Is LPN a right career move for me?

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Let me give you a little background first...

I just graduated from Dental Assisting school in December & I cannot find a job anywhere close to me, either that or the dentists are cheap. I live in PA & I have a 1 yr son to support. I just barely got through school because my boyfriend was the only one working. I'm considering going back to school to be an LPN but everyone is telling me not to waste my time & just go to be an RN. The thing is I don't have 2 1/2 to 3 years..it's going to be hard enough to go for a year but I know it needs to be done. I figured I can always go back to be an RN. I just want to make sure I don't have the same problem as far as finding a job goes. Please give me some advice =)

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I am a LPN student in PA.

Do not let people say that going for LPN is a waste of time, to just go for your RN. Granted, if you have the time, to attend school that long, then by all means, go for it! However, LPN is still A LOT of work, but I am enjoying every minute of it. :yeah:

The reason that I chose LPN is because it is fitting my life well. I work part time on Friday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays so that I still make enough money to get by on and to pay my car insurance, put gas in the car, and my portion of rent. This way, I still have time to finish all my assignments during the week and to study. The way my program is set up, we have 2 days of lectures, one day of labs, and clinicals on Thursday and Friday.

Anyway, my suggesstion is to go to the institution that you are considering attending, and ask if you can shadow a portion of classes or clinicals. They do that at my school all the time. And volunteer at a hospital and a nursing home and you can get a feel for what type of work you will be doing.

Lastly, I do not know what area you are from, but a great job market for LPNs around here are nursing homes. They are always hiring LPNs and at a good pay.

I hope that helps:nurse:

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Oh yea, and I wanted to add that yes you can go back for RN or further!! I know Penn State will let the LPN grads take a test and if scoring high enough, opt out of the first year of RN, and you only have one more year to go to get RN license.

Waynesburg University have LPN to BSN program, also.

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Thanks for responding! I'm going to take the LPN Pre-admission exam on the 4th & if I pass my exam I'm going to apply for the program for sure. I would have to do what you do though and work on the weekends so I'm able to pay some of my bills. I'm not far from the Pittsburgh area. Do u mind me asking what kind of work u do on the weekends? Cause right now I'm having a hard time finding a job period. Thanks! =)

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Specializes in My goal is to be an Oncology Nurse.....

I was in a ADN program last fall and didn't pass and going for my LPN! I truly am excited about it and I found a different school that will "teach" me the way I need to be taught and work around my school and home schedule.

I do get upset when LPN's are always knocked around and knocked down. I'm not really sure why that is the case and I could be naive, but what is the difference btwn a LPN and RN? I am acutally over qualified for my LPN class and I can get it done in a year, but that is ok with me!!! :) I just want to help people.

Keep It Up!

Future LPN

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Thanks for responding! I'm going to take the LPN Pre-admission exam on the 4th & if I pass my exam I'm going to apply for the program for sure. I would have to do what you do though and work on the weekends so I'm able to pay some of my bills. I'm not far from the Pittsburgh area. Do u mind me asking what kind of work u do on the weekends? Cause right now I'm having a hard time finding a job period. Thanks! =)

I am not too far from Pittsburgh, either!

Comfort Keepers as a companion/homemaker.

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