LPN student with management/technical background; opportunities?

[nomoreonions]

Hello to all. I have been an LNA for just over a year now working in a fast-paced LTC facility. I begin the LPN program in January and will be completed in Dec '14. This is quite a marked career change for me as my background and experience for the prior 17 years is in Information Technology and programming. A total 180, if you will. My question is aimed at those of you who are working or have worked in any kind of nursing role pertaining to management, staff development or case management. The degree I currently hold is a Bachelors of Science in Business Management, and while I enjoy very much the LTC environment and having direct patient contact, I am curious to know what other types of roles may be available to someone with a management degree and LPN. Although my ultimate goal is bridging to ARN, heavy competition in the Northeast for admission to nursing schools, cost, time, and familial obligations leave me with LPN as the best possible option at this time.

Any advice is appreciated!

Stacey

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Without a BSN...your prospects of management are very small.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

What about looking into certification/training as a nursing home administrator? This is a non-clinical management role that does involve interaction with patients, their families and clinical staff.

Generally speaking LPN's can administratively supervise nurses but not clinically. LPN's must work under the direction (direct supervision is not required) of an RN, MD, DDS, etc.

Without a BSN your chance for clinical supervision is nil.

Here's a link to the requirements for an LTC administrator in NY State (basic is bachelor's degree, age 21, and some specific coursework)

http://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/nursing_home_administrator/quals.htm

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

I worked with an LPN who was in charge of marketing at a nursing home and she made a good wage. I also worked with another LPN who had a management role at a city jail. It's possible, I guess you just have to search. I must add that they worked at their respective facilities before being promoted. Good luck in LPN school :)

[klone, MSN, RN]

I agree and disagree with others. Without an *RN* your opportunities in management are little/none, but if you're looking outside hospitals and large health systems, you don't need a BSN. My husband is an RN in hospice and has been working in management now for a few years, with just an ADN. Outside hospitals, it's been my experience that experience is much more highly valued than degrees. The company he works for, the regional VPs have no higher than a BSN and an equal amount of them have associate's degrees.

If you're interested in long term care, home health, or another out-of-hospital management position, I don't think not having your BSN will hinder your career, but you need to have great experience under your belt, and you need an RN.

[RNCop]

In Arizona LPN's often occupy management positions in LTC facilities. However I would be remiss to not recommend that you get an RN, BSN and possibly an MBA depending on how high up the ladder you want to climb. I am an RN with a BSN, 10 years of management experience and am currently employed as an Executive Director. I have experience teaching hospice compliance at the national level and have worked in Government enforcement for Medicaid, yet I still feel as if I need an MSN and an MBA. I am working on both now and should be done in 2015.

[AngelicDarkness]

The retirement hone industry has many lpn opportunities. I'm an rpn in a director of care position. All my charge nurses are rpn/lpns.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

But RPNs in Canada have a much broader scope of practice than most US LPNs especially since they graduate from a 2-year former RN program. Most LPN programs are less than a year full time.

[AngelicDarkness]

True, but there are ways to expand continuing ed. and training to be marketable.