RN or LPN???

We need a little more info! :chuckle How urgent is it that you start making money fast? How much time do you want to spend on education? How much money do you want to spend? Do you have a family? How supportive are they of you going to school? What do you want to do as a nurse? What are your short and longtime goals? :)

I recommend you spend some talking to LPNs and RNs near you, maybe shadowing a few and seeing firsthand what they do and asking they like it.Then, check into the programs around you, LPN, RN, University, etc, and see what they cost, how much time they take for training and what of these will work best for you. Good luck to you!

We need a little more info! How urgent is it that you start making money fast? How much time do you want to spend on education? How much money do you want to spend? Do you have a family? How supportive are they of you going to school? What do you want to do as a nurse? What are your short and longtime goals?

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Lisa M. - LPN student starting July '04

Sorry, I was dosing while writing this and should of been more specific.

I am a PCA (Patient Care Associate) now and I don't make bad $$ ($10.75 + shift diff)

I have a 3 year old daughter and I am waiting till she goes to kindergarten in 2 years to go so I don't have to do the sitter thing. I now work the weekends (12's) and my hubby works during the week, it works for us.

When my daughter goes to school I will have more time to go but I was thinking about going for my LPN and then doing my RN online or finding a way to do it so I wasn't in school for 2 straight years. My sister is an LPN as well as my neice and this is something I have always wanted to do but I want to be able to put everything into it but I think 2 years is a long time for me to be in school all at once.

Trish

If you have the time and money go for the RN. The RN has more job opportunities and makes more money. Both are honorable nursing degrees to have, but IMHO the RN is best to have if you're able.

My son was 16 monthes when I started LPN school, it was hard to be away from him but with creative planning we made it through! Now he is 15 and I just finished the RN program (also have an 11 yr old girl). Before you start in a program you have to sit down iwht hubby and do some planning for the next couple of years and everyone must understand you will need time for study without the day to day interuptions (sp) that come as part of daily life. You must also plan and stick to taking time for just you and your family. I wish that I had gone to RN program from the beginning instead of waiting so long but at the time it was right for me. I'm sure you will come up the the answer that is right for you. Good Luck with which ever you decid!!

I am also thinking whether I should go for the R.N. or the LPN program. I live in Massachusetts, and I can't seem to find a school that offers LPN. I was going for nursing and I'm almost finished with my prerequisites, but I'm still looking for a school that offers LPN. Can anyone give me any schools that they know in Massachusetts?

We need a little more info! :chuckle How urgent is it that you start making money fast? How much time do you want to spend on education? How much money do you want to spend? Do you have a family? How supportive are they of you going to school? What do you want to do as a nurse? What are your short and longtime goals? :)

What state do you live in?

I am in Southern Ohio..

Trish

hey trish,

i am also from ohio, southeastern ohio close to st.clairsville. anyway, i currently work 12's at a nursing home as an stna and start an rn program this fall at belmont. my dh and i are also expecting our third son 9 days after i start the program on sept 20th. for me i chose the rn program because i don't want to have to go to classes everyday all day. i know around here and at my school that most of the 10 month lpn programs you tend to have to go mon-fri almost all day. i plan to go for my bsn and transfer credits to ou-eastern once june 2006 arrives! good luck in your decision!

julee :)

So, you can go part time for your RN? I am in Frankfort which is an hour south of Columbus, 1 hour east of Cincy. The RN program I am looking into is at OUC in Chillicothe and I know I can take my pre req when I want but the nursing program has to be taken with the class, as far as I know. The LPN program is at the vocational school and it is Mon-Fri from 8:30 to 3:30 for 10 months or so.

Trish

So, you can go part time for your RN? I am in Frankfort which is an hour south of Columbus, 1 hour east of Cincy. The RN program I am looking into is at OUC in Chillicothe and I know I can take my pre req when I want but the nursing program has to be taken with the class, as far as I know. The LPN program is at the vocational school and it is Mon-Fri from 8:30 to 3:30 for 10 months or so.

Trish

No, its not part time. I have all but two of my prereqs done, so I guess if I had not had them finished I probably would have had to go everyday. However, I'll only have to go Mondays till 3, Wednesdays till 12 and clinicals on Fridays from 8-12. I still have to schedule one more class Bio 101, but the days and times for it have not been posted yet. Hopefully it will fall on mondays and wednesdays.......

Julee

Well, I have always thought that if you really do have the time and the extra funds for more education always opt for the more education. I mean an RN can do more than an LPN, a MSN can do more than an RN, you get my drift. If you have the opportunity to get more schooling it would never hurt you by doing so.

If you can do it in your life right now go for the RN!

Schooling is the one thing that you can never have too much of.

Jill