Should I become an LPN or RN?

RNBearColumbus, BSN · Feb 23, 2014

Some things to consider:

Yes, going to LPN school will take less time than RN school. HOWEVER, at the end of the schooling, you will find your employment options much more limited. Depending on where you live, most hospitals do not hire LPNs. Most (not all, but most) LPN jobs are in clinics and long term care / post acute rehab, and even those jobs are getting hard to come by.

LPN pay depends on where you live. For example, here in metro Columbus, Oh., starting pay for LPNs in long term care ranges from roughly 16.00/hr to 20.00/hr. You would have to look at the cost of living in your area to determine wit prevailing LPN wages where you live would allow you to live comfortably.

Personally, if I had to do it over again, I would have gone right to the RN program instead of going the LPN to RN route. I do love what I do, but my job opportunities would have been better as a RN.

If you already have a considerable amount of college credit, it may not take you a whole 4 years to become an RN. Check into associates degree programs. They typically take only 2 years.

akanini, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2014

I would say RN because you will have more opportunities.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2014

I believe the OP is in Canada, where LPN wages still remain competitive due to unionization. In addition, LPNs are still utilized in acute care hospitals in Canada.

NOADLS · Feb 23, 2014

LPN was an attractive option when schooling for it was 1 year and the BSN was (and still is) 4 years. Now that LPN programs are 1 1/2 to 2 years, the BSN looks a lot nicer, especially considering that some places will employ you as a student nurse after 2 years of education through the BSN program.

Being a LPN is a lot of fun and nearly stress free. Most jobs are in long term care and the bulk of it is medication administration which is super easy. The nursing skills and assessments utilized in LTC aren't too difficult to perform and after you've done them a few times, you'll be confident with them.

Best part of the majority of the job market for LPN's is the lack of having to do ADL's (aka no changing diapers). If you work in the hospital, you'll have to do these.

Fiona59 · Feb 24, 2014

LPN was an attractive option when schooling for it was 1 year and the BSN was (and still is) 4 years. Now that LPN programs are 1 1/2 to 2 years, the BSN looks a lot nicer, especially considering that some places will employ you as a student nurse after 2 years of education through the BSN program.
Being a LPN is a lot of fun and nearly stress free. Most jobs are in long term care and the bulk of it is medication administration which is super easy. The nursing skills and assessments utilized in LTC aren't too difficult to perform and after you've done them a few times, you'll be confident with them.
Best part of the majority of the job market for LPN's is the lack of having to do ADL's (aka no changing diapers). If you work in the hospital, you'll have to do these.

I have to ask are you even a nurse?

Being an LPN is NOT stress free or fun. I work acute care and routinely have fresh ICU discharges. Fun? Really.

Do you think the LPNs work in Dialysis find that stress free? Having exactly the same duties as the RN they work alongside?

The LPNs who are OR Techs as they scrub and circulate. Are they having fun and a stress free day?

ADLs in LTC are every ones duties.

I really want to work in your world and have fun and stress free shifts

Fiona59 · Feb 24, 2014

So, back to the OP.

Which province do you live in? Have you researched your job market. BC, AB, and ON are brutal job markets right now. There has been a trend to increase the numbers of PNs in acute care with a reduction in the number of RNs on a unit. I have worked many units where there have been the Charge and one other RN with four LPNs on the floor to 29 patients. It is not unsafe regardless of what American posters or RNs will tell you.

Since I graduated, RNs have become staff members in ICU, NICU, the school health programme, and Emergency. We have been in Dialysis and the operating room for as long as anyone can remember. We work there as nurses, not support staff.

If you find a permanent line as a new grad in a union facility, you won't be poor. It depends on where you live how far money goes. BC? If you are on the island or the lower mainland, well you know how expensive that is.

I work part time (usually about half time) last year, I made $54K with a husband and a paid off mortgage it gives me a nice life. I have single coworkers that do fine. Again it depends on where you live and what your expectations are.

Nursing is cyclical in hiring. Look at the state of your provincial economy, has there been cuts to healthcare?

We can't tell you become a nurse or not. That's why you have to do some research.

