This is why being an LPN is just as good....

Nurses LPN/LVN

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So, I ran into an old friend that was in my Medical assisting program with me 3 years ago. She went on to get her LPN. She works in LTC. Now, she does work alot of overtime but, she tells me her last 2 week paycheck was....$3500.00. I was like holy crap!!! I asked her if she plans on getting her RN and she said no way, whats the point? I know not everywhere in the U.S pays LPN that great but Im satisfied. Looks like Im in the Oct. program and Im just ready to get this thing done!!!!

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
i work two OT shifts a week and will bring in $85,000 this year as a fairly new LVN. I don't consider this a lot of OT considering I am off for 3 days a week. I don't even get double pay, just time and a half for my OT. The nursing homes around here pay $23.00 an hour straight pay, time and a half for the first 4 hours , then double pay ($46.00/hr) the last four hours of the double shift. An lvn would not need to spend all waking hours at work to reach $84,000 a year. A couple doubles a week is all it takes. Remember with the RN title comes a load of stress and responsibility, getting yelled at by dr's, and the liability of the license itself.
You're in California, which has unique overtime rules. California is the only state in the U.S. that pays daily overtime in excess of an 8 hour day. Since the original poster used the title of 'LPN', I can firmly conclude that she in her friend are not in California and, therefore, not working in a state that pays daily overtime.
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You're in California, which has unique overtime rules. California is the only state in the U.S. that pays daily overtime in excess of an 8 hour day. Since the original poster used the title of 'LPN', I can firmly conclude that she in her friend are not in California and, therefore, not working in a state that pays daily overtime.

Just an FYI, I work at a hospital in the northeast that pays OT for anything over 8hrs/day- it is the hospital's policy, not mandated by state laws.

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Your friend would have had to work 14 double shifts in a row to earn that kind of money. Many LPNs do this exhausting pile of overtime, but it is usually to make ends meet and fulfill obligations to their families.

$3500 for a 2-week paycheck adds up to $7000 monthly, which tabulates to about $84,000 per year. Very few LPNs can expect to earn that kind of money, unless they literally kill themselves with the 50% overtime rate. An LPN can certainly earn the $84,000, but (s)he will spend all waking hours at work.

I'm am LVN who is pursuing the RN license because I'd like a wider range of opportunities, a wider scope of practice, and some job security. Most of all, I want the RN title because it will enable me to earn more money without having to work a ridiculous amount of overtime shifts.

Not saying this is what I would do or even want to do but I figured out her pay.....4/10 hr shifts @ $26 an hour then 1 16hr shift and $39 an hour for two weeks that is $3328. The 4/10's are nights and the one 16 hour is 1 saturday. She also threw a 5 hour shift in there somewhere. There is no way on earth I want to work that much but, maybe someone else might want to or need to even in an emergency situation. Say their husband lost his job or they were saving for a trip? My point IS, the money is always there......Good for you for pursuing your RN. I'd like to do the same. Right now Im not able to. You do have more flexibility and a wider range of opportunities without the crazy over time to do so. But, this thread is about LPN's and the opportunities for US.....They get "put down" so often, I was looking for a reason to lift them up.....

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.

Yes ma'am its a good paying job! See we PNs do reap the sweet benefits of nursing!

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.
Not saying this is what I would do or even want to do but I figured out her pay.....4/10 hr shifts @ $26 an hour then 1 16hr shift and $39 an hour for two weeks that is $3328. The 4/10's are nights and the one 16 hour is 1 saturday. She also threw a 5 hour shift in there somewhere. There is no way on earth I want to work that much but, maybe someone else might want to or need to even in an emergency situation. Say their husband lost his job or they were saving for a trip? My point IS, the money is always there......Good for you for pursuing your RN. I'd like to do the same. Right now Im not able to. You do have more flexibility and a wider range of opportunities without the crazy over time to do so. But, this thread is about LPN's and the opportunities for US.....They get "put down" so often, I was looking for a reason to lift them up.....

The money is there now and it will be avalible even more in the near future with all these baby boomers retiring!!! LTC will have no choice but to increase the paywages of RN and LVN's to meet the demand for nursing care that will be at a crisis level in about 4 - 5 years. LVN registries pay $32/ hr now and I just heard a LTC facility pays $26.00/ hr with benefits. In 4 years these wages will be higher...and the need to LVN's and RN will be so great.

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