LPN or RN. Which program is more difficult?

[ashmckay]

Hi, all. I wasn't sure exactly where to post this, so I hope it finds the right readers. Anywho, it's a long way off, but I will be applying for programs starting in spring (2016) and I've been trying to decide if I want to go the LPN route first or just dive into RN. I am a married mother to two small kids. My son will be 5 (and in Kindergarten ) when and if I start the program, and my daughter will be 3. My best friend is currently in the LPN program at the college that I'm attending and after flunking out of the RN program last semester, she was phased into the LPN program and she's telling me to do LPN first. She says it's an easier transition, but I'm not sure if I want to do that.. Hardly anyone hires LPNs here, but I'm worried about not making it through the program (if I even get accepted) because studying with two little ones is so hard. I know it has been (can be) done, but I'm still really nervous about it.

So, for those who have done both LPN and RN, did you feel that one program was more difficult than the other, and would anyone suggest going the LPN route or should I just attempt the RN and get it out of the way? Like I said, my best friend attempted RN, flunked out, and they just phased her into the LPN program.. So I guess either way I do it, I'd have a chance at either?

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

In my first year of the program, we had the LPNs with us in every class except one. One day a week we went to mental health nursing and they went to OB/Peds. We took the same tests. Unless it was an ATI test then those were different between the RN and LPN. Now they are graduating in August and we will be starting our second year. They go over the summer, we do not.

LPN programs go over a lot of material in a very short period of time. Their scope of practice is different. Certain things they do not go into as much detail on. I know when we start Ob/peds in August it is going to be way more in depth than the LPNs did. I think theirs was 8 weeks as opposed to our 16 weeks. They had one day of clinical with it and we will have three days. We also have advanced med/surg and they do not.

I honestly would just go straight to the RN program. You are going to have more opportunities when job searching. Just because your friend flunked doesn't mean you will.

[caliotter3]

Your experiences with either of these programs will rest entirely upon the specific program itself and the instructors in that program at any given point in time.

[direw0lf, BSN]

Forewarned is forearmed: fewer and fewer RTs are finding employment; ones that have been employed up until recently are finding themselves being let go. Why? Because respiratory therapy is part of what an RN already does, and with hospital cutbacks being what they are (low reimbursements from insurance, gov't) they are seen as a luxury. Not to the already overworked nurses, of course, but when the bottom line is at issue.....extra expenses are cut.

Just food for thought.

This is what I hear being said too. When I didn't get in my nursing program the first time I applied I was going to major in diagnostic sonography and eventually I wanted to be certified in neuro sonography. But the jobs for sonographers seem really to be dwindling, just like nuclear medicine and respiratory therapist. (and I wanted nursing anyway!)

And sorry about the comment with my friend - it wasn't medication aid she had wanted she said IV's.

[ashmckay]

I wondered about that. RNs doing what an RT does and why they would hire a RT and pay them separate if a RN can do the same thing..

[Cheers_G, BSN, RN]

Forget about sonography or MRI tech, etc. Hospitals are putting them on call not to pay them salary and save money and it's not a stable job either. I'm in an LVN program and it is tough. I mean you won't spend much time with your kids, you won't have time to cook every day and see your relatives etc. I chose this route because I wasn't sure if I'm cut out for it. Now when I'm in the program I'm thinking I wish I was in an RN program. Because once I finish school I'll be looking for an RN school, take pre reqs. maybe be included in waiting lists etc... so like I prolonged the process. BUT the plus is I also can work as an LVN while I'm RN school this way. You have to figure out which works better for you. LVN is shorter, pays less. RN longer, pays more. Both are hard, you have to be ready for it. Without support with the kids I have doubts one can graduate...

[ashmckay]

True! I guess I compare myself with people with "less stressors" like those without kids more so, but I think just because one may not have kids doesn't make any less stressful. I admire those who have kids, work, AND are going to nursing school because i dont work. The only stress I do have is whether a bill will get paid and kids. Lol. An absence of stress for one could be made up in another area of life for someone else (work, family, finances, etc.)

[Cheers_G, BSN, RN]

Talk to your husband. Explain to him he won't be seeing you much for the whole time but once you're done he's gonna have a wife with an awesome career :) See if he's really willing to support you financially, with kids and house chores. If it's a YES - definitely go for it! Just stay away from noise, kids, etc. while you're in school. You can go to Starbucks, library, souplantation or any other place where you can study away from everybody you know and possibly free wi-fi! If no- think of alternate routes, don't give up, there are no limits! I have no kids, I have a supportive husband I'm doing fine in school but it's still tough! I see how my classmates who have kids struggle, I'm just talking from my experience. Hope this helps!

[mrsboots87]

This is what I hear being said too. When I didn't get in my nursing program the first time I applied I was going to major in diagnostic sonography and eventually I wanted to be certified in neuro sonography. But the jobs for sonographers seem really to be dwindling, just like nuclear medicine and respiratory therapist. (and I wanted nursing anyway!)

And sorry about the comment with my friend - it wasn't medication aid she had wanted she said IV's.

Now IV cert will definitely be helpful, both for gaining employment and knowledge in general. All of the LPNs I work with at my LTC are IV certified and its good because they dont need to call an RN to change IV bags.

[mrsboots87]

I wondered about that. RNs doing what an RT does and why they would hire a RT and pay them separate if a RN can do the same thing..

RTs definitely do a lot more than nurses do when it comes to vent settings and trach care. RNs can do what RTs do with proper training, but RTs entire program is based on how to manage ventilation, ABGs, trach, and all that. RNs barely touch on RT stuff in school because of RT being a separate position. If they truly do phase out RTs, then I sure hope they give current RNs and RN students more education in relation to the current skill and theory of the RT.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

RTs definitely do a lot more than nurses do when it comes to vent settings and trach care. RNs can do what RTs do with proper training, but RTs entire program is based on how to manage ventilation, ABGs, trach, and all that. RNs barely touch on RT stuff in school because of RT being a separate position. If they truly do phase out RTs, then I sure hope they give current RNs and RN students more education in relation to the current skill and theory of the RT.

I will say that depends on the program.

In both my PN and BSN programs, we had trach pts, suctioned them, etc during clinicals; even in my BSN program it was required as a skill check off to do trach care and suctioning.

As a nurse who has taken care of complex Peds pts that had trach/vents; I was in the home doing respiratory care, including trach changes; those aspects were refreshes with on the job training and shadowing to ensure competency.

There are indeed areas of nursing where you need to know how to handle respiratory therapy and it is understood if there is not an RRT around, the expectation is to handle respiratory treatments and have some knowledge on troubleshooting a vent.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

OP, regardless of what you choose, both programs require a dedicated amount of time to understand and be able to apply the concepts of nursing in theory and in clinicals.

The PN program was very intense and required me to understand and apply tons of information in a compact period of time; when I entered my BSN program, there was still a lot of information involved, but I still had some idea of what nursing school entailed, just on another level, rather scope of practice and it was only "bridging the gap" into nursing practice; the learning of a broader scope was the real challenge, and I was able to meet it-meaning that I understood the material, but still needed to dedicate appropriate time into making the grade.

[CLUVRN, MSN, RN]

Just my two cents--the LPN program, in my opinion, was a cakewalk compared to my RN bridge program. I was valedictorian of my LPN class and got A's on everything with very little effort or studying. The RN bridge program, on the other hand, made me want to pull my hair out! My RN to BSN program is pretty easy so far as well (with the exception of Statistics and Biochemistry). Now I wonder how difficult my MSN will be? I guess only time will tell!