Is it worth going to school to be an LPN?

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2009

Yes, for all the reasons other posters listed. I tell alot of the CNAs I work with it would be a great step. Some of them are fearfull of school or not really sure or just want more money and to stay in LTC. Tons of reasons.

Now, ask my mother who is an LPN and she will say no, LOL (she's burnt out)

I think you need to look at the area you live in and what your goals are going to be. Getting higher education is always worth it.

mjm1979 · Apr 7, 2009

Everything other posters have said is spot on. Basically, it's a decision you'll have to make yourself based on many things. You need to decide how far into nursing you want to go. Your life situation, finances, age and other things need to be looked at to make the determination.

Here's my situation. I was going to go into NS way back in 1979 when I graduated HS. Disgruntled nurses I knew at the time talked me out of it. A few years later other nurses talked me back into going to NS. But I had just had my first child and knew ahead of time that I was going to stay home with my kids. That's why I just finished LPN school at 48 years of age!! Had I known then what I know now, I would have done things differently.

Most of the nurses I knew were RNs and I always got the same response about going to NS. 'Oh, don't even bother with an LPN. They do the same things only get paid less.' So, I took their word for it, without investigating further or talking to LPNs. In my area, the school that is affordable, where most people get their ADN, has a three year waiting list. So, to get a '2 year RN degree' it takes about 5 1/2 - 6 years. Most people take a couple of years to get their pre-reqs and co-reqs done and then you have another year on the waiting list and then 2 1/2 or so years in the actual nursing program. As a mother with two young children the thought of 5 - 6 years of intense training was just out of the question for me. I would be giving 100% to my education and my children would be missing out, so I chose to wait.

Well, when my children were in HS and Middle school I decided I was ready, and by this time I felt time was not on my side, d/t my age. In the meantime I had run into an LPN who LOVES her work and has no desire to be an RN. She said she was 35 with young kids when she got her LPN and had intended on going back for her RN but decided against it. She says she has never regretted getting her LPN. She loves her job and doesn't want the added stress/responsibility of an RN. There were a couple of other people I spoke to who had other positive things to say about being an LPN. These people completely changed my mind about school. I checked into schooling options and found out I could get an LPN cert. in one year full time or two years part time and decided to go with the quick route. I wish I had done this years ago. I only listened to one side of the story back then and wish I would have sought other opinions. I am currently working in a LTC facility. I love it. I'm not sure if I'll go on for my RN but I probably will. I don't have a desire to work in hospital but sometimes I see interesting job openings in the paper, such as in research and they always want an RN. If you have the time and resources and plan on going far in your nursing career, I'd go ahead and get the RN. Keep in mind that if you go the LPN route and you choose to go on that that'll probably end up being quite a bit of schooling ahead of you. If you are new to health care and want to 'test the waters' the LPN route can be good b/c you have spent less time and money and if you end up hating nursing, you haven't 'wasted' as much time and resources. These are all things to consider. Make yourself a list of the pros and cons and go from there. And true, many hospitals don't hire LPNs anymore but there is always LTC, Assisted Living, Rehab hospitals, Psych Hospitals, dialysis, home health, hospice, urgent care centers, etc. Nursing is much more than just hospital work. Good luck!!

Jo Dirt · Apr 7, 2009

It is NOT a waste of time to become an LPN! You will find a job as easily as an RN. Another thing, it is great if you want to become an RN but you will likely need to work while you are in school and you will make more money as an LPN getting through school than as a convenience store clerk or CNA, plus you will be doing something relevant to what you will be doing as an RN.

The worst thing you can do is let someone talk you out of becoming an LPN because they convince you it is "inferior." It most certainly is not.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 7, 2009

Well, when my children were in HS and Middle school I decided I was ready, and by this time I felt time was not on my side, d/t my age. In the meantime I had run into an LPN who LOVES her work and has no desire to be an RN. She said she was 35 with young kids when she got her LPN and had intended on going back for her RN but decided against it. She says she has never regretted getting her LPN. She loves her job and doesn't want the added stress/responsibility of an RN. There were a couple of other people I spoke to who had other positive things to say about being an LPN. These people completely changed my mind about school. I checked into schooling options and found out I could get an LPN cert. in one year full time or two years part time and decided to go with the quick route. I wish I had done this years ago. I only listened to one side of the story back then and wish I would have sought other opinions. I am currently working in a LTC facility. I love it. I'm not sure if I'll go on for my RN but I probably will. I don't have a desire to work in hospital but sometimes I see interesting job openings in the paper, such as in research and they always want an RN. If you have the time and resources and plan on going far in your nursing career, I'd go ahead and get the RN. Keep in mind that if you go the LPN route and you choose to go on that that'll probably end up being quite a bit of schooling ahead of you. If you are new to health care and want to 'test the waters' the LPN route can be good b/c you have spent less time and money and if you end up hating nursing, you haven't 'wasted' as much time and resources. These are all things to consider. Make yourself a list of the pros and cons and go from there. And true, many hospitals don't hire LPNs anymore but there is always LTC, Assisted Living, Rehab hospitals, Psych Hospitals, dialysis, home health, hospice, urgent care centers, etc. Nursing is much more than just hospital work. Good luck!!

