HELP PLEASE!!, Should I LPN?

[fairie311sweetie]

hi everyone. i currently am attending georgia perimeter college for an associates in education. for the past year i worked as an assistant pre-k teacher and recently stopped. apon reviewing my time working at the childcare center i decided that teaching was not for me. i felt like i was misserable babysitting kids all day when i really wanted to help them. i have been told that i have a sweet, caring nature and have the ability to make people feel calm. i love kids, and would love to help sick kids. i however am afraid of the seriousness of a hospital in terms of sickness. i tend to be very emotional. i also am about to be 23 years old and feel as though i need a job soon because i feel personally ready to get married and have kids. i have always admired lpn"s at childcare ddcters offices and feel that this would be perfect for me. than, if i feel like the money is just not enough, or feel like i need to advance for any other reason, id continue getting my rn after working for a couple of years. ive been searching the web, and am having a hard time finding answers. can anyone help?!?! im stressing!!!

1. how much do lpn's really start at?

2. how much should i expect to get paid?

3.is expecting to do an lpn to rn program, just in all honesty, hard to do, or unlikly?

4. any tips!!!

thanks,

-kathy

[Jules A, MSN]

1. how much do lpn's really start at?

2. how much should i expect to get paid?

3.is expecting to do an lpn to rn program, just in all honesty, hard to do, or unlikly?

4. any tips!!!

thanks,

-kathy

hi kathy,

my fellow classmates are making between $19 and $28 dollars an hour. one friend turned down a drs office job that she would have loved because it was only $14 per hour. most of them are working in ltc although there are some hospitals that hire lpns in my state.

i thought that getting into the lpn to rn program would be easy especially because my grades are pretty good. i was mistaken. many of the ccs don't even offer a bridge program despite advertising it on their website. there is the in-county preference where they will take a 2.0 gpa student over a 4.0 out of county student and some have stringent critical care working requirements before you can apply. i may end up heading right for my bsn even though its a bit quicker/cheaper to do the rn to bsn program. since you've already got your bachelors you might be best to go right for your bsn after your lpn if you decide to continue on with nursing.

all in all if you aren't really sure if nursing will suit you i think the lpn program is a great option. short and sweet. good luck with whatever you decide. jules

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I am in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and earn $18.50 at a nursing home with 1 year of experience. In my area, LVNs typically earn between $13 and $21 hourly. The lowest-paying workplaces are hospitals and doctors' offices. The highest-paying workplaces are nursing homes and home health agencies.

Since you are in Georgia, the LPN pay might be lower than average.