn that's all I'm saying.

Miss_Piggy.RN · Jan 31, 2009

Geez Patrick1RN,
I and could not benefit from FAFSA, because unfortunately I am not yet an American CITIZEN

This is not true. You do not have to be CITIZEN to get benefits from FAFSA. I have only Green Card and I get the same amount of money as US citizen. But the true is, if your case isn't approve yet you won't get anything. Marriage with US citizen, sending papers to USCIS and interview doesn't change anything. I lost a year of school because I was waiting for final approval after interview. The school didn't even agree for resident tuition :banghead: I couldn't afford for paying $250 for 1 credit.

If you are resident alien FAFSA s asking about your "resident number", then they check you and if everything is as it should be, you are getting the money.

patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 31, 2009

This is not true. You do not have to be CITIZEN to get benefits from FAFSA. I have only Green Card and I get the same amount of money as US citizen. But the true is, if your case isn't approve yet you won't get anything. Marriage with US citizen, sending papers to USCIS and interview doesn't change anything. I lost a year of school because I was waiting for final approval after interview. The school didn't even agree for resident tuition I couldn't afford for paying $250 for 1 credit.
If you are resident alien FAFSA s asking about your "resident number", then they check you and if everything is as it should be, you are getting the money.

I was not aware of that, but in all fairness though, how can you expect resident tuition when your not a resident by state definition yet.

But No, LPNs do alot of the tasks that RNs do, but they do not have as much education. Standards are based on educational backgrounds. That does not mean that a LPN could not be knowledgeable or even more knowledgeable than an RN. I dont want to imply that so...

thatpasunshine · Feb 3, 2009

if time is an issue have you looked into hospital based diploma programs. much shorter than 4 year rn program and you can later work towards your bsn. in pa where i am attending school through a hospital program they have an arrangement with a very good university so that we attend both at the same time . in 22 months you get your rn diploma, and then just 26 short credits later your bsn, which you do online with each class only being 7 weeks long... it is something to consider doing some research on. also the program i am attenting is tuition free as long as you agree to work for the hospital system for 2 years