LPN or RN

JBGC4 · Sep 5, 2007

An RN does make more money. But, this isn't to say that an LPN makes bad money. I know a young lady that started out at $18/hour (7 years ago) as an LPN-she did however work at a Prison. I know some LPN's who work at nursing homes who are making $12/hour and have been there forever.

Every area in the US is different along w/ every facility. I reside in the STL area and from what I understand there are a lot of hospitals that are straying away from CNA's mostly but LPN's as well, but certainly not all.

One thing you may be interested in doing is going through the LPN program and working in a hospital setting afterwards while going through an accelerated RN program. You may be suprised that the program may only take you two -three years. Same amount of time if you were to go straight RN.

KimmieKoo72 · Sep 5, 2007

I went for my LPN first b/c of the long waiting lists at the CC's. It will take you 3 years if you have all your pre-req's done, have the right GPA, and take the NET and apply to the program. If the CC has a waiting list (like the CC in my area has a 2 YEAR waiting list..). it means it will take you 3 years for the pre-req's and actual nursing courses... but add another year or two onto that for a waiting list.

You never know, some people get lucky and are told there is a waiting list but they get bumped to the top of the list for their GPA! So keep them grades up!

LPN's in my area have a salary range of $15-22/hour. I am a new grad working in LTC and I was started out at $19/hour. I will say though, that there is a demand for nurses in general. In my area it seems like the demand is alot higher for RN's, but don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of opporitunities for LPN's. I am going back to school for my RN, and that also makes me feel more confident b/c I have my experience as an LPN. It's a hard decision, I had to make the same one! You have to do what is best for you and your situation! Good luck!!!

xNursePinkx2b · Sep 5, 2007

It's up to you really. It depends if you how long you want to be in school, do you want to go out and work right away, etc.

I'm starting LPN school in Jan, my program had no pre-reqs, I had to apply, take the NET, and was accepted. It's a 12 month program.

RN programs have usually 2-3 semesters of pre-reqs and then you apply to the program and as you know it is very comptetive to get in. You may be placed on a waiting list.

RN's have more opportunities though, and they are payed more. LPN's are paid decently though. Around here LPN's start off around $16-22. Hospitals are still hiring LPN's here but there the ones paying $16-17 an hour while LTC is pay $20-22. It all depends on your area though. Some areas pay LPNs horribly.

I'd say if you are not planning on going back to school after this and you have a couple of years to devote to school, do to the RN. But if you need to get out there and work, do the LPN.

pamie0424 · Sep 5, 2007

I'm older than you, lol....and I'm taking the last prerequisite for RN programs. It takes 1 1/2 to 2+ years to finish the prereqs...depending on how good you are in math & science and the availability of classes. For example, I know people who have had to wait 2 semesters to get into microbiology cause we only have 1 micro teacher.

Something else you want to consider is the waiting list to get into a program. Here the average is 2 yrs and @my school it's 3. BUT many CC's have a program for LPN to RN where the LPN can skip the waiting list and test out of the 1st year of nursing school.

So, my idea is....take a private LPN (the CC waiting list for LPN is long too) program, full time for one year, get your license and then apply to an RN program. You can work pt as an LPN, getting experience(and there is tons of pt work) while you are finishing your RN. In a little over 2 years, you will be an RN with experience!!

The downside of this is that if you don't qualify for any kind of financial aid (I don't) you have a hefty student loan to pay off. BUT I figure at my age TIME is more important than money, so I am seriously considering doing this.

Which ever you decide on, there will always be work. RN's do have a wider variety of choices about where they work and what kind of work. If you know that you want to work in a doctor's office or home health then you might be happy with just the LPN.

Good luck!

MAmom81 · Sep 7, 2007

I just found out today that I am #85 on the LVN wait list at my CC and if people start droping out than I can enroll in Fall 2008 but if not then the woman I talked at the Health Sciences Department at my CC said I would be able to enroll in the Fall 2009 in August!!! I want to be an RN but if I graduate from the LVN Program and pass my boards, she said all I have to do is take and pass the third semester of the RN program and my CC will credit m two semesters of the RN Program and that way I become an RN faster and aviod taking anywhere from 7 to 8 classes plus I will not have to put on the RN wait list on top of all that. I say go for what you really want. I wish you luck and I hope everything works out for you.:roll:roll Nursing School here I come!!! Nurses Rock!!!

phillies · Sep 8, 2007

Hi there:

How often does your CC accept students into the program? My school accepts new petitions every semester (3 times a year). They fill the seats and then select 3 to 5 students for the waitlist. So there really isn't a waitlist per-say. Everyone who doesn't get selected must re-petition each semester.

