Is it possible to work as a practical nurse once I finish my ADN degree?

MichaelaM,RN, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

I guess it depends on where you want to work.

I was about 1 month from graduation from my LPN-RN program, and I applied as an LPN at a hospital. I was MORE than qualified for the job and I thought "YES!" I can get in the door and then after graduation I will be an internal employee and I will have first dibs at a residency.

The hospital made me an offer, I accepted, was given a start date, and told that HR would be contacting me within 48 hours to set up paperwork. I put notice in at my job, and told them to terminate my benefits.

24 hours later, I got a call from the nursing supervisor, and she said that she could not hire me because I was too close to graduating, and the unit "could not sustain" me with an RN license. Therefore I had to go grovelling back to my current job and say I was staying afterall. Luckily they wanted to keep me anyway and it was no problem.

Needless to say it was a frustrating situation for me, as I could have become unemployed after she offered me a job and then rescinded it. I was nothing but open about the fact that I was about to graduate (even had it on my resume!) when she offered me the job.

So I guess if the place you work wants to keep you as an LPN they can, but some places refuse.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

"LPNs do not have degrees" is not an accurate statement. Neither is "LPN=certificate". Not all the time anyway. I went to a two year associates degree in nursing program for my LPN. Lots and lots of LPNs have associates degrees. Just wanted to clear that up.

Good to know :)....I've never heard of an associates leading to an LPN. Around here, they were all technical schools, specific for LPN classes, and none of the other stuff (English, soc, psych, chem, micro, etc). This was also at a time when most LPNs stopped there, so no need for credits to transfer. :)

OhioCCRN, MSN, NP · Jul 25, 2011

my CC offers the LPN as a certificate.

if you get a Associates degree in nursing it is RN

if you have an associates of science that is a different thing...

ADN is NOT an LPN

I hope that explained things...

zimmerhawk · Jul 25, 2011

I'm a new nursing student. Could someone clarify for me and probably some others: What does adn, lvn stand for? I'm familiar with lpn (licensed practical nurse and RN ( registered nurse), but some other abbreviations....not so much. Seems like the abbreviations are rampant in this site. It would be helpful to me if occasionally people would clarify what they stand for. Shanks...shanks a-lot. Lol.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

my CC offers the LPN as a certificate.
if you get a Associates degree in nursing it is RN
if you have an associates of science that is a different thing...
ADN is NOT an LPN
I hope that explained things...

Poster didn't say that ADN=LPN, but that an LPN was not a certificate program where she went- included other college courses..... :)

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

I'm a new nursing student. Could someone clarify for me and probably some others: What does adn, lvn stand for? I'm familiar with lpn (licensed practical nurse and RN ( registered nurse), but some other abbreviations....not so much. Seems like the abbreviations are rampant in this site. It would be helpful to me if occasionally people would clarify what they stand for. Shanks...shanks a-lot. Lol.

ADN-- Associates Degree in Nursing; LPN is about the same as an LVN- mostly it's a regional name difference, though the LVNs I worked with in TX were able to do a lot more than the LPNs where I am now. :)

AZMOMO2 · Jul 25, 2011

You could just get a Medical Assistant Degree and work in a doctor's office.

Tait, MSN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

Right, my goal is to get my ADN.. I have already started the process.
However, there is a lot of rumor that the hospital I was planning to work at only hires BSN. So i was hoping to maybe work in a Dr.'s office part time while completing a RN-BSN program..
It's all really confusing to me and I'm just trying to map out my education in advance so that when I finally finish my ADN I know what to do next and I have an actual plan to follow.

1. Ignore rumors. You never know until you apply.

2. ADN is Associate Degree Nursing. This equates an RN after passing the NCLEX. I am really confused why a PP stated her school has and "ADN-LVN" program. To me that is like stating they have a Master's in Bachelor's program. Doesn't make sense.

3. If you want to work as an LPN/LVN before you complete your two year ADN program you could sit for the LPN boards after the first year.

Not sure if this helps.

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

I live in the Bay area of California, and I actually just received my ADN from an LVN program...when I started my CC back in fall of 2006 after I graduated high school, my CC offered an Associates in Liscensed Vocational Nursing. I just graduated from my program in May and received my ADN. My school doesn't offer it anymore, only if you declared your major lvn before 2007.

Poster didn't say that ADN=LPN, but that an LPN was not a certificate program where she went- included other college courses..... :)

I don't know if there are places where LPNs/LVNs have Associate's Degrees, but if they do, they are not ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing), because that is an RN.

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

I'm a new nursing student. Could someone clarify for me and probably some others: What does adn, lvn stand for? I'm familiar with lpn (licensed practical nurse and RN ( registered nurse), but some other abbreviations....not so much. Seems like the abbreviations are rampant in this site. It would be helpful to me if occasionally people would clarify what they stand for. Shanks...shanks a-lot. Lol.

We don't clarify what those abbreviations are on this site, because it is a nursing site, and those are common abbreviations. They can easily be looked up. It would be a waste of time for someone to clarify these every time they post them.

BSN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN)

ADN: Associate Degree in Nursing (RN)

LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse

LVN: Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN and LVN are the same thing; different parts of the country use one or the other)

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

I don't know if there are places where LPNs/LVNs have Associate's Degrees, but if they do, they are not ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing), because that is an RN.

There is a post in this thread that stated that someone had gone to an AD program, and got their LPN.... just commenting on a comment to that post :)

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

"LPNs do not have degrees" is not an accurate statement. Neither is "LPN=certificate". Not all the time anyway. I went to a two year associates degree in nursing program for my LPN. Lots and lots of LPNs have associates degrees. Just wanted to clear that up.

:) Just commented on this :)