Please help! LPN or RT???

[Coloradogrl]

I really need help!

 

I have came to a crossroad and really need help with deciding.

I have the the oppertunity to either go to Respiratory Therapy school or enter a LPN program.

The RT program is 16 months and then additional 24wks to become a RRT.

The LPN program is 13 months and then I would "hope" to bridge over into the RN program. This would he a way I could "hope" to get into a RN program eventually and also be able to work.

Any advice would be appericated! I really need it:mad: :mad:

 

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

If I was you, I would check with your local hospital and see if you can follow a RT and LPN for a shift or a few hours to get an idea of what each of them do.

The only problems posed by this 'shadowing' idea is the fact that many hospitals do not utilize LPNs anymore and, therefore, there might not be any LPNs to shadow at the local hospitals.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Also, every school is different but here, the RT and RN core is a lot similar give or take a few classes.

Another career path with college coursework that fulfills many of the RN prerequisites is the surgical technologist or operating room technician. You could work as a surgical tech in a hospital or outpatient surgery center while you wait to get into an RN program. Also, most of the science courses will count as RN prerequisites or corequisites such as biology, anatomy & physiology, microbiology, etc.

[Jules A, MSN]

I usually discourage folks from doing it who want to be a RN. It's a wasted year.

I would disagree that the LPN is a wasted year. At the very most with the bridge program LPNs take a summer course and then move right into the second year of the RN program. So in my opinion two months isn't a huge deal in the big picture. There are still quite a few hospitals in my area that utilize LPNs and while you might not get a cherry, speciality assignment a job in critical care is not hard to come by. Good luck with whatever you decide. Jules

[jamangel]

I would disagree that the LPN is a wasted year. At the very most with the bridge program LPNs take a summer course and then move right into the second year of the RN program. So in my opinion two months isn't a huge deal in the big picture. There are still quite a few hospitals in my area that utilize LPNs and while you might not get a cherry, speciality assignment a job in critical care is not hard to come by. Good luck with whatever you decide. Jules

Everyplace doesn't have a bridge. If a bridge is available then that's great.

Also in my area, LPN jobs are few and far. When I first came out 10 years ago the pickings were plentiful but now there might be 5 jobs listed max and it's all LTC or corrections. LPN's that have hospital positions have them on lock.

[RXCT]

Here in CT you can bridge to your RN...just as you can with many on-line prgms. I would suggest going for your LPN or RN because we need more nurses with the shortage that is escalating. Even if your JUST an lpn. I'm JUST an lpn & very satisfied with my work. I'm actually at the same rate of the newly hired RN's. So, if your a good LPN & you know your stuff you can really excell as JUST an lpn. I have no desire to continue with more nrsg school because I'm very happy. We need nurses so, one nurse to the other.....becaome a nurse if thats your dream...we need you....don't go for RT if nursing is your goal. You will regret it untill you finish nursing school. Nurses and RT's are not anywhere similar in careers. Much of your nursing career will be knowing your resp. assessments very well. Both LPN & RN's need to be very fine tuned to save a life. RT's is just resp. Not much of other body systems... you do a totally different line of work...nursing grows and there isn't any limits to what your career can grow into through nursing. There are not RT shortages as there are for LPN/RN. If your heart says "I'm a nurse" then become one!

PS don't be fooled by the letters after your name. In my state LPN programms are up to 22 months straight.....very long & thats full time with only 2 weeks off that whole 22 months. Our RN programs (associates) are 2 years (44 four month semesters.) very odd how they do this. In the real world we do the same job & make about the same pay. If your really knowledgable & motivated then your in at any facility....they will pay you what your worth... Just an example: I went on an interview and was told that the starting LPN salary there was $20 even. I said no thanks unless you can beat the $26 that I was offered at another local facility. They exceeded that with anoth $1+...pretty good huh? I just found the starting salary for the facilities new RN's is $23-$24! Don't get me wrong it's not flex. like that everywhere but, if your worth it ..they pay!

Money isn't everything but after all that work you need to pay manky loans off ($25,000 at my LPN school). I work on a rehab unit...more like a med-surg. unit....many aren't rehab fit yet! Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!