RN vs. LPN (Please Give Advice)

[cayces]

Good Morning. I posted this on the LPN board and got a few responses but it was recommended that I ask on the RN board. I am 43 and had 3 years of college over 20 years ago. A year ago, I finally restarted school and went to the local community college and loved it. I got a 4.0 in the classes and loved the process of learning. The nursing wait list is a year and I decided to switch to MCI in Va. Beach. I took the testing and did great and was accepted. However, the first mod I had problems at home and hugely failed A&P. Embarassing and terrible. I had made straight A's in the prereqs at the school and got an A in the other class of the Mod. The school has offered for me to start in the LPN program. I have seriously started doubting my abilities. I was also the oldest person in the classes by far. They also offered for me to do RN program in Newport News but when I asked about LPN, they totally withdrew the offer to go to the RN program and said it was full. Part of me thinks that I am scared I will fail again. You can only fail 2 classes in 15 months or you are out and it is all wasted. The classes is strict and you can only miss one class in a five week period or you are out. My question, is do LPN's even have many employment opportunities. I had wanted to work in a hospital and I am hearing they aren't hired. Also, will I make enough money to justify a 30,000 school. However, I really need to have a job. I am in a bad situation at home and need to know that someday I could take care of myself and my daughter. The sooner the better. PLEASE GIVE ADVICE/ INFO.

[Di Deanna]

hey there!

don't get down on yourself. i think there are many out there that can attest to fumbling on a class or two.

i would take the lpn offer, because in the end, you are still going to end up in the same place.

from what i have heard, those who have completed their lpn first, were so much more grateful

because many felt so much more comfortable by the time they were trying to complete their rn degree.

in the end, it's really up to you, but i think the lpn route is an honorable idea as well. it's probably

what i am going to end up doing.

in regards to jobs....everyone is suffering right now. my dad is a sr. civil engineer, and the vp @ his

company, and he just had the awful duty of letting seventy (yes, 70!) civil engineers go.

in reality..every field is hurting. but with a little persistence and flexibility, it shouldn't be impossible

to find a position after completing your schooling.

[amjowens]

I just finished an LPN program at a community college. Community College important there because I would not be able to justify a LPN program for an expense more than around $10K. I started my RN program right after I graduated from LPN school (I also had a wait list for RN, and chose to get LPN while waiting), but I invested about $5000 into it AND VERY IMPORTANTLY, my classes such as pharm and nutrition, plus the basic sciences I took for the RN and PN (micro, anatomy, etc.) TRANSFER to major colleges....I've noticed that some of these high-priced business-type schools often will offer a certificate, but your classes/credits are meaningless to any accredited college..ouch.

Most LPNs aren't making a whole lot more than aides, and when you add that tuition fee, well, the figures don't even go...that said, if you can go to a traditional college where tuition is reasonable and it is accredited, then I'd do the LPN in a second. You'll be passing meds, doing assessments, and learning valuable skills as you continue on for your RN. Unfortunately, LPNs are being phased out or not given the credit they deserve in many parts of the country, so it's almost a given that you'll want to get your RN eventually anyway. Just my 2cents, hope helps.

[c_beshore_rn]

In Missouri LPNs are very hireable. I never had a problem as an LPN finding a job. my last lpn job was for the State of MO MRDD and made about 14.60's /hr. Nursing homes hire LPN before RNs because they can do everything n RN can do for less money except Medicare assess 1 every day n I.V. Pushes. My hospital(which is very very small) has 19 bed m/s unit and we use 1-2 lpns every shift. Psych uses LPN's for meds n we have 3 LPN positions open right now.

Personally, my lpn training was A LOT harder then my RN training. Much more rigorous and intensive. The training I rec'd was like military training and I am a much better nurse today because of it.........BUT, timewise, if I had it to do over again I would have just went to a university and got my BSN directly-- All this hoop jumping to bridge, transfer, send transcripts etc is a pain in the rear!!!