Should I become an LPN or stay CNA?

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I am currently enrolled in a CNA program. I wanted to become a nurse and thought I should try out CNA just to make sure nursing and I were meant for eachother. I do not think I can become an RN, I do not have the time to put into school for all those years to make it happen. I could however put in 12-15 months to become an LPN. Question is: I do not want to work in a nursing home, long term care setting so is becoming an LPN a waste of time? Are hospitals done with hiring LPN's? and does an LPN make much more salary than a CNA? Where could I work as an LPN? Thanks In Advance!!!

The evening program I am in is 20 months-Sept to June, off for summer, then Sept to June again, graduating God willing in June 2012. Mon-Thurs 5:30-10 pm, and when we start clinicals in Nov, every other Saturday 8am-3pm.

I don't have any prior healthcare experience, so I don't really know yet where I will prefer to be after graduation lol... I don't think I would mind LTC, and pysch sounds interesting :)

Our class is 20 students, 17 female, 3 male. The class ranges from 20-60 years old.

I would loooove to get 2nd or 3rd shift, I don't mind working overnight, weekends or holidays either. I cannot see myself starting at 7 am, I am the furthest thing from a morning person lol

You sent in your paperwork for testing at Middlesex, or another votech?

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Specializes in student.
The evening program I am in is 20 months-Sept to June, off for summer, then Sept to June again, graduating God willing in June 2012. Mon-Thurs 5:30-10 pm, and when we start clinicals in Nov, every other Saturday 8am-3pm.

I don't have any prior healthcare experience, so I don't really know yet where I will prefer to be after graduation lol... I don't think I would mind LTC, and pysch sounds interesting :)

Our class is 20 students, 17 female, 3 male. The class ranges from 20-60 years old.

I would loooove to get 2nd or 3rd shift, I don't mind working overnight, weekends or holidays either. I cannot see myself starting at 7 am, I am the furthest thing from a morning person lol

You sent in your paperwork for testing at Middlesex, or another votech?

Sara,

Going through the motions in Monmouth/Ocean.... Classes for us m-f 730-330 I believe.

I believe the ratio of M-F patients will be similar but since a change in the economy there has been a greater male turn out. One of my concerns is that there seems to be a little lul (maybe more than a little) in the opprtunities for all health care workers. I truly believe health care is changing drastically at all levels. I have had a very inside connection to health care from those that have gone through RN programs to having strong close professional ties to Dr's and administrators. Huge changes are taking place. I think some are due to the economy now, the "Unknown" health care initiatives coming down the pike and the politics involved, technology and advancements in health care as a whole. I do not think I want to be in the "hospital" setting (although that could change). I think there will be great political influence's there and I have some opinions about that. I am hoping there will be more "real care" opportunities at the LTC level. So that is my story in a nut shell other than I have wanted to be in health care for a long time but other immediate priorities took place. Lastly, I really had enjoyed working nights in the past and I hope that will increase the odds of obtaining a position quickly in the future and that may also allow me to continue with future educational growth during the day.

Now not to be rude...... The reason you have chosen the health care field is?

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

i'm in the evening lpn program at middlesex co votech, and i love it so far. it is the most affordable program in the area, and has a very high nclex pass rate (100% for a few years running, 96% last year). that being said, it is a very tough and fast paced program. there are tests every single day, and you must dedicate time for studying.

hey sara,

i graduated from middlesex votech piscataway lpn program in 2008 (am program). i just want to wish you luck. our school is very good with preparing us for the nclex and the job. i think we had 100% nclex passing rate as well. and you can't beat $3500 tuition for the whole program. maybe they increased it by now?

is ms. p still the program coordinator?

angel, rn

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I am in Nebraska and was just offered a CNA job for $10.00 an hour. I am not 100% sure about the pay for LPN's in my area, but I think it is around $14.00 an hour. Starting for an RN is about $22-$25. I am getting ready to enter the LPN program at a local community college and then bridge to my RN. I am 37 years old and have 4 kiddos under the age of 12. Don't let age hold you back, you can be whatever you want to be. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Jenn

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Specializes in student.
I am in Nebraska and was just offered a CNA job for $10.00 an hour. I am not 100% sure about the pay for LPN's in my area, but I think it is around $14.00 an hour. Starting for an RN is about $22-$25. I am getting ready to enter the LPN program at a local community college and then bridge to my RN. I am 37 years old and have 4 kiddos under the age of 12. Don't let age hold you back, you can be whatever you want to be. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Jenn

Jenn,

Woww, I do believe the cost of living is greater here in NJ. Used to be LPN Jobs were in the $24.00 hr range. Now I think they are lower. CNAs used to get 15.00 now 10-12 RN's 32-35... I am guessing all relevant. My question to you is. Are there many actual job opportunities It seems here in NJ they are pumping out the nurses, LPNs, CNA'a and Techs. I have just started to see that RNs are having a tough time finding jobs ...