RNBearColumbus, BSN · Feb 24, 2014

LPN was an attractive option when schooling for it was 1 year and the BSN was (and still is) 4 years. Now that LPN programs are 1 1/2 to 2 years, the BSN looks a lot nicer, especially considering that some places will employ you as a student nurse after 2 years of education through the BSN program.
Being a LPN is a lot of fun and nearly stress free. Most jobs are in long term care and the bulk of it is medication administration which is super easy. The nursing skills and assessments utilized in LTC aren't too difficult to perform and after you've done them a few times, you'll be confident with them.
Best part of the majority of the job market for LPN's is the lack of having to do ADL's (aka no changing diapers). If you work in the hospital, you'll have to do these.

bwahahahahaha.... Oh, man... wait, I can't catch my breath..

Seriously? Fun and nearly stress free???

I'm a LTC LPN who takes care of 33 patients on a long term unit that also includes end of life care beds.

Yes, I do medication administration,(which really isn't super easy when you have 33 people to medicate and only 2 hours to do it). I do wound care, (including wound vacs and other complicated dressing changes). I do the same assessments on skilled patients that the RNs do. (And we do have skilled patients, even on the long term wing). I start IVs on a regular basis as well as hang IVs for patients with PICCs.

Somewhere, I have to find time to effectively care for the small percentage of my residents that require more in depth care. On any given day, I'm going to have 3-5 of them that are having some sort of crisis. (Blood sugar issues, falls, skin tears, dementia related behavioral issues etc.)

In the long term setting, there really isn't that much difference between what the RNs do and what the LPNs do.

Oh, and PS: I change my share of depends and do personal care for a lot of my residents My STNAs are running their butts off doing ADLs, and if I have a chance to help, I pitch in and do it. We are a team, and no one should feel that they are above changing a diaper.

Trishrpn80 · Feb 24, 2014

LPN was an attractive option when schooling for it was 1 year and the BSN was (and still is) 4 years. Now that LPN programs are 1 1/2 to 2 years the BSN looks a lot nicer, especially considering that some places will employ you as a student nurse after 2 years of education through the BSN program. Being a LPN is a lot of fun and nearly stress free. Most jobs are in long term care and the bulk of it is medication administration which is super easy. The nursing skills and assessments utilized in LTC aren't too difficult to perform and after you've done them a few times, you'll be confident with them. Best part of the majority of the job market for LPN's is the lack of having to do ADL's (aka no changing diapers). If you work in the hospital, you'll have to do these.[/quote']
Since this is your first and only post on AN and you joined today that you are a Troll. I won't even begin to discuss or give the energy to respond to your inaccurate description of the role of te LPN.
OP please do not pay this poster any mind as I suspect they showed up to stir the pot. Just so you are aware that the LPN/RPN role is ever evolving. We are not the CNA's of the past. Depending on where you live you will do lots of patient care, meds, etc and your job will not be stress free. If you choose LTC in the future you will be providing care for up to and possibly more than 30 people. The number depends on the facility. I don't know about anyone else but thats not stress free. Although, when I did LTC i had lots of fun. On some days now in my current position I have fun. Your job is what you make it with some places more fun than others :)

vintage_RN, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2014

Lmao...stress free. What a hoot. I'm in canada and work on a high acuity surgical unit doing the e.x.a.c.t same job as my RN coworkers with fresh post ops and icu discharges. My patients also are admitted to the icu straight from my care. I do everything for them and there isn't a single job duty that I'm not allowed to do as an RPN. If you want to be an RN I would go right for that to save you time but RPNs/LPNs in Canada are in almost every setting, have their own patient load which they are responsible for and there are many opportunities available...although the current job market is another story.

Lisalis · Feb 24, 2014

If nursing is a field that you intent to spend a long time in, then I suggest becoming a RN. You will have many opportunities and choices as a registered nurse.

UmmDana · Feb 27, 2014

Hey guys,

Thanks for all of you answers. All of you guys have been so helpful.

I live in Alberta, and I am planning to move to Bc. So the wage is anywhere from $21 - $31 an hour.

The research is pretty conflicting, in Alberta they want to cut the number of RN's and go with Lpns but I have heard that the Union is very strong and won't let the government do that. On the other hand, the Universities in my city have so many Rns graduating every year, and they program is extremely competitive.

BC is actually around the same for wages, a few dollars less but there seems to be less jobs and they have so many LPN schools out there.

Anyone from Canada feel love their job as an LPN?