Is it worth going to school to be an LPN?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2009

Your friend is right in some respects. Many hospitals are no longer using LPNs because Joint Commission requires patients to have an RN standard of care (whatever that is). Others have limited positions open. My facility has had a hiring freeze on LPNs for several years now, but retained the LPNs already working there. Some managers will hire an LPN whom is in an RN to LPN program, but usually it's a tech that graduated from LPN school and wants to stay on.

Hospitals notoriously pay LPNs poorly compared to similar work done by RNs, anywhere from 8 to $15 per hour less depending on where you work.

However, LPNs rule Long Term Care, rehab, and assisted living facilities. Here in FL, LPNs are in high demand in these areas and make very good money.

Ask yourself what are your goals?

RNs enjoy a wider varierty of job opportunties at higher pay. But there is no reason you shouldn't continue to get your LPN now. There are many LPN to RN programs out there for you to transition to.

edited to add: It's very regional with some areas of the country having different opportunities and hiring practices than others.

Good luck!

Fiona59 · Apr 7, 2009

You haven't said where in North America you are located. It can vary incredibly from state to state and province to province. You really need to research your local job market.

Also consider the cost and (if any) wait list to get into a RN programme.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Apr 7, 2009

No don't become a LPN ! Don't Don't Don't ! Syke ! Just joking :) I'm getting my LPN soon and I plan on doing the bridge LPN-RN. BTW my mother was a LPN before becoming a RN and she made over about 30 dollars/ hr working as a LPN so it all depends on where you live and where you work. Good luck.

ezbreezy · Apr 7, 2009

The LPN program is going to be a lot shorter in duration than the RN program, so if you're ready to get started in your nursing career and be working as a Nurse in one year GO FOR IT!!! I started my career as an LPN; the LTC facility where I worked offered tuition reimbursement and paid for me to return to school to for my RN ( I had to agree to work for them for two years after graduation; its been six and Im still here). Best of luck to you :up:

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Apr 7, 2009

I started my LPN program in 1985. I had several people tell me not to do it.. they are phasing LPN's out, etc, etc. Never happened, BUT in my area of the country it is and always has been difficult to find an LPN job outside of LTC/ALF (it just didn't bother me). Now that I have been an RN for nearly 4 years, I would say it is always ideal to do the RN if that is what you can do, but yet I understand $$ and the need for a paycheck sooner than later.

SakredStrega · Apr 7, 2009

YES!!! For me, it was totally worth going to LPN school. You can always do an LPN-RN bridge program later on, if you want to.

fortune-teller · Apr 7, 2009

If you could get into an RN Program, you should go for it. However, if that is not the case, you can use the LPN Program as a stepping stone. The very first time when I heard some nurses said that LPN's would be phased out was in 1998 and that was 11 years ago. With at least 75 million baby boomers, I don't think it is easy for anyone to get rid of LPN's. I myself was an LPN. Regarding to the pay, it depends on the location. In big cities, you get "big" pay. In small towns USA, you will get small town pay. In NYC, $25 to 29/hr in a nursing home if you work for an agency. I know in some parts of Florida, an RN is only getting $22 to 23/hr to start. It is your decision, once you become an LPN, it is easier for you to get into an RN Program and you can also work while you try to finish your RN Program.

Good luck.

Midwest4me · Apr 7, 2009

Yes, it is worth getting the LPN if you need an income while attending the RN program. Yes, LPNs are getting phased out in some of the major hospitals but hey, when I was in nursing school in 1984, we were told BACK THEN by the instructors: " don't plan to stop at the LPN level because the LPNs are being phased out." Well I was in the RN program and DID stop, and though I wished I'd continued my program, I have never had a problem with securing a job as an LPN.

Scyankee · Apr 7, 2009

There are a lot of times when getting your LPN would be helpful. For one a lot of (RN) nursing programs either have long waiting lists for weighted admissions. Already being an LPN adds a few extra points to a weighted admissions scale and may make the difference when you want to continue with your nursing degree. A lot of times the LPN program is the same program that RN's take you just step out of the program a year or so before those who are working on their ASN. If you want to take the LPN route do yourself a favor and find a school that accepts most if not all of your prereqs and clinical hours. This will make taking the LPN to RN route a lot easier.

If you can land a job as an LPN you'll already have your foot in the door, making it easier to land that first RN job. In case you havent noticed a lot of new grad RN's are finding it tough to find work in their "home" states right now. Why not get a leg up if you can and start working a year before and when your ready to take your LPN to RN who knows maybe your employeer will pay for it. If they do they are sure to hire you hire you on before wasting the money on tuition reimbursement.

Just advice than again Im only taking my PreReqs right now. Taking my CNA classes next month just to add 4 points to our weighted addmissions. (40 points minimum just to be considered).

jsmith1982 · Apr 7, 2009

I was a LPN for four and half years before becoming a RN on April 6, 2009!!. I am excited at the new opportunities that await for me as a RN. It all depends what you are looking for in regards to if it's worth going to LPN school. RN's have more opportunity in a hospital and can work in a lot more areas than a LPN. However, if you want to make decent money in a short amount of time then get your LPN. You can always transition to a LPN to RN program. That's it what I did and I had an advantage over the ones that were never nurses.

Jocelyn

sunray12 · Apr 7, 2009

Outside of the hospitals in my area there are actually more jobs for LPN's than RN's. Since hospital hiring has slowed to a crawl, I'd say there are probably more jobs available for LPNs in many areas of the country than there are RN jobs - so I don't get the bashing and fear mongering on this issue. If LPN's were phased out (and I doubt that will happen any time soon) people would simply retrain themselves or fall back on other skills, certs and degrees they had before they became LPN's. Since many RN's have one or more certs, degrees, or licenses themselves, I'm sure they aware that it is not that big of a deal. In the meantime by choosing PN school you have a chance to obtain a professional license in a health care field without having to go through the prereqs and waitlist song and dance needed for the RN programs. Nothing wrong with being a RN, nothing wrong with being a LPN. Do what works for you.