RN student thinking about going for LPN...

pagandeva2000, LPN · Nov 10, 2009

... this is my 5th year in a BSN-RN program and it's going so slowly. I have a lot of health problems that are getting in the way of the rest of my schooling so I'm thinking of transferring to a LPN program since I'd probably have most of the courses already done or at least the knowledge. And the schedule is much more flexible.
Also - LPNs around here get paid almost as much as RNs. Is that common?
And what specifically do HOSPITAL/outpatient LPNs (not facility/nursing homes) do? I worked as a student tech and all I did was blood sugars, clean up poop, and "babysit" while the LPNs were even passing some meds and changing IVs - things I already know how to do and would honestly prefer doing over the "tech" stuff.
Thoughts? Opinions? Tuition cost/the cost of LPN school + going back to finish my BSN-RN is not an issue at all. It's just a matter of me needing a job and wondering if an LPN really is that far from actual nursing... in job duties and salary.
Also, what's LPN school like? I know what BSN-RN school is like so just curious on hours/amount of clinicals, labs, courses, etc.
Thanks!!

Depending on where you live, it can be common that LPNs make just a bit less than RNs (not in my side of the planet, however...). The difference may be that the RNs have more opportunities and a wider variety of opportunities. I have read on these threads that some LPNs may make only $5 an hour or even $3 less than an RN.

I work for a clinic in a hospital. In the clinic, there is not much difference between what the LPNs are RNs do, except that we don't triage because the assessment is an RN function. But, we give medications, teaching, process patients that need emergency services or direct admissions to their respective units. We do health fairs, do flu clinics, etc... And, I must say that because LPNs are NURSES, there is no way that we would be far from 'actual nursing'. Each state has their own scope of practice, but, primarily, LPNs are supposed to do basic patient care with predictable outcomes. Because we were also taught about the disease processes, differences and outcomes of abnormal symptoms, we are qualified to see which patient needs further intervention from a higher licensed person than ourselves...usually being a physician or/and RN.

Fiona59 · Nov 10, 2009

Don't count on getting credit for your previous education. Usually a specific number of credits HAVE to be completed at the college you are attending. Flexible? Not in my world. Health problems could get in the way of working[/i

Depends on where you work, often, it's regional

Wow! I hate to tell you this but in my province, the difference in scope of practice between an RN and an LPN is a couple of meds and the ability to work in ICUs, management, and some Public Health positions. I do all my own meds except piercing the blood and travisol bags and hanging the blood (two nurse signature required, so usually an RN will pierce the bag and sign for it at the bedside as we both "hang" it. All wound care for RNs and LPNs are the same, we all do complex wound care.

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An LPN is an ACTUAL NURSE, the N stands for Nurse. The running gag is an LPN is the lowest paid nurse on the floor regardless of her skill set and ability/experience.

Practical Nurse education is intense, the information is packed into a two year or less course. The "L" is only acquired after successful completion of the national exam. In my province we have to take a pharmacology course the BScN students don't. My education was 50% classroom the other 50% was in facilities.

If you have a spot in an degree programme I'd keep it. In many areas it is hard to go back and do a bridge. The pay is better and there are a few "better" jobs but it all depends on your interests.

But first you need to realize that LPNs are nurses with a different skill set and are valuable members of the healthcare team.

We all clean poop and do the yuckies.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2009

I completed a full-time 12-month LPN program in back in October 2005, and I will graduate from an LPN-to-RN transition ADN program in a few short months. If you are currently enrolled in a BSN program, I seriously suggest you stay put, since many people would trample and kill for a spot in a BSN program.

The LPN program involved an intense 5-day workload. I attended 24 hours worth of clinical shifts per week, which amounted to 8-hour shifts every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I attended 2 days of classroom theory per week (Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30am to 3pm). My LPN clinicals were more hands-on, with a little care planning involved. The theory portion covered A&P, nursing fundamentals, psych, med/surg, OB, peds, and other basic nursing courses.

The RN program that I am attending only involves 1 clinical shift per week, and two days of classroom theory. In my honest opinion, the level of difficulty was much higher in the LPN program.

Regardless of what you have been taught in your BSN program, all state BONs regard LPNs as basic nurses. Therefore, we are nurses.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2009

Here's what I used to do on a rehab unit. Keep in mind that my state of residence has a wide open scope of practice for LPNs.

On the subacute rehab unit where I once worked, I dealt with a lot of central lines, IV antibiotics, CPM machines, feeding tubes, suture removal, surgical staple removal, complicated wound care, ostomy appliances, diabetic management, casts, braces, splints, cervical halos, and so forth. Most of my patients had recently underwent surgical procedures such as laminectomies, knee and hip arthroplasties, kyphoplasties, CABGs, hysterectomies, limb amputations, colectomies, thromboembolectomies, and abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs.

The non-surgical (medical) patients were admitted for recovery from CVAs, acute MIs, debility, cancer, fractures, status post pneumonia, deconditioned states, failure to thrive, status post falls, contusions, and generalized weakness.