Is the salary of an LPN even Worth the trouble of going to school??

Jules A, MSN · Jun 23, 2008

Wow, our LPN wages in the DC/Balto area are 2-3 times higher than what you are currently making so here, yes I would say it would be worth it. Personally I liked the fact that I had something after only a year of school and then could decide to pursue my RN if I enjoyed nursing, which I did. Good luck with whatever you decide.

P.S. While I'm all for making as much money as you possibly can being a nurse just can't be only about the money.

Fiona59 · Jun 23, 2008

If I were entering healthcare solely for the money, nursing wouldn't be the way to go.

Radiology Techn, Ultrasound Techs, hell even Health Records Techs make more than LPNs in my health authority. PNs start off at around $17.50 and wind up at $23.50 before adding in shift premiums. The techs all start at over $22/hr and max out at around $30. Plus they don't do patient care or deal with the families. Far less stress than nursing.

missjennmb · Jun 23, 2008

If I had the money to persue 3 yrs of school (as in... didnt need income for other things - I have to pay childcare and car expenses on top of my tuition/books/etc) I would go straight to RN school and skip LPN. But thats just me. I know this is the career for me, and I know that I want to be an RN (and eventually get either a Masters and become a Nurse-Educator or a Nurse-Anesthetist) I would take any extra paid school time and just work towards my BSN.

As for the salary stuff... check out salary.com It seems to be pretty spot on.

In my area, a LTC (long term care) LPN makes on avg $35k, where a secretary on avg makes about $25k. I've made as much as $28k as an admin assistant (10 yrs exp) so yeah, I would think it would be worth it. In my area, a "Staff Nurse" makes on avg about $50k a year so obviously its worth it, financially, to get a more advanced option.

I hate to see that whole "dont do it for the money" speal, because lets face it, we can't do much of ANYTHING in this world if it doesn't pay well. No matter how badly I want to be a nurse, I can't go to school for 12 months and put my family through that, if in the end I am still unable to provide any kind of financial help to our family in making ends meet (and paying off those school loans!)

Like it or not, compassionate nurse or not, we NEED to just accept that money is one aspect of being a nurse. You may not go into nursing for it, but you don't work for free either. If I wanted to work for free I'd just be a volunteer. But unfortunately for me, my family is not happy with the idea of living on ramen noodles for the rest of their youth~

Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP · Jun 23, 2008

Like it or not, compassionate nurse or not, we NEED to just accept that money is one aspect of being a nurse. You may not go into nursing for it, but you don't work for free either. If I wanted to work for free I'd just be a volunteer.

Thanks for the reply,

Having to work for a living IS about earning wages, doesn't matter if it's working as a street sweeper or as an LPN, if I didn't have to work, I could think of many other things that I could be doing that doesn't involve 12 hours shifts on my feet.

I gave up a very good paying job with the thought of going to school and earning another degree and go down another path, but if I wanted to get nothing in return for my time other than a thank you from the patients, then I'd volunteer a few hours a week and fish the rest of the time:D

Anywho, I've had several RN's as well as LPN's on my floor tell me that they're not sure if they'd do it again if they had the choice and that the pay was not worth the stress, but since they don't have any other choices at the time, they'll keep their jobs to pay the bills.

As for me, I think I may like Nursing, but I'll give the LPN route a shot first and if it doesn't work out, then I'll still have 2 more years of college money to get a Master degree in something else.

Take care, see you on the floor, I'm working 7p to 7a tonight as a PCT (poop patrol, bath boy, enema ed, etc, etc :chuckle

Tony

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jun 23, 2008

LPNs in my area start with about $35 to $45k a year, but the cost of living may be higher than rural areas. I'm not really complaining, but of course, I would like more. Sometimes, there are other things to consider in addition to money... is there a long wait to get into RN programs? What is the job market like for LPNs in your area?

For me, it is about average-we are still employed at hospitals in my area, in addition to other things, and because of this, I have had plenty of other opportunities to do other things by signing up at agencies. I didn't have the same options for making extra money as a CNA, so, it was a win-win for me. Good luck!

dreamon · Jun 24, 2008

I have college money from the military also- I wanted to use it for a BSN, but due to other factors in my life I have to move from 1 state to another in 2 years.

