LPN or RN?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I am currently in Gen education classes in a Hospital based nursing program and they have a section of the nursing program where you can test out and become an LPN. I have thought about doing that and continuing to finish my RN. Do you think its a good idea. From reading some of the LPN books the mode of thinking isn't the same as an RN. I don't want to mess up my thought patterns. The purpose for me doing it is to make money on the weekends while in school.

What does everyone think:monkeydance:

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Please let's stay on topic. We will not debate which degree is better and whether LPN or ADNs should be eliminated or anything else of this nature.

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Specializes in OR.
Quite naturally I was referring to BSN. In my opinion going to an LPN program then to an ADN program then to a BSN that is a waste of time and money when you think about it logically and I am not trying to step on anyones toes. How can someone possibly think that you need to be a CNA to understand what a nurse does or that it will make you understand how your assistant feels. Do you hear a dentist saying that they need to be a dental assistant first, or an attorney saying that they have to be paralegals first. I am not saying anything is wrong with a person who wants to take a long traveled road to get to a profession, but why would you if you didn't have to. If it was up to me LPN and ADN programs would be eliminated. It makes the profession looks bad when you are working with other healthcare professionals who alot of the entry level programs requires a masters degree. I know because I am also a physical therapist. How can you expect other professionals to hold our opinions in high regards when we have people in our profession who doesn't even hold a college degree. I am not saying that this would make someone more intelligent over another but when you don't have the fundementals that hopefully you obtained from a bachelors degree, i am sorry but your opinion wouldn't matter much. And yes some nurses with a ADN or LPN's may have alot of clinical skills that was learned by doing the same thing over and over again, but that does not make you a professional. A true professional understands why they are doing what they do and can anticipate outcomes based on learned knowledge. Say what you like keep giving your money to schools. I also noticed alot of nurses don't want to be challenged or understand what they are doing. They are content with taking orders, pushing pills and running around all day like a chicken with their head cut off instead of sitting down and thinking about what is going on with the patient and how their interventions will affect the patients outcomes. Oh and before anyone comments my entire purpose of becoming a RN is to go on to CRNA school which I am doing after 1 year of bedside nursing.
A true professional knows that one does not earn respect by degrading the achievements and skills of others. :nono: Boy, I feel badly for you..With the lack of respect and "people skills" you just exemplified in that one post, they are going to eat you alive in CRNA school(if you get there). Oh, and many of us will have had both our ADN and BSN paid for by our hospitals. That's pretty smart if you ask me. Another thing-your post had several grammatical errors-or do they not teach writing properly in BSN programs these days? Done here, by the way. Note to self-The more I read this post, the more I smell a troll. Kind of mad at myself that I didn't notice it earlier LOL.
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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

There are some circumstances where stair-stepping is necessary. My husband was career military and it took five colleges in three different countries to complete my LPN. Then...we moved and I did the ADN. Then...we moved again and I went for the BSN, MSN and post-MSN.

Do I wish I had started with the BSN? Sure, because it would give me more options. However, for some this is the only route they CAN do. Should they be eliminated as nurses? Nope, not in my book.

There's room for all of us.

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Oh and before anyone comments my entire purpose of becoming a RN is to go on to CRNA school which I am doing after 1 year of bedside nursing.

So you've been accepted into anesthesia school? Congratulations on making it through the cutthroat competition....

Or are you just assuming you're going? They want to see more than "1 year of bedside nursing." They generally want solid ICU or ER experience in addition to outstanding recommendations and killer grades....and an attitude that nurses--all nurses--aren't beneath them.

I also agree with the previous poster who wondered how a college graduate could demonstrate such poor writing skills.

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Specializes in LTC, rehab, and now office nursing.