Good luck

krenee · Sep 8, 2007

Not all CCs have a waiting list . . . mine doesn't. I got in as soon as I applied. I'm 38 and going for the RN, I just knew I wanted to be an RN and why waste time going LPN to RN. And yeah, why not make more $$$ for the same # of hours?

Kelly

KEL2BanRN · Sep 9, 2007

I'm just throwing this out there because not every place is the same, and I would hate for you to get discouraged because of info you received here. I had NO college, and I decided to go for my RN. I was number 400 on the wait list. (local CC) I took ALL of my pre-req's and got them out of the way in 4 quarters. (one school year) I also scored high on my NET and bumped myself clear up into the next round of the nursing program, so there was NO 2-3 yr wait for me. I start in 2 weeks. I just started college last September, and I'm already well on my way to being finished. All I have to do now is complete the nursing program which is 1 yr and 8 months. I'll graduate in May 2009. Best of luck to you.

phillies · Sep 10, 2007

Thanks for your reply. My CC doesn't require any kind of test prior to getting into the nursing program. I don't know if that is good or bad. :uhoh3:However, they do go by a point system. The better the grades the higher the points.

Good luck to you as well.

BuddahNature · Sep 18, 2007

I am not sure since I do not know you personally what your life is like.If you are young,no children,living at home,and do not have any heavy responsibilities that you know will drain your time,energy or money,then I say go directly for the RN. If you are really having a hard time financially now,and are working a job that is not paying well,then I would say,go for the LPN. Chances are if you are working a low paying fulltime job now,then you will have to cut back on your hours to attend a fulltime RN program.I realize you may have to cut back for a fulltime LPN program,but being strapped for money,is easier for a shorter period of time,then a longer period of time, Lack of money, can really hinder some people from finishing a nursing program. Also when you do continue on for your RN,you will find it easier to have a more flexible work shedule,at much better money.

I do not know why some have the impression that LPNs are fading out. My mother was an LPN starting back in 1958,and that rumor was out then.In some ways the role of the LPN has changed.I can only speak about the East Coast. jobs are not readily available in the hospitals,but for those that do work there,they function and do just about everything an RN does. We have a great nursing shortage on our hands.Everyone from CNAS,who are now called PTCs in the hospital,up to RNS are doing more than they ever did in each of their given fields in the healthcare field. Whoever thought,CNAS would be doing EKGs, fingersticks and the like.No one is being faded out.All of us if anything have seen our roles,if anything expanded. Among other things,I as an LPN am IV certified,as are many others out there.

Most of the work that is plentiful,is is in the nursing homes,where LPNS work as charge nurses. I do not know by the way,the last time I ever heard of a LPN making only $12.00 an hour around here. :nono:That is what a PTC would make in a hospital, or an experienced CNA in a nursing home would make.If you are a new grad you should start out anywhere from $18 to $20 an hour. I guess rates are based on where you live at.I am horrified when I see RN jobs in some areas going for $14 an hour,$17 an hour. :uhoh21: I cannot even remember back to when I made that low of a salary.Many staff positions have pay scales based on years of experience. New LPN gradsare making $18 to $20 an hour. Those prison positions pay about $32 an hour. Most of us LPNS do not consider them desireable positions,though.The pay scale of an agency LPN might be between $25 to $ 32 an hour . That is not an exception. Home healthcare pays very well,more than being on staff,and there are benefits.My suggestion to you is make a phone call to the school of Practical Nursing,and ask them what your salary would be like,along with what areas of nursing are most hiring.

Another advantage of getting an LPN first is your employer will have tuition reimbursement.Some pay all if you agree to work there after graduation.

So,I say again,take a look at your own situation,and take the route that works best for you. I gave a lot of detail to telling you about LPNS because I am still one,and I am always surprised about all the myths, here is about LPNs,and their role on the healthcare team. Whereas as I recognize the RN role as being a more expanded role in nursing practice,with more responsibility,flexibility,and income with positions that are now closed to me,that does not mean the LPNS role is any less responsible, or diminished in the least.

3rdgenRN2B · Sep 18, 2007

From what I've heard RN's do make considerably more than LPN's. The schooling is longer but not only will your salary be higher but you'll have more options as far as where you can work.