LPN's that are moms

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2011

Nursing homes in my area offer 8-hour shifts that are conducive to family life (6am to 2pm, 2pm to 10pm, and 10pm to 6am). Most of the moms work either days or midnights because these hours permit them to be at home with the children during the evening hours. However, since day shift is a coveted position, new grads might not be offered days right away. You might have to start out on evenings or nights, work at the place for a few months, and then place a bid for day shift.

medicmandy · Mar 12, 2011

there are some daycares in my area that offer non-traditional hours. The one I am sending my kids to is open till midnight. So if you find a good daycare then anything that suits you and your kid/kids is possible. :yeah:

tiroka03, LPN · Mar 12, 2011

I work nights. That way I am available during the day if the need arises, otherwise I sleep. I am up and refreshed for the evening. I am giving the best to my family that way.

RN/Mom · Mar 13, 2011

Honestly, your options (wherever you live) will be limited as an LPN in terms of hours, shifts, pay, benefits, job opportunities, and job outlook. If you know you want to be a nurse, I would only consider becoming an RN.

I am a mother and an LVN/LPN. From my observations, I have seen that RN's have fantastic job options that LPN's don't generally have -- great salaries, 12 hour shifts, student loan repayment, awesome night/weekend/charge pay differentials, paid relocation and housing allowances, and the opportunity to continually advance their education (credentials, higher degrees, etc.).

LPN's work within a very limited scope of practice under the supervision of RN's and have no opportunity for advancement. The pay is roughly half of what RN's make, and the options such as 12-hour shifts and the like that exist everywhere for RN's are difficult to come by for LPN's.

As a mother and LVN, I would encourage you to only consider becoming an RN. It takes a couple more years, but it is so worth it!

medicmandy · Mar 13, 2011

Becoming an RN does open up more doors. But, with young children sitting on waiting lists for 2 or more years at a college to get into the RN clinicals and then spending 2 more years in school may not be an option. I am going to LPN school in April after waiting on a waiting list for the RN program for a year. I don't know about you but I need a job. One that pays more than Mcdonalds, I am also an EMT-B but there are like no jobs there. That is why I going to get my LPN work for 2 years and then apply for the RN/LPN bridge at the local community college. It is the best of both worlds I think, I will have a job while waiting for the program. Not like now, I just waiting for classes to start and scrapping by. But, ultimately it is your choice. Good luck

peppapig123 · Mar 13, 2011

Medicmandy-i understand where you're coming from about those waiting lists. I saw some of your other posts on different threads, and see we're kind of in the same area. The waiting list for my local cc (tri-c) is ridiculous. I was thinking of applying to CSPN for the next class that starts in October, let me know how things are there! It seems like a great school.

Kateoh82 · Mar 13, 2011

Due to the long waiting lists and ridiculous pre-requs that is why I too decided to take the LPN route, and then bridge to RN... Its the best plan for me. A lot of people really discourage those who are wanting to get into the nursing field to skip LPN and go straight for their RN, but every person's situation is different, and I think its important to respect that.

RN/Mom · Aug 31, 2011

For those of you becoming LPN/LVN's with the plan of eventually bridging to an RN program, I just wanted to share my experience, as that's the route I have taken. These are a few key things I wish I would have realized prior to becoming an LVN:

1) LPN/LVN jobs are hard to come by as a new grad, and many facilities are phasing them out entirely. You may finish the LVN program in one year only to spend an additional year unemployed and looking for a job. I did.

2) If you're avoiding RN programs due to the pre-req's and entrance exams, you will still be required to take exactly the same pre-req's and entrance exams as an LVN-RN applicant. So, in other words -- if you want to be an RN, there's no way around the pre-req's and entrance exams, so why not just do them now?

3) The length of time it has taken me to become an RN via the LVN-RN route is over 5 years, versus the 3-4 years it probably would have been if I had gone the traditional, generic RN route (pre-req's and waiting lists included).

4) Where I live, LVN-RN programs are competitive and have waiting lists now, too. That's mainly because all of the private, for-profit colleges around here that have been churning out droves of LVN's with the same plan -- to bridge over to an RN program.

5) Upwards of $30k is a ridiculous amount of money to pay for an LVN diploma. Don't saddle yourself with such debt and expect to be able to pay it off without accruing absurd amounts of interest on an LVN/LPN salary. This is probably my biggest regret!

