My LPN-ADN Experience

Published Dec 23, 2021

4 Posts

Specializes in Psych; Community Health.

Hello,

Offering some reassurance: nursing is nursing. Foundation is incredibly important. My foundation was earned by experience.

PN program was hard due to introduction to nursing: short program length: full time course load: blank canvas that needed to be molded into a nurse

worked for a few years as an LPN

LPN-ADN was very similar to my PN coursework and clinical rotations. Difference was IV push and blood products. I managed to do the program with minimal studying, continuing to work and care for two young kids. I entered into the 2nd year, earning credit by credential for my LPN.

PN school: EHR full assessment and concept map due weekly: quizzes weekly: in person: group project work: 9 months: mon-fri: clinical sites: long term hospital, long term care, sub acute; methadone clinic, pediatric home health care, pediatric office and dual diag unit.

ADN: one care plan due during the clinical rotation: hybrid program; quiz every 2-3 weeks: more time to digest material. One care plan due during a rotation allowed more time to focus on other aspects of clinical and course work: MORE TIME TO LEARN; more time off due to college calendar; 5 weeks off between 1st and 2nd semester: self paced studying over 2-3 weeks before quiz; Fall semester: More professors available for support and guidance; Sep-mid Dec and Spring Semester: late Jan to May. Clinical sites: local hospitals; med surg, tele, Psych facilities, ER, outpatient community.

LPN salary started at $21 sub-acute then $24 Addictions, $36 Psych then $40 vaccine nurse and $45 COVID tester.

ADN $40 Vaccine nurse; $60 COVID tester; $50-$100 travel nursing per contract.

I’m happy with my journey.

My LPN experience is what helped me succeed at ADN program. Building on knowledge I knew.

The ADN work wasn’t more challenging. The programs were quite similar honestly.
I was nervous about clinical but it was very similar.

Similar work in real world r/t my specialities; more respect: better pay; better differentials and benefits; more opportunities: hospitals in my area are better staffed and stocked than the local nursing facilities; I do less work for more money and respect.

my hardest job was 1st out of Nursing school on sub acute floor. Minimum 20 patients, baby nurse, multiple poorly managed DM, admissions, transfers, discharges, limited supplies, multiple IVs, tubes, wounds, trach pts, precautions, actively dying pts, angry families, short staffed, dementia, psych, substance abuse, providers with too many pts ignoring issues; competing with OT/PT/SLP; lots of appointments

After my 1st experience, other nursing opportunities seem and feel a whole lot better.