I am one of those LPNs who has no desire to become an RN...you couldn't hand it to me for free. The additional headaches and responsibilities are not even remotely appealing or attractive to me, but I LOVE what I do right NOW. You have to decide for yourself what is best, know that you can move on to become an RN at any time and not let others make you feel less than or inferior.

nminodob · Apr 7, 2009

In hospitals it will be harder to find work - but in community college programs that choose RN program students by a lottery (as we do here), an LVN/LPN can challenge by passing a test and bypassing the lottery - for some it is the only way to get a cheap ADN.

Fiona59 · Apr 7, 2009

In hospitals it will be harder to find work - but in community college programs that choose RN program students by a lottery (as we do here), an LVN/LPN can challenge by passing a test and bypassing the lottery - for some it is the only way to get a cheap ADN.

And again I have to say it all depends on where you live and plan to work.

Our local hospital system soaks up every new grad PN it can.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 7, 2009

And again I have to say it all depends on where you live and plan to work.
Our local hospital system soaks up every new grad PN it can.

Absolutely! I noticed in my area that the hospitals have not hired as many LPNs recently, due to the economic crisis and it could very well be that now, they are not replacing LPNs as they leave. Plenty of my friends have received jobs in hospital clinics (such as myself), or those that work in med-surg are primarily medication nurses. I am closely watching the trend...trying to see if the hospitals are totally closing up shop towards LPNs or not.

I'd probably hang on to my hospital position as long as the Creator allows because I like working the clinics and doing per diem on the floors.

marci1300 · Apr 15, 2009

I am so stressed out about what I should do. I began community college in fall of 2005 completed all prerequistes for rn program. I chose to go to a diploma based school and failed my second term by 3 points. Now I am sitting here with 56 credits 3.2 gpa and two beautiful children with a fiance who graduated fromm college and is now working in his career. We bought a home and I am really thinking of going into this lpn program that is 10 minutes away from my home, then doing the lpn-rn trans right after. We need the money and if I return to rn school It will take me 2 full years to make money instead of one. What should I do?

marci1300 · Apr 15, 2009

:uhoh3:I am so stressed out on deciding what I should do. I began all of my pre reqs in fall of 2005 at community college for rn. I then decided to attend a diploma based school, I began in aug of 2008 failed my second term by 3 points, and now I have to wait until Oct to begin again. I have two beautiful children, and a wonderful husband who finished college and began his career.The school I attended was 45 minutes away and clinical sites were even further. I looked into an lpn school 10 mins from my home and I don't need to do anything except interview, it is a 1 year program with a 90% graduation rate. I contacted community college they have a lpn-rn trans course beginning each year and I would grad from lpn in Oct 2010, begin cc May of 2011 complete adn May 2012. What should I do? :uhoh3:

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2009

:uhoh3:I am so stressed out on deciding what I should do. I began all of my pre reqs in fall of 2005 at community college for rn. I then decided to attend a diploma based school, I began in aug of 2008 failed my second term by 3 points, and now I have to wait until Oct to begin again. I have two beautiful children, and a wonderful husband who finished college and began his career.The school I attended was 45 minutes away and clinical sites were even further. I looked into an lpn school 10 mins from my home and I don't need to do anything except interview, it is a 1 year program with a 90% graduation rate. I contacted community college they have a lpn-rn trans course beginning each year and I would grad from lpn in Oct 2010, begin cc May of 2011 complete adn May 2012. What should I do?

So with the lpn-rn route you will gradaute with an ADN in May of 2012, but if you waited to re-enter the diploma program in October, how many more semesters would it take to graduate from there?

Seems like graduation dates will be pretty close if you only completed one semester of the diploma program, and since that school is quite the drive (as comparted to the other schools I presume?) I would go the lpn-rn route. Do you think you may want to get your BSN in the future? That may impact your decision as well.

jsmith1982 · Apr 15, 2009

I am so stressed out about what I should do. I began community college in fall of 2005 completed all prerequistes for rn program. I chose to go to a diploma based school and failed my second term by 3 points. Now I am sitting here with 56 credits 3.2 gpa and two beautiful children with a fiance who graduated fromm college and is now working in his career. We bought a home and I am really thinking of going into this lpn program that is 10 minutes away from my home, then doing the lpn-rn trans right after. We need the money and if I return to rn school It will take me 2 full years to make money instead of one. What should I do?

You need to do what is best for YOU and your family. Don't let anyone tell you not to become a LPN. I was a LPN for 4 1/2 years before recently becoming a RN on April 6, 2009. I have no regrets becoming a LPN first before becoming a RN. Do what is going to work for you.

djohn12d · Apr 18, 2009

Marci1300 I think you should go for the lpn because thats the start to begining your goal. There are many programs online now(especially in PA) where you can do you bridge program for a reasonable price that are recognized by the NLN. I know alot of people who have done that so good luck. Also, curious to what program your are going to with a 90% completeion rate that is very impressive I am too still looking for a good program to go to.