To be or not to be an LPN?

Asystole RN · May 19, 2014

If your goal is to eventually become a registered nurse then become a registered nurse. If your goal is to become a LPN then become a LPN.

Don't "start with" anything, nursing is not a forgiving profession regarding half measures. Save yourself the trouble and the heartache and go into what you want to go into first.

Rice7 · May 19, 2014

Hello everyone,

Hope you had a great day.

I wonder if there are still jobs out there for LPN'S! I want to make a career change and go fully into Nursing but want to start with becoming an LPN. The reports I hear from LPNS are not encouraging. Some say LPNS are already being fazed out of the System.... I don't want to go study and pay for the school and then not be able to secure a job.

Are there still LPN jobs out there? Is it a smart move to start a Nursing Career by becoming an LPN first?

Thanks for your response. :-)

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · May 19, 2014

First, where are you located???

As of today, tomorrow and probably the next decade and possible generation, LPNs are going to exist.

LPNs work in Home Health, clinics, nursing homes, prisons, schools, insurance companies and in some places, still work in hospitals.

You, and only you, are going to have to make a decision as far as If you want to be a LPN...look at your market; ask recruiters at local facilities, and go from there.

Best wishes.

ElizaW · May 20, 2014

It depends. Do you have your heart set on working in a hospital? If you do, you don't want to bother becoming an LPN. If you think you could be happy working just about anywhere except a hospital setting, go for it. You'll learn a lot, and if you do decide to go for your RN degree later, you'll have a leg up on the other students in your program.

Becoming an LPN is a fine choice if you are 20 and have many more years to work. If you're older and don't have all the time in the world, consider putting off your entrance in the profession for an additional year or so and go straight to RN.

vintage_RN, BSN, RN · May 20, 2014

I agree^^ I've always wanted to be an RN, but became an RPN first. I already feel limited in what I want to do with my career, so I'm going back to school again in the fall. If I could have, I would have just gone straight for the RN, however I believe my experience will help me in school and give me a leg up over the other students. It really depends on what you want to do with your career, but if you really want to be an RN, then go for it.

BrandonLPN, LPN · May 20, 2014

Yes, there are jobs for LPNs. But in most parts of the USA those jobs are not in the hospital setting.

And I agree with the previous poster, if you want to be an RN, go to RN school. Many LPNs say they're going to immediately go on for their RN..... but not very many actually do. Life gets in the way. Full time LPN wages are hard to give up for school. Most of us don't have the luxury of working anything less that full time. And trying to be a LPN full time and go to RN school full time is doable, but difficult.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 20, 2014

Yes, plenty of LPN jobs are still out there in non-acute areas such as home health, private duty, hospice, clinics, outpatient dialysis, nursing homes, rehab, developmental disabilities, psychiatric nursing, and basically any type of nursing that occurs outside the hospital.

caliotter3 · May 20, 2014

If you are comparing getting an LPN license to doing nothing, it would be a good choice, as long as you are willing to do what is necessary to be employed. If the local market is not good for LPNs, you would most likely need to relocate. But for the long haul, if you can see your way to completing an RN program in the same time frame, you would be securing yourself better long term job stability even if you still have to relocate to get that first job. Best scenario of all is to get a BSN degree and save money, time and effort at the start of your career.

angikat · May 20, 2014

Yes there are jobs for LPN's. I have been an LPN for 20 years and currently back in RN school. I have heard that LPN's would soon be obsolete for almost my entire nursing career but it has never happened. I have also heard this about RN's who have ASN. If you want to start with LPN I think that's great because this is great floor experience. Just don't limit yourself. If you truly want to go on then you can do it! Good luck!

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Jay_LPN · May 20, 2014

At my college, we had about 20 LPN graduates, and over 200 RN graduates. Personally, it seems like my job hunt is a lot easier compared to the job hunt for RN graduates. This work experience will also help me in my RN job hunt when I go on in my education.

As for places of work, there is long term care (basically med pushers), agencies, dialysis centers, some hospitals, rehab centers, home care, etc etc. But of course, it really does matter what state your in and your scope of practice (worth googling).

You should of course go back for further education down the road. Plus if your grades are not all there, it's a great way to get your foot into the profession. Hope I helped. :)

anonymurse · May 20, 2014

Sometimes LPN is a great pick. In this locale, high school students can graduate high school as LPNs. Now suppose they need a job just as soon as they graduate, say they're expecting, or they have youunger sibs to feed. They can hire on at the VA and get good health and retirement plans in the bargain.