LPN's who are going on for their RN ...

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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For all of you LPN's who are furthering your education by going on to get your RN, what is the main reason you are choosing to do so?

Is it JUST the money?

(debating about going on for my RN myself)

Specializes in tele, oncology.

I'm hoping to get all the way through to a DNP eventually. I love school, and need something I can do when my back and knees give out on me!

The money is a big motivator. On my floor I do the exact same work as the RNs with the exception that I can't charge...even though myself and the other LPN on my shift are both often used as clinical resources by the charge nurses. I'll be getting a roughly $10/hr raise when I get my ADN.

The more opportunity part of it is important as well...I'm very lucky in that when the hospitals around town started getting rid of LPNs, mine just stopped hiring them and are pushing for us to get our ADNs at least. But I'm stuck at tele, can't get any further up the acuity ladder, aside from when I get floated to step-down a few times a month.

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Specializes in Wound Care.

I have been an lpn for over 20 years and there is many reasons I decided to go on for my RN. Like so many others I have burned out on the job I was in (DD residential group home nurse) and when looking for a new job it was slim pickins. My children are grown now and yes, the increase in pay is a big motivator so I have been plugging away at all the prereq's and will start the lpn to rn program spring semester. There is such a broad range of opportunities as an RN, I have several intrests so will see where I end up. Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with all the younger students and make it through in one piece!!

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hello all,

i haven't gotten my lpn license yet, and i am planning to continue on. my personal goal has always been to obtain my rn, i have just been side tracked so much (children, military spouse) that i decided not to jump head first into rn, for fear i woulnd't be able to finish before my husbands new orders came around. i knew i needed to test the waters, plus i never wanted to be that nurse who doesn't know what it's like to have at least been a cna. all of my pre-req's are complete, i obtained my as degree in 2006 (and re-took anantomy in 2009, just to be up-to-date (in ca anatomy can only be taken 5yrs prior to applying for program)) from the same cc i wanted to do the rn program with; but just never applied due to the fact that there were waitlists and being a military spouse you just never know if you'll be in that state when/ if they call you back in a year or 2. now i'm 6 months from completing the lpn program and lining all of my ducks in a row, so i can jump into the rn program.

california offers the 30-unit option (which most people say is a bad choice; because "you may not be able to transfer you license from ca to a different state.)

but seeing as i have my as (meaning all general ed required for an adn is met) i should fall into an acception somewhere right? anyone heard differently?

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Where I used to work they are replacing all the LPNs that left with new grad RNs for less than I was making. Which causes two main things, a decrease in LPN salary and a decrease in LPN positions.

So as the shift turns in this economy and until it shifts back where hospitals are hiring new grad RNs again it looks like the LPN job market is going to become very limited.

I also don't want to work in LTC forever, I really want to be an OR nurse. So I need my RN-BSN for that. So that is why I decided to go on. MORE OPTIONS!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ICU, ED.

I decided to bridge from LPN to RN because:

1. I wont lie. The money. RNs definitely get paid more than LPNs.

2. I want more opportunites. LPNs are limited to just LTC, home health, and clinics. I want to work in a hospital either Med Surg or ICU.

3. I want to enrich my nursing education. After I finish my RN, I want to get my BSN and then my MSN.

4. I want to be more marketable especially in this economy.

5. I love nursing and all that it is. I want to continue my journey in this career to its fullest! :)

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Specializes in LTC, AL, Corrections, Home health.

I have been an LPN for 2 and a half years and am finishing my final semester of my bridge this fall. I like my job, descent wage (within 2 dollars of the average new grad hospital pay). I work in LTC, though I have done pediatric home health and corrections as well. But ultimately RN was my original goal, not regretful that I went the route that I did; it worked for me and I am more stable and can mroe easily afford to return to school. Sure, more money would be great but the increased opportunity is important to me too. Not sure exactly what I want to do, but if I just fall in love with dialysis, ER, ICU, or whatever I want to make sure that that goal is obtainable; the LPNs don't really work in such areas at the capasity of a nurse.

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm getting my RN to have more work opportunities. I want to be an OB nurse and eventually teach birthing classes, lactation, and possibly nursing students. I know that I can never reach the prime of my career by staying a LPN.

I also want a more money ofcourse but I know experience weighs more than the initials behind your name. Some LPNs make way more than RNs now days.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

Wanted to become a midwife or NP....

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Money doesn't hurt, but main reason is because of the job opportunities. Want to work ER and NO hospitals in my area are even hiring LPNs, let alone ERs.

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I was once told by my nursing director that there are no rich nurses, maybe for the story of that retired nurse that accepted that multimillionaire inheritance some weeks ago, but besides that you can't get rich by being a nurse.

That said, money can be definitely a great motivator.

My family comes from a rich lineage of Registered Nursing tradition.

