Social Work vs. LPN Career in Alberta

[Stellabells]

Hello everyone! Long time lurker of allnurses.com here,

I finally decided to join. I am having difficulty making a decision on my next education move, and was hoping someone could provide their opinion/advice!

I am a social work diploma student, I have another 7 courses plus 340 practicum hours before I receive my diploma. However, I have always held interest in becoming a nurse. I would have to upgrade a couple courses to enter into the LPN program. I am just so torn between these courses. If I stay in SW I will continue to get my BSW - more opportunity and double the pay ($30 + per hour @ Alberta Health Services!) and the hours are m-f usually. LPN worries me because the pay is much lower and the hours require shift work, at least that is what I've seen for most positions.

I am worried that as a SW I will become burned out from listening to people's sad stories all the time, I already feel tired! I love helping people but I don't know if I will last in SW. I really want to work with seniors in either field. I enjoy being busy and doing practical things. I am just so lost and need to decide soon because I will be going back to class in the fall! Any advice/input will be appreciated

Thank you for listening!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Nurses are also prone to burn out. Something only you can really decide on what to do

[ltothew]

I began working in social services and did it for 10 years before entering nursing. The biggest similarity is listening to peoples stories. This is something I have found in both careers. The SW burnout is usually with child protection, but at the same time social workers have large case loads and I believe they feel burn out due to not being able to listen to everyone, and do for everyone what they want to. THis can also be said about nursing just insert patient load. Nursing is harder physically as well (depending on what population you work with of course). Personally I enjoy nursing more for the most part, but thats just me :)

[Fiona59]

OP: have you looked into what an AHS social worker does in a hospital? They have to take call for holidays, weekends and the darkhours. Many I work with do not clock off at 1600 hours sharp.

I'd also research your wage rates. I'm an LPN and I make over $30 (not including shift premiums, factor those in and some shifts I make over $41/hr).

[Stellabells]

Hi Fiona! Sorry I disappeared for awhile, locked out of my old e-mail to retrieve my forgotten password. Anyway, thank you for responding!

Just as an update, I am still in school for SW diploma - I had to take my final semester off ($$$$ happens) and have now returned to complete it within the next few months, as I am way too far into student debt and time to turn away at this point. My practicum placements have been very helpful in showing me that this is not what I want to do haha. Knew it from the first day but did not want to admit it because I did not believe I was capable of pursuing anything else. I cannot sit at a desk 9 - 5, I hope that it will compliment a nursing education in the near future!