So I have no choice but to do the LPN or ASN route. I'd much rather become a RN, but seeing as the wait time for Community colleges are outrageous I have to choose a different path, and go to LPN school. At least I'll have a job to help with my bills in a little over a year.

HeyHeyitsMaay · Jun 24, 2008

I moved to Pa from Texas due to family responsibilities, and I'm really discouraged and don't even start school for another 2 months!

LPN's here, because of the historically awful economy, don't make much and they aren't in demand at all except for agencies, which don't always offer benefits.

I'd like to become an RN, but it's VERY VERY difficult for me to go to school at all, like it is for most of you.

At this point, it honestly doesn't seem worth it to become an LPN save the fact that my heart is set on it, and I really, with all of my being, love to take care of others. If not for that, no way I'd be doing this right now after seeing an ad for an LPN that starts at 12.00/hr and requires 1 year of experience.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Jun 24, 2008

I'd just like to point out your calculating your pay rate plus differential and bonus for no benefits versus a base rate that does not include differentials and probably includes benefits. Benefits can add up to 30% of your pay.

That being said and you only have 3 years of college to "spend" go the rn route if you can and if there's not a huge wait in your area. One year for your pre-reqs and 2 for your RN. OF course if you can pay for your community college and pay your own pay through RN training then you can use those benefits on say a RN-BSN or RN-MSN.

dreamon · Jun 24, 2008

I moved to Pa from Texas due to family responsibilities, and I'm really discouraged and don't even start school for another 2 months!
LPN's here, because of the historically awful economy, don't make much and they aren't in demand at all except for agencies, which don't always offer benefits.
I'd like to become an RN, but it's VERY VERY difficult for me to go to school at all, like it is for most of you.
At this point, it honestly doesn't seem worth it to become an LPN save the fact that my heart is set on it, and I really, with all of my being, love to take care of others. If not for that, no way I'd be doing this right now after seeing an ad for an LPN that starts at 12.00/hr and requires 1 year of experience.

I know about that discouraging feeling- don't give up hope just yet- I don't know your personal difficulties but if you get your LPN can you just get into a LPN-RN program quickly afterward?

dreamon · Jun 24, 2008

Hi all,
I'm a recent military retiree, working as a PCT (cna) hourly rate $9.25 with $1.15 night diff + 20% for no benefits, I'm making close to $12 an hour. According to the LPN's on my Cardiac care floor, they only make around $11 an hour, with nurse externs making close to $12 an hour.
My question, is it even worth the hassle of going to school for a long year, to have a very stressful job and only make $11 to $14 an hour? I mean the county starts the street sweepers for that kind of money here in TN. There are easier ways to make low wages, no??
I have 3 years of college money left to spend and I'm slated to start LPN school in the fall, RN school would be for next year anyway due to pre-req, etc. Plus if I graduate LPN and don't like nursing or the low pay, I've only wasted a year of life.
Any thoughts on the issue of pay versus stress and/or bang for the buck of working in health care??
Tony
(retired military)
p.s. If you had 3 years of college money to spend, what would you do with it??

Tony- is it just your GI Bill you are referring to or did you get additional $$ for college?

Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP · Jun 24, 2008

Tony- is it just your GI Bill you are referring to or did you get additional $$ for college?

GI bill + Army college fund + GI bill kicker, should total over $1600 a month tax free to go to school on. Hopefully I can get the hospital to pay for the school, then I could use the rest of the GI bill money for living expenses while going to school.

20 years ago, I applied for RN school at AB Tech in Asheville, NC, back then you took the test and then started school shortly after, I missed the cutoff for RN by 1 point on math, but did qualify for the LPN. I joined the military instead and went down another path.

Fast forward 20 years, I've been thinking of going nursing now for 20 years, but I'm much older now and much more pragmatic. If I can work at the VA pushing papers for a starting salary of $16.00 an hour vs go to school, graduate, have a stressful job and only get paid $11 an hour, where's the payoff for the effort?

One thing to note as well, my wife could always afford to have more flexible hours/jobs, etc due to her income not being the primary income. I've made good money my adult life, now to make low wages ($11 an hour is low for todays cost of living) and not have the ability to make a decent living is a little tough to swallow. I wouldn't mind if my wife made good money and I could "afford" to take a lower paying "feel good" job. But if I can't provide for the family, there's no amount of feel good thank you's that will increase the groceries that we can buy, know what I mean vern?

Tony