All these posts are really quite encouraging!! I am a nursing student in PA, and I plan to work in long term care. I'm very excited, and even though a lot of people say they "hate" working in LTC, it's what I really want to do. This site has given me so much information that I'm becoming more and more confident that nursing is the career for me :heartbeat...
Specializes in nursing home, home care, family practice.
Pay rates for lpn jobs vary SO MUCH. I have known LPNs to work at physicians offices who will only pay $10/hr, and agencies that pay close to $40/ hr. for their LPNs. It really depends what you want to get into. I started out as a CNA, and my short term plan was to go to LPN school, just to give myself a boost until I went to RN school, but since I've become an LPN I've found that I'm now actually HAPPY with what I do, and I am making good money... I'm not really even thinking about going back to RN school right now.
I can tell you that the push is to have acute care setting as only RN due to the increased acuity of patients on general nursing floors. Going to LPN school is an option and then if you can roll right into an RN program it is probably the best move for job security. Eventually, you will probably need a BSN to practice, New York I believe has already implemented a BSN for entry level positions.
Get your RN.....NOW!!! Don't waste your time becoming an LPN.....They are being phased out, and I actually made more money being a CNA! It depends where you live, but in NEP we are on our way out, and can only really get well paying jobs in nursing homes...which is fine, if that is what you want!
If you are going to pay the money, get your RN, or even better go into respiratory therapy!
Or Radiology!
I love nursing, and have been a nurse for over 20 years, and have trained many new RN's only to have them become my supervisor, because I don't have RN after my name.... not bitter, just honest... They are darn good nurses, they just took the time to get the paper.....good luck!!! It is the toughest job you will ever love, next to parenting!
alexg524
74 Posts
All these posts are really quite encouraging!! I am a nursing student in PA, and I plan to work in long term care. I'm very excited, and even though a lot of people say they "hate" working in LTC, it's what I really want to do. This site has given me so much information that I'm becoming more and more confident that nursing is the career for me :heartbeat...
-Alex