Need some light on this..

[c_loredo]

Hello everyone, This is my first ad and I'm hopeful I could get a accurate response.

As of right now, I am a MA and going to school for LVN from a national program school.

My question is, once I become certified LVN should I get my BSN shortly after..

What's the difference between a LVN with and without a BSN? will I be able to have better job opportunities? Get paid the same? Any insight would be great.

Thanks in advance

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Welcome to AN!

An LVN isn't a certification- it's a licensure granted once one has passed an LVN program and NCLEX-PN. A BSN is a degree that enables one to sit for NCLEX-RN and confers licensure as an RN after passing the exam. They are two different things. You can begin by looking at the scope of practice in your state for both LVN and RN to see the differences. RNs generally have a higher pay rate and you will find many more acute care positions (hospitals, etc) will require an RN. It sounds like you would benefit from some doing some research on the differences between LVN, RN, and the education requirements that lead to those licensures.

[jcourtnay]

It depends on what specialty you would like to go into...LVN sometimes is quite enough, most of the time though, an RN license is necessary

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

What's the difference between a LVN with and without a BSN?

As a former LVN who completed a BSN degree, I am now considered a registered nurse (RN). You can hold an LVN license and an RN license simultaneously in many states, but it does not make sense to do so.