6) Once you are employed as an LPN/LVN, you're going to see first-hand that the RN's you're working with (who are no smarter than you, may or may not be more competent than you but make twice your salary, have lovely pay differentials, flexible scheduling options, and endless opportunities for advancement and specialization) pretty much do the same job as you when all is said and done. This will make you think, "Why the **** didn't I just become an RN?!" Then, you'll want to discourage everyone else from making the same mistake you did.

andreasmom02 · Sep 1, 2011

I became an LPN in '08. I need two more nursing classes to bridge over to an RN, which I hope to do some day. I am not working at the moment, however, as I am a stay at home mom. My husband and I have little childcare help, so I have been home with the kids since I got my LPN license in '08. It has been difficult for me to try to juggle work & childcare help. I have already had to quit two jobs that I got right out of school, because I couldn't find reliable babysitters. My hubby & I really can't afford daycare, so it's kind of out of the question. My advice is if you want to be an LPN or RN, definitely go for it. Just have a babysitter or daycare plan set up before you start work. I found out I was expecting our 2nd child (she was a little surprise miracle) the week I took my LPN boards! :) So I have had to put work on hold until my kids were older. They are getting older now, so I'm juggling the idea of going back to work soon if I don't go back to RN school first. Good luck, and remember to have a babysitter plan ready after you finish school if you decide to go, and you'll be all set! If you don't have a reliable plan in motion, you'll be like me, home with the kids, and out of work.... I'll never regret the time I've had at home with my kids... I just wish I could've worked some part time along with the time I've been off with them.

lpnstudent0919 · Sep 1, 2011

Due to the long waiting lists and ridiculous pre-requs that is why I too decided to take the LPN route, and then bridge to RN... Its the best plan for me. A lot of people really discourage those who are wanting to get into the nursing field to skip LPN and go straight for their RN, but every person's situation is different, and I think its important to respect that.

I agree, I am doing a 2nd career and to become an LPN there are only two prerequistes that I didn't take in H/S and they are available for 150 and 175; biology and chemistry. Test outta math and english on Teas. Start right away!

Our community college has many prereq's and a point system with quite a wait. Every time I tell someone I am going for my LPN, I get the same response...go for the RN. Well at 48 and just my husband working a child in grade school (can you say COLLEGE TUITION), I need to get to work in 1.5 years not wait 1.5 years.

Good Luck with everything you do (you can do it:yeah:)

lpnstudent0919 · Sep 1, 2011

For those of you becoming LPN/LVN's with the plan of eventually bridging to an RN program, I just wanted to share my experience, as that's the route I have taken. These are a few key things I wish I would have realized prior to becoming an LVN:
1) LPN/LVN jobs are hard to come by as a new grad, and many facilities are phasing them out entirely. You may finish the LVN program in one year only to spend an additional year unemployed and looking for a job. I did.
2) If you're avoiding RN programs due to the pre-req's and entrance exams, you will still be required to take exactly the same pre-req's and entrance exams as an LVN-RN applicant. So, in other words -- if you want to be an RN, there's no way around the pre-req's and entrance exams, so why not just do them now?
3) The length of time it has taken me to become an RN via the LVN-RN route is over 5 years, versus the 3-4 years it probably would have been if I had gone the traditional, generic RN route (pre-req's and waiting lists included).
You may be right but where I come from there are still jobs out there. My good friend is taking all the work she can and still has too much and has to turn down shifts. I am willing not too discerning about what position...yet! My private college is only $17,000 (which is higher than our community college) and I hope I am not just "turned or churned out of my school, I have heard they do a good job but I have to work hard. But with Community College, you have to take the prereqs and TEAS V. My school will let me test out of reading, grammer, math but I have to take Biology and Chemistry High School Level which are less than $200 including books and labs. So...I am beginning within 4 months of starting.
My thought is if I miss a year of working, then I lose alot more than $17,000. Also, I worked in other industries for 25 years and, in a recession is regular job market is STILL worse than the nursing job market.
My career goals are not amitious, I really want to work with people instead of a head set and a computer for 12.00/an hour. After 6 years and 4 promotions and only making 16.50 and hour, I'll take 18.00 and do something I like. I worked with about 20 RN's at the Blue Cross and they did have it made and made three times my salary. I am humble, hardworking and yes,....old and outta time!
It is each to their own. We all have such different personalities, ages, families and goals. But if I were 20-30 years old with another 30 years to work, I would go for the RN (like my neice and Godchild, Krissy).
Thank you for the perspective and God Bless!