LTC/Hospice/Home Health- Who gets hired LPN or ADN?

[radicalsenseofhope]

I am trying to decide what route to take into nursing. I know I want my BSN someday, but I'd like to start with LPN or ADN and then bridge upwards, due to tuition costs and not wanting to take out student loans. I have worked as an aid in long term care/rehab. I love the geriatric population and I'd like to work as a nurse in LTC, hospice, or home health. In this economy, who would have the best chance of finding a job as a new grad in these areas? An LPN or an ADN? I've heard most nursing homes prefer LPNs because their pay is lower. But I've also heard that with the glut of RN new grads, they are taking the jobs that LPNs used to do, for low pay, just to have a job. Advice, thoughts, comments? I don't want to supervise or manage, I just want to do direct care right now. What route should I take?

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

That's hard to say. I think I would look at the local job market and see what is shows. IMO, I would at least the RN, but again, that's me. It would be one less step to the BSN