LPN instead of RN?

nhensleyLPN · Sep 12, 2011

For me, I had been burned trying to go to an RN only program. I "flunked out" six weeks before graduation. So, all that work and nothing to show for it. I jumped at the chance to attend a LPN to RN school, only because it gave me a chance to decide what I wanted to do, and still have en education and license to show for it at the end. My chosen field, geriatrics, was what I had been in as a CNA/CMA for the 14 previous years, so it seemed natural for me to become a nurse at the nursing home. My pay went up $6 an hour over what I had been making as a CMA, so I was more than happy with that. I decided then that RN's have too much paperwork and too much responsibility over other staff. Having worked in acute nursing home care for two years, however, I have to admit, its no different! Being an RN can greatly open doors for just about anything you want to do, but I am still hesitant to go on. (My fellow students with whom I went to LPN year told me that the RN year was a "nightmare") I am currently getting my endorsement to California, so I guess I'll see how it goes!

jessica.lanelle · Sep 12, 2011

For me, I was not sure that I wanted to be an RN until I was an LPN. It was also a lot easier to get the prerequisites needed to start the LPN program than the RN program. I was able to work as an LPN while competing the RN program, and I feel that I got a lot of useful experience in the meantime.

egglady, LPN · Sep 12, 2011

for me, 15 years ago, in way northwest wisc., the only tech school near me had a 6 year wait list for a ADN degree. I drove 1 hr and 45 min to another state to the LPN program because I could get in the next fall. I did that commute for 13 months. best thing I ever did! Now, all this time later, I am still at the place I have always worked(even as a cna), in a very small town. I could go back to school now, and have a job where i work- for less pay- no full time days- and lose seniority (union facility). I am one who loves being an LPN!!!! Oh- and I make alot more than a cna!!!

nowim clean · Sep 12, 2011

This is the stuff i was wondering about cause the hospital i use to work at would not hire lpns and the ones that was already working there only made 13-14 an hourthats wild that youd lose money if you did a bridge to RN.

luv4nursing · Sep 12, 2011

I politely beg to differ. LPN was a stepping stone to becoming an RN for me. I was in the process of taking my RN prereq's and was discouraged that the generic track RN program had a waiting list of about 2 years after completing the pre reqs. I could become an LPN in 1 year, make more than twice as much as my job at the time, gain valuable nursing experience, and earn a very decent wage while I furthered my education for an additional year in the LPN to RN bridge program. I got into an LPN program immediately, passed LPN school with flying colors and immediately applied and was accepted into the bridge program. While I was in the 11 month LPN to RN bridge, I worked a low stress job as a peds private duty nurse making close to RN salary, and was able to study at work. Win win situation and in the end I was an RN quicker than if I had waited to get accepted into the regular RN program. I wouldnt do it any differently if I had it to do over. It was a great option. 1 year lpn plus 1 year bridge is the same amount of school as a 2 year entry level RN program in the end.

SanDiegoCaliRN · Sep 12, 2011

This is an interesting discussion. In my ADN program, we had LPN's and they had to do the entire 2 year program along with the rest of us (and were too buried in nursing school requirements to work while in the program). I felt sorry for them because they probably could have taught the class but they had to check their practical nursing knowledge and experience at the door to become a student of textbook nursing. They were told over and over not to answer test Q's by how it's really done at the hospital but to answer according to what the textbook says. It had to be so difficult and confusing for them but their being there gave me faith that nursing must be rewarding or they'd never voluntarily sign up for the hell that is an ADN program :)

agldragonRN · Sep 12, 2011

i made way way more than the cna as an lpn as it should be because i have a license.

now that i am an rn, i make 6 bucks more than the lpns.

this is ltc though not hospital.

nhensleyLPN · Sep 12, 2011

We must be very careful to not get into the hospital nurse vs. nursing home nurse debate. Having said that, no they don't seem to want to hire LPN's at hospitals anymore, even IV certified ones, like myself There are jobs for LPN's though, even though they may seem more limited than RN's.

RazzleNdazzle · Sep 12, 2011

I'm in Ohio. This month alone one hospital has laid off their LPNs and my hospital is phasing them out. Unless you want to work in a nursing home, RN is the way to go. Why waste your time by going to school twice?

Orange Tree · Sep 12, 2011

I initially wanted to become and LPN because it was the fastest way to become a nurse. Unfortunately, the waiting list to get into any LPN program was a couple years! While I waited, I took some prerequisites for RN school. I also discovered that the RN program was competitive entry instead of a looong line of first come, first served. So, here I am :)

I didn't make a big distinction between LVN and RN because I didn't know enough about either of them regarding scope of practice, pay, opportunity, etc.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2011

This is an interesting discussion. In my ADN program, we had LPN's and they had to do the entire 2 year program along with the rest of us (and were too buried in nursing school requirements to work while in the program). I felt sorry for them because they probably could have taught the class but they had to check their practical nursing knowledge and experience at the door to become a student of textbook nursing. They were told over and over not to answer test Q's by how it's really done at the hospital but to answer according to what the textbook says. It had to be so difficult and confusing for them but their being there gave me faith that nursing must be rewarding or they'd never voluntarily sign up for the hell that is an ADN program :)

Same here- back in the early-mid 80s...we had a few LPNs, and they were a wealth of info but couldn't use the practical info they had from years of working. If I remember right, they all made it :)