- There are five aunties of mine that are BSN RNs, with all of their specialties

- My sister and her fiance are BSN RNs - Med Surge

- A cousin of mine who is a Nurse Anesthesiologist - advanced practice nurse RN, BSN, MSN; - - Another cousin who is a Nurse Educator for Kaiser, again another RN, BSN, MSN.

With two MD uncles of mine, family practice and pediatrics, lets just say, we could in theory start our own hospital.

As an LVN, l feel that I am not on the same "playing field" as the rest of my family. At times, during our family conversations, I felt out of place and belittled due to my LVN stature.

In the once great state of California, hospitals here are increasingly becoming Magnet status, so its a no go for LVN, or CNA for that matter.

I want to be able to meet these standards. As an RN, this is the only way to move forward.

I am also doing this for myself.

I started at a university of which, had I completed the required prerequisites, it would have guaranteed a place in their BSN RN program. Due to my stupidity and ill, conceived judgment, I partied way too hard and messed around too much.

As a result of this, I flunked one subject that put me at a disadvantage with my peers.

At 18, I was so fallible that I made the mistake of withdrawing from this program, with all of financing that was in place at the time.

Let's just say, one very bad decision had lifelong percussions. Four years eventually wasted.

Fast forward to a year ago, my sister's graduation. As I saw my sister graduate across the stage, I did not expect to see my classmates of the program graduate at the same time also. My heart was at envy with these guys. I kept thinking that time of all the time wasted.

There was one friend that saw me among the audience, and after graduation, pursued to find me.

He found me, and I kept saying to myself this should be me. I should be here celebrating my graduation, with him, my first college friend.

I believe that the Lord has a plan. Maybe it was meant to be this way.

Coming home from college was demoralizing; therefore, I sought to correct my mistakes.

I started as a CNA, then moved on to an LVN of which I am now, and now I am going to start my RN for a year.

My road to redemption was not smooth. Our family lost our home to foreclosure. I was lost and had no direction for a time, for which I started to doubt nursing as my profession.

As I started progressing through the ranks, I have grown ever more attached to nursing on a personal level. More so than when I had decided at the university level, that I felt due to the family influence, I was forced into it.

My mom has been an LVN for close to 30 years in the same skilled nursing facility. Her facility is tough, it is predominately Alzheimers and Dementia residents, and in my opinion, they are some of the hardest patients to handle. She has a great personality and is very good with handling psych patients.

I asked her why in that amount of time, that she didn't want to pursue her RN license? Playing the piano was her passion, however, nursing paid the bills and as an LVN offered little new of which to grow. She had to raise a family of four after all on an LVN salary, but despite that, if she had to go back in time, she would have become an RN.

Despite the many twists and turns, I believe the Lord has finally gave me a compass to find my lifelong direction. I can continue on the path of which I left off.

Earning this RN is not just for me and my perception, but to help me finally advance from my painful past, and ultimately, to pay for the sacrifices and struggles of which my mom had endured to get me to where I am now.

For this RN is for you Mom. I love you.

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Specializes in CNA/LPN.
Money doesn't hurt, but main reason is because of the job opportunities. Want to work ER and NO hospitals in my area are even hiring LPNs, let alone ERs.

This is exactly where I want to land. I really want to get my hands on an ER job, and while I'm going to be OK as an LPN for the first year or two, during that time, I want to be bridging to my RN. I have not seen any LPNs in hospitals in my area either...and I just won't be satisfied until I bridge. I'd always feel like there's untouched ground and something I still haven't accomplished. I don't want to get stuck feeling that way for my entire career, so it's a must for me to feel like I accomplished what I set out to do. The money upgrade is nice, of course, and the title, but I mainly just want to get my foot into an ER.

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Specializes in Allergy and Immunology.

I am an LPN Mobility student just about done with my RN pre-reqs, and will be applying to the bridge program next month hopefully to start in Jan 2012! This program should be about 2 Semsters I only need 20 more credits to get my RN (ADN) because I have done all the pre-reqs. I am continuing on because RN will give me more oppurtunities and room for growth. I eventually want to work in Pysch, Research, or Legal Nurse Consulting thats what i narrowd my interests down to. And I can not advance to those levels with just my LPN. The program that I will be going to is just an ADN so Im sure by the time I finish that I will need to do RN-BSN which will take another few years hopefully less though. I have continued to work full-time all while pursuing my nursing career even during LPN program because I have bills to pay. I have been going to school for nursing since 2004 but mostly part-time!! From 2004-Summer 2007, I worked on nursing pre-reqs applied to RN at CC and did not get in so I went for LPN instead. I started my LPN program fall 2007, finished that in May 2009, took boards June 2009 and passed. I have put alot into it and I have made it this far so it only makes sense for me to go all the way. But Im a little worried that once I finally get my BSN every job will probably require you to have a MSN. :eek:

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