LPN or RN?

[Gothique]

Hello Again!

I posted a thread before regarding if I should go to school to be a medical assistant before I went to RN school and decided that becoming an LPN would be a better option for me. I have several schools available to me in the area that I can complete in one year and they are thousands of dollars cheaper than RN school. I think this would be beneficial to me because it would put me in a nurse like environment and the bigger thing is if I don't like it I didn't just waste 2 years of hell and am 20 grand in debt. So here are several questions for you guys.

1. The main one being what should I look for in a school? I have a lot of LPN programs available to me, but some of them ask that you take pointless classes like anthropology and history. Should I look for school focused more on academics or clinical?

2. My friend said that if I'm going to be an LPN I should just be an RN because there's not that much difference and you get paid a lot more. Is this true? What is the average salary an LPN makes? I have read on Google it's anywhere from $14 - $29 per hour!

3. FINALLY are the schedules as crazy as an RN's? Are you guys working 16 hour shifts on no sleep and running on empty. I heard both yes and no.

Thanks for all your help and career advice. I'm going on my 2nd one so I have to make sure it's done right!

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

Originally Posted by Gothique

I have a lot of LPN programs available to me, but some of them ask that you take pointless classes like anthropology and history.

My LPN program required an Assoiciate Degree in Science to graduate. Some of the classes may seem pointless now, but you'll be ahead if you decide to pursue you BSN. Good luck to you!

[NC Girl BSN]

I'm not sure where you live but in my state, the hassle of even getting into a program is one of the biggest problems. The admission criteria change every minutes it seems.There are entrance test to take and there are probably 200-300 people trying to compete for 60 slots. Its good that your starting early because it may take you a couple of years to even get into a program. I live the Raleigh and LPN make decent money. In LTC they range from 18-23.00 depending on shift diff. In hospitals, its hard to find a job in the area not the mention that the pay sucks. $13-14 an hour. Good Luck to you!

[LPN4U]

Hi NC Girl 35> I am moving to that area i live about 35-45 min away and looking for a LPN position if you could give a idea of where to look. I had a interview yesterday at one of the large hospitals in raleigh but not really sure where i want to go.