Something not right

Trauma Columnist · Sep 29, 2013

I was an LPN for two yrs before I became an RN. For many LPNs in today's healthcare climate, job opportunities are very limited. I think that is why you are seeing more posts on this subject. For many LPN is a stepping stone to RN versus an endpoint.

kayern · Sep 29, 2013

I hear you but don't take it personally, perhaps the posters are only trying to get the point across like the previous poster.......jobs are scarce for LPNs. Actually, in the area where I practice Associate Degree RNs are finding it difficult to find employment.

sharpeimom · Sep 30, 2013

Where I worked until I became disabled ten years ago, LPNs were used in some buildings as med aides or were lateral with psych aides, and not really used as nurses. I think the role of the LPN is changing, just as the RN role changed after WWII and has broadened since I became a nurse back in the late seventies.

The LPN education has changed a lot since the role evolved years ago. The educational requirements for the LPN varies from state to state while the RN education today is either two or four years. That makes it harder for LPNs.

brennan4ever · Sep 30, 2013

There will always be LTC for LPN/LVN jobs.......if you like taking care of old people and are OK with being a LPN/LVN...it is so worth being one........

ANChappell · Sep 30, 2013

LPN/LVN is definitely door openers for the next step. It is so needed and I really think that it's worth it 100%. I think that a lot of the unemployed RNs would actually be employed and have much more experience if they used that as a stepping stone. I think ultimately it depends on your ultimate goal

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · Sep 30, 2013

I think it exists because in many areas (geographically, in the US at least), opportunities for LPN/LVNs are growing more limited outside of LTC. I will tell you this much, in the major US city I lived in when I was in nursing school (a state capital in the midwest), LPNs were not hired in hospitals. Some hospitals had them, but they had been there for forever. It was not possible to get a non-clinic job in any hospital system as an LPN. They were just not hired. And those that were there still, were limited in what they could do at their place of employment (by the employer). To be 100% honest, even when I was a new grad (2+ years ago), it was impossible to find a job in that market as an associate degree prepared RN, as right around the time I started nursing school the hospitals in that area shifted their hiring preferences to BSN nurses (right or wrong is irrelevant, just an observation about what happened).

When I worked as a floor nurse (step-down/med surg mix at a level I trauma center), I frequently supervised an LPN with their patients doing all the RN only tasks for them. I had my 4-6 patients plus was legally responsible for another 4-6. It depends on the region of the country and how healthcare is in that region. In that area it was 100% worth the time to go to school as an LPN and then an LPN-RN bridge program and then *MAYBE* completing a BSN. Pay for newly hired RNs started under $18/hour - BSN, ADN/ASN, diploma or bridge program. The only people who had a BSN at work when I worked there were two of my fellow "recent" grads who were applying to grad school for an NP program as soon as possible, and I (all but required in the area where I went to nursing school to be anything short of automatically rejected).

It's a valid question depending on whether you'd be okay limiting yourself to LTC/SNF (as is the case in multiple regions...) and what you ultimately desire. I can see why people ask it.

krisiepoo · Sep 30, 2013

I think it's a pretty valid question because where I live it seems they are being edged out... It would be like people asking is it worth it to get your ADN because it's crazy hard to get a job with 'just' your ADN vs BSN.

I don't think it's meant to devalue those who have the licensure.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Sep 30, 2013

Are you kidding? Do a quick search and you'll find plenty of posts with "is it worth it to get my BSN or is an ADN good enough"?

Besides, it's a legitimate question that clearly a lot of people have. Who are you to decide this isn't a REAL nursing topic?

KRSLPN, LPN · Sep 30, 2013

No need to get your panties in a bunch there Colleen!

I read through all the replies here, and certainly appreciated what most of them said.

The point I was trying to get to was this: lately it seem to me that I'm seeing so many posts from people asking if it's "worth it" to go to school to become an LPN. I don't ever think someone's time is wasted when they are educating themselves.

In the area I live in, LPNs continue to be utilized in acute care, I myself was previously employed in acute care for 10 years before returning to LTC 7 years ago. Personally to me, acute care isn't "all that"

Trauma Columnist · Sep 30, 2013

LPN has a finite nursing role in most areas of the country. There is nothing wrong with being an LPN.

I totally agree that education is never wasted. However being an RN gives you mor opportunities as we all, inevitably age.

lovedijah · Sep 30, 2013

I'll be honest, I'm not sure being an LPN is "worth it" in certain areas. And heck, I'm an LPN. Some of my classmates graduated only to find jobs making $10 an hour. I made more money than that waitressing and working retail. Being an LPN is a fine stepping stone, but if your program is 10,000 and more than a year long.. you may as well invest your time, energy and dollar bills on something that will land you more opps- like an ADN. I spent a year in LPN school and it was less than 4,000. Worth it to me. Nothing wrong with being an LPN however. But is it the best investment? Not for everyone.