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Jenn,

Woww, I do believe the cost of living is greater here in NJ. Used to be LPN Jobs were in the $24.00 hr range. Now I think they are lower. CNAs used to get 15.00 now 10-12 RN's 32-35... I am guessing all relevant. My question to you is. Are there many actual job opportunities It seems here in NJ they are pumping out the nurses, LPNs, CNA'a and Techs. I have just started to see that RNs are having a tough time finding jobs ...

I definitely think there is a market in Nebraska. I used to work at a hospital in Lincoln and have recently checked out their job page. They have pages of nursing jobs available. As far as CNAs, there are tons of openings for them too. I don't see many LPN openings, but that being said my neighbors daughter just graduated from LPN school and she has had several different jobs.....one being at a LTC and the others being home health and a doctors office. I think CNA's make a little more in the bigger cities and the one I was offered was in a smaller town, but I don't know that for sure. I applied thinking I could get some clinical experience before I started nursing school, but after hearing the pay I decided I would stick with what I am doing. I work full time from home as a medical transcriptionist and make a bit more than that on my own time, so it was not worth it for me. I would guess the cost of living is higher in NJ, but I don't know for sure.

Jenn

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Specializes in student.

Thanks Jenn,

I hope you all the best in your career path. I do have some good news for you I hope. My X (yeh yeh I know LOL) was a med trans. before I met her. While we were together she went on to RN (AS) school then BSN. The knowledge she gained from med. trans. def helped in her studies.. also it gave her field direction. Best of Luck to you

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Thanks Jenn,

I hope you all the best in your career path. I do have some good news for you I hope. My X (yeh yeh I know LOL) was a med trans. before I met her. While we were together she went on to RN (AS) school then BSN. The knowledge she gained from med. trans. def helped in her studies.. also it gave her field direction. Best of Luck to you

Thanks! I was hoping that my medical knowledge (slim as it is) will give me a leg up in school. I am thinking it will definitely help in A&P and things like that since I already have the base knowledge there. Good luck to you too!

Jenn

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Specializes in student.

Best of luck (skill) And trust me your cheerleaders (young ones) will keep u in line........

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I say go for your LPN. I work as a CNA and while I love what I do, there is no way I could do this job long-term. I can't wait to become a nurse; being a CNA can really take a toll on your body. Not to mention the pay isn't too great for all the work you do.

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I say go for your LPN. I work as a CNA and while I love what I do, there is no way I could do this job long-term. I can't wait to become a nurse; being a CNA can really take a toll on your body. Not to mention the pay isn't too great for all the work you do.

I agree with you there! I don't know where you work, but I've worked at several LTC facilities and it seems like many of the nurses take CNAs for granted. I'm sick of being treated like I'm nothing, getting low pay, and working icky hours. I can't even count how many times I was asked to work triple shifts because we were short staffed. In every facility I've worked, it seemed like nurses had more pull about when they worked and in which area.

Pay also depends on what area you'll be working. If you work in a rural area, it's much more likely for hospitals (and other places - hospice, home care, etc) to hire LPNs. However, pay is usually lower in the more rural areas BUT it can vary greatly. Here in my small town (5,000 people, give or take) an LPN will usually get $12-15 an hour. CNAs will get $8-10 an hour, starting wage. However, in a town only 25 miles away, LPNs get $13-18 and CNAs get $10-12. That's only a half an hour drive. In larger cities, the pay is usually higher but there's also more work (more patients) and the work can be more difficult as rural hospitals tend to send the more complicated cases to the larger hospitals.

As an LPN, you're not stuck with just nursing homes or rural hospitals. Many dialysis clinics in my area hire LPNs. You can work at clinics, blood centers, drug screening centers.

And if anyone out there assumes they can't do it because they don't have time - please don't think that way. I am the mother of a 3 yr old daughter and I have a husband. He works full time, I am not working so I can focus on school. We're broke and we had to apply for a grant to pay for our daughter's preschool. Luckily, she's in school while I'm in class but we can't afford to put her in daycare so I have to study when she's napping or not around. It's difficult, I won't lie. But if you really want something, you'll do anything to get it. I didn't work my butt off in Anatomy and Physiology (I've had a 4.0 GPA for the last 2 years!) to not go all the way. At my school, it's very competitive to just get into the LPN program - it's even worse to get into the RN program. They only have so many spots and they give them to the hardest working students with the best grades. Nursing school will probably be one of the most challenging things you do in your life - but the best things in life are worth working for.

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Specializes in student.
I say go for your LPN. I work as a CNA and while I love what I do, there is no way I could do this job long-term. I can't wait to become a nurse; being a CNA can really take a toll on your body. Not to mention the pay isn't too great for all the work you do.

Thanks for the reply.......

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