IMHO I say definitley go for the LPN first. It will not hinder your time in school nor the outcome- you can still recieve your RN and will have made some money while doing it. It is a win-win situation. Nursing school is very expensive and if you have to work anyway, like most of us do, why not make some good money PLUS get some experience. I was a home health aid while I went to LPN school and worked as an LPN while going to RN school. I am SO glad I have the LPN experience. I, too, am very offended by the writer who implied that going for the LPN is useless- but nonetheless, that is their opinion, I guess. Being rude is NOT a requirement for being a nurse. Too bad some nurses don't know that. :nono: OK there is my :twocents:

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Boy.... if they only had BSN programs around here I would be up a creek, LOL. Even though I have all of my prereq's (on last 2 now, made nothing but 100's so far..) I simply CANNOT, go to school during the day (only part time). My only option is an LPN night program (part time at that). Am I commited to becoming a nurse, YES. Am I commited to becoming having a BSN, YES. Am I commited to my kids and husband, YES YES YES. Sooo... I have to do what "I have to do" to go where I want to go. I suggest you do the same too to put food on your table. No one on a forum board or anywhere else is going to pay your bills while you go "straight for the PhD".

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
If it was up to me LPN and ADN programs would be eliminated.
LPNs and ADNs contribute tremendously to the healthcare team. In fact, most healthcare facilities would be completely non-operational without the hard work and dedication of all nurses. The field of nursing doesn't receive much respect because the entire world is able to see that nurses don't respect each other very much. Hurling insults at another individual's educational attainment is, in my humble opinion, a sheer act of disrespect.
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No one on a forum board or anywhere else is going to pay your bills while you go "straight for the PhD".

Amen to that!! I was an LPN before getting my RN degree, and it was by far and away the best route for me. Like so many have said, it landed some extra cash in my pocket while attending school for my RN. It also gave me the experience and confidence I needed, plus the reassurance that I was in the profession meant for me. Heartstart, you just do what you need to do to get to your goal. I am a VERY proud ADN graduate and a very good nurse. Someone posted on their signature that "a degree is not the same thing as an education" - the same could be said about being professional as well - whether it be ADN, BSN, PhD, or CRNA - we all have the responsibility of acting like decent human beings. :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

I think timing will be critical if you decide to take the PN exam. Consider... amount of money you will need to throw in to take the test. Plus you will need a good 8-12 weeks of fulltime orientation in a LPN position after you pass your exam. Hopefully you can do that in the summer.

Normally i encourage people to just go ahead with their ADN program and hold out to take the RN exam. (consider the ADN program,, take the RN test and then go at the BSN as you can, you wont have to take the test again and can earn RN wages. And depending on your circumstance it might just be a little easier on you to go through the "step" process.)

But if you really need to get to work and make a bit more money then go for it. Everyones circumstances are different.

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I honestly would say don't waste your time with getting your LPN, your limiting yourself and just prolonging what you really want to do. On that note I would also say don't attend an Associate program that is also prolonging the inevitable because you will still be limited in your scope of practice as an RN. The people who benefit by those persons getting a LPN, then the ADN then the RN are institutions who will accumulate your money. And God forbid you go on and get your MSN or PhD, you will be in school forever and giving so much of your money and time to higher education institutions. Also the amount of time you spend getting an associate degree (you have to do the same prerequisites or maybe 1 or 2 classes less) then still 2 years of actuall nursing courses it will be a total of 4 years anyway. Just my opinion. Go for the brass ring.

Uuuummmmmmm, what is it you're trying to say here? I'm confused. How does attending an Associate program prolong or limit your scope as an RN? You do understand, or maybe not, that by completing an Associate program, when your finished, you take the NCLEX for your RN licensure? You don't go through an associate degree program and then another "2 yrs of actual nursing courses." And it doesn't take 4 yrs to complete an ADN program. An associate program is the ADN/RN program. Either I'm confused, or you are. Did you possible mean BSN instead of ADN/RN?

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Specializes in PICU, ED, Infection Control, Education, cardiology.

Wow, it seems that this thread has gotten off topic...lol

Personally, I entered an LPN program when I decided that I didn't want to be a teacher in my junior year of college. So an LPN program was a way to ease into the world of nursing. I was afraid with the whole male nurse thing. So once I got the LPN lic. it was a great way to make money while I'm in an ADN program and now I'm gonna finish up the last 2 years at a local univers. which I am applying for now. In my area, I took a really great job making great money working nights...the problem arises in my pay...I make more as an LPN than I will as an RN starting out for a while( like 7 dollors and hour less). As for thinking diff. I didn't find it much different b/c once you start thinking as an RN everything will come together.

As for taking longer with school by going through the long way...My employer pays for all my schooling. Lets weigh this out...short with the overwhelming cost of schools today....or and extra year or two with no cost and no loans to worry about.

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