LPN, Phlebotomy, EKG tech???

beekee · Jan 2, 2020

Check what the salaries are for phlebotomists and EKG techs. It’s probably not much different than what you are making now, but easier on your body.

You can do the LPN program if work is flexible on what days you work. Will it be hard? Yup. But you can do it. Believe in yourself.

RosieQ · Jan 2, 2020

Yes, I agree with you. I think I'm leaning toward LPN. EKG and phlebotomy would be less physically demanding but I doubt I'd see much of a pay increase. I appreciate your response.

amoLucia · Jan 5, 2020

A critical question to ask should be what are the employment possibilities when you would finish.

Is there REALLY a job market for the EKG and phlebotomist graduates???

Or would you be just looking and looking and looking for that first job.

Like who hires them?

Another critical concern would be how much room for any upward mobility is possible? I don't see much except a basic clinical level and then the manager/supervisor/head tech position. End of upward mobility. And then you'd pretty much max out on salary advancement.

Is that enough for you???

At least as an LPN, you'd see employment options and then you could always move on bridging into RN if you chose.

Just to say, any school program will be hard, and you'll have to weigh time, cost, support, constraints etc. But you need to look at the practicality long range.

Hope this helps. Good luck to you.

techitalia, EMT-B · Jan 6, 2020

I think it also depends on what you think you might enjoy more! If you think you would enjoy working as a Phlebotomist or EKG Tech vs. LPN, with way less charting, I'd go with the other's! And if you decide to do EKG Tech, your job possibilities are greater getting your CCT.. Certified Cardiographic Tech vs. EKG Tech. Hospitals prefer the CCT over the other. But, like the other's were saying, there is more room for growth and opportunity with LPN and better pay! Your only 40, go for it but enjoy what your doing also!!

turtlesRcool · Jan 9, 2020

I agree to see what the other positions pay. Phlebotomist seems more promising than EKG tech. Probably not as much money as LPN, but likely more than CNA, and easier on your back.

I think you are wise to be thinking about doing something other than CNA work, both because of the financials but also because very few people are able to meet the physical demands of CNA work all the way to retirement age. At 40 you're probably okay, at 50 you'll be slowing down, and by 60 you'll be at great risk for injury, if you make it that long.

Is EKG tech an in-demand job? Not being snarky. In my hospital the CNAs all do EKGs. It's really not that hard to learn where to put the 12 leads. The doctor orders an EKG, usually STAT, and the CNA taking care of the patient that day does it. I'm trying to imagine the context in which someone's job would just be to do EKGs, and I'm coming up short.

Your child is 6, so I'm assuming s/he is in school, so you should have some time for classes and study. Yes, nursing school (LPN or RN) can be challenging, but that's WHY it's a path to better pay. It it didn't require time or effort, anyone could do it.

Since you're 40, you've probably been out of school for a long time. There will likely be a learning curve as you get back into the swing of studying. However, lots of times mature students who go back to school do better than they did when they were younger. By 40 most people have better focus; they are highly motivated to meet their goals, and have better self-knowledge (i.e. they know what they need to do to get things done).

If you can get into a reputable LPN school (not super expensive, good NCLEX pass rate), and you make studying a priority, I think becoming an LPN is a good idea.

vicki lewis · Jan 31, 2020

On 1/1/2020 at 9:21 PM, RosieQ said:
I am currently working as a cna at a hospital. While I do not hate the work, I want to advance in knowledge and pay. I am considering going to school for my LPN (Shorter program can get working faster than with RN) but am feeling hesitant because I would be an older student 40 with a 6 year old at home-- single mom. I work part time 2 12 hr shifts and cannot stop working or cut back on hours. My support is limited, but my ex would be able to help out weekends and his sister is offering to help out a couple times per month with sitting if needed. There are jobs in my area for LPN mostly in assisted living, snf's, homecare and schools. The pay would be significantly more than what I earn as a cna. I am unsure because of all I've heard about how rigorous, demanding and difficult nursing school is. The program is part-time 3 to 4 days a week 18 months. Is this doable or should I look into something less demanding ie phlebotomy/ ekg tech?? I am ready to move on from CNA but don't want to bite off more than I can chew. Opinions welcomed.

I have been an LPN since 2004, for me LPN school was not hard i did it with twins that were 6 and an 18 month old baby at home. with that being said and i could do it over i would not have done it i would have bit the bullet and just did the RN program back then and then advanced. i am now all these years later taking prereq's through portage online and will apply to the LPN to BSN accelerated program for the fall of 2020. LPN's have become in my opinion pill pushers and we have much more knowledge than given credit for. The pay is def better than what a CNA makes but if your going to sacrifice give yourself the most advantage you can if you can. If you cannot devote the time then i say go for it but dont stop like i did keep going right off the bat!! good luck

LittleCa, CNA · Apr 25, 2020

Hi,

In case you are still looking for options. Here is my 2 cents. I started as a CNA, in California making $10/h. After a year, I applied for a position with Davita where I was trained and received a CCHT (Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Tech) and started making $16/h. Three years later (and very little pay raise). I found an opportunity at a local hospital as an EKG tech, making over $20/h. Meanwhile, I've been working on my RN prereqs and I'm probably a year away from getting in the program (due to waitlist).

Working in Dialysis gave me a lot of patient care experience and this new job at the hospital is giving me a lot of good connections, not to mention exposure. I definitely recommend moving on from the CNA to something a little more technical at a hospital while you work to become a nurse. In most places, it takes a while to get in the program, and trying out different things helps your skills set.

I double as a CNA at the hospital and work with new grad RNs who never worked in healthcare before getting into nursing school. I'm not saying they've committed a mortal sin, but you sure can tell they have some catching up to do compared to the new grads who were CNA or LVNs before.

To sum it up, if you can get into an LVN program do it. If you can't, the healthcare tech route is nearly as beneficial. We are certainly hired at hospitals and make a decent living.

Best of luck!

amoLucia · Apr 25, 2020

Noticing that this post is a few months old. And OP has not had any posting activity since then (might just be lurking?).

But after re-reading this post, I'm thinking - for an lab/EKG tech, they come in, they go home. They come in, they go home. Etc.

I loved them when they were avail, esp the phlebotomists. And I will not minimize ANY of their training, esp if EKG techs become EKG monitors (interpreting the screens on a unit).

At the end of the day, they go home. And speaking of 'day', that shift is prob the most readily avail.

Hope OP might read this; or anyone else thinking about this.

Dln14 · Apr 25, 2020

My opinion is to do an ADN/RN degree and then bridge to BSN online. I think this makes the most sense if you are going to commit and make the sacrifices to go to school (whether it is EKG tech, phlebotomist, LVN). RN would give you the most flexibility job wise, and a higher pay rate.

You can do it!! ?