Need LPN advice!

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I'm a recent college grad considering the nursing field. I'm raising a toddler and work full-time. To make it easier on myself, thought I'd get my feet wet and become an LPN first, train to be an RN after paying off debts. HOWEVER, reading the forums is discouraging! LPN's regret not becoming RN's, RN's say the LPN program is a waste of time. I currently make $10/hr in retail and some LPN wages posted online aren't any better. Salary.com lists that LPN's in my area average 30k to 39k a year, which is great, but does this sound appropriate or farfetched? I live between Atlanta and Nashville. Down to business--I'd love to hear from LPN's who are willing to share advice, positive or negative. Do you love your job or have regrets? Also, if you don't mind, throw some salaries at me. Thanks in advance!

I decided to attend LPN school first because all of the RN programs in the area had a whole slew of prerequisite classes in addition to the three year waiting lists. My private LPN program was 12 months long with no waiting lists. I have no regrets for doing things my way. Sometimes we encounter circumstances that require us to 'stair-step' from LPN to RN.

I have five days off in a row every week and work 32 hours per week on Saturday and Sunday doing weekend doubles. Since I have Monday through Friday off, I attend school during the week at a local community college since my ultimate goal is to become an RN.

Go straight for the RN license if you have the time on your hands. However, I took the LPN route because I had bills to pay and, therefore, did not have the time to end up on the waiting list of some college.

This is why I am going to take the LPN route to nursing, too. There are many waiting lists at the RN schools around here, but the LPN program goes by test scores. If you don't score in the top 30-40, then you have to reapply the next year. I can't wait 2 to 3 years to get into a RN program. If you don't mind me asking, how do you like working weekend doubles? I know many LPNs who would love that schedule, but they tell me that it's usually reserved for those who have been employed at the nursing home for a while. I'm going to request weekend doubles (I work as a CNA) if I get into the LPN program, so I was curious as to whether that schedule made you exhausted for the RN program.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
This is why I am going to take the LPN route to nursing, too. There are many waiting lists at the RN schools around here, but the LPN program goes by test scores. If you don't score in the top 30-40, then you have to reapply the next year. I can't wait 2 to 3 years to get into a RN program. If you don't mind me asking, how do you like working weekend doubles? I know many LPNs who would love that schedule, but they tell me that it's usually reserved for those who have been employed at the nursing home for a while. I'm going to request weekend doubles (I work as a CNA) if I get into the LPN program, so I was curious as to whether that schedule made you exhausted for the RN program.

I know that this question was not directed at me, however, let me ask...do you work at an agency as a CNA? Because if you do, then, it may be very easy to receive a weekend assignment. Most full time employees have every other weekend off, making them short of staff, and then, there are others that call in on the weekends. Also, if you are a per diem employee, it may be easier to get weekend assignments as well. Good luck!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
If you don't mind me asking, how do you like working weekend doubles?
I absolutely love working the weekend double shifts because I have more autonomy in addition to the 5 days off per week. My nursing home hired me into the weekend double position with no prior experience since they don't reserve it for any particular people. I attend school at my local community college Monday through Friday with a full load of 12 credit hours and my grades are good.
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Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.

For me, the LPN program I'm attending to has been a life saver! I work part time at a local hospital and PRN at an assisted living facility as a CNA and go to school full time during the week. The program I go to is 18 months long and divided into two phases. I did the first phase of the program last year when I was a senior in high school and am now in the second phase (only 7 months left :)) the great thing is that since I went to the county high school that this program is offered in I don't have to pay tuition and since financially I don't have to capability to attend an ADN or BSN program the LPN program was perfect for me. Afterall there's nothing wrong with climbing your way up the ladder!

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I absolutely love working the weekend double shifts because I have more autonomy in addition to the 5 days off per week. My nursing home hired me into the weekend double position with no prior experience since they don't reserve it for any particular people. I attend school at my local community college Monday through Friday with a full load of 12 credit hours and my grades are good.

That's great that you got the weekend doubles position right away, and that you're grades are good. I would like to have that option, since I figured it would give me 5 days for the LPN program and for studying time. However, it's very difficult to get flexible scheduling at my job, as most of us CNAs and LPNs work 5, 8-hour shifts per week, with a few part-time LPNs. I would think that the nursing home would want a CNA who is willing to work doubles on the weekends, since that is when we are usually short staffed.

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I know that this question was not directed at me, however, let me ask...do you work at an agency as a CNA? Because if you do, then, it may be very easy to receive a weekend assignment. Most full time employees have every other weekend off, making them short of staff, and then, there are others that call in on the weekends. Also, if you are a per diem employee, it may be easier to get weekend assignments as well. Good luck!

I am not an agency CNA, so I don't have the schedule flexibility that one would have. However, I'm still going to try for the weekend doubles next year for LPN school.

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