To be or not to be an LPN?

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

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. :-)

And really, it's all about what you can afford.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

oddly, I found I was more marketable as an LPN than an RN b/c as an LPN I had acute care experience, ACLS, PALS, TB, and ER experience with art lines and capnography. Now, as an RN, I find I'm kinda just the middle/bottom of the rung since so many acute care RNs have those very certifications and I'm just an ADN... lol... went from "just an LPN" to "just an ADN" HAHAHAHA.

Honestly, I think being an LPN was a very good career move for me. It gave me incredible experience and one ups me over new grad RNs without nursing experience. It also made going back to school IMMENSELY easier. Concepts were always clear and apparent to me. I was able to bring a vast amount of knowledge and experience that many of the traditional students lacked.

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Thank you all so very much for your input. They sure helped a lot.

I am located in Maryland. I already have a Bachelors degree. I don't have my heart set out on working in the hospital only. If I get a job there, great! If not, then Nursing homes or any of the other options of where the LPN skills are needed is fine with me as long as it is a condusive environment. I considered going straight for the BSN but from the reseach I did, it is expensive (I don't have a lot of credits that would transfer since I did not take any Science courses in College). Even though the journey from LPN, then to RN is longer, it seems more cost effective (less loan).

Thanks once again for all your honest responses.

Enjoy your day. :-)

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Go straight for RN program. I did LPN first and am now having a harder time finishing my RN. Besides after the LPN blocks in school you can take the PN nclex and get your license and have it while finishing your RN. In Az there are still LPN jobs,but hard to find,most of them are not in hospitals and not highly paid. LPN has been phasing out for 15 years, with greater progress each year. I agree with other posts,it becomes harder to finish school when u break it up, life happens while u are making other plans! Good luck with whatever u decide!

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Thanks everyone for your helpful responses. It is great to know that there are still jobs out there for LPN's.

I would have loved to go straight for the RN/BSN, but after doing some research, I discovered that even though going from becoming an LPN, then to RN.. is longer, it is more cost efficient.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Lol, I can regarding cost, my LPN was ~$6,000 total, while transition was less than $2,000 at the same institute

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

Okay I'm going to disagree with several posters here...depending on your OWN circumstances if you want to become an LPN first then by all means do so. Over the years my LPN experience and schooling has helped me tremendously! As an LPN I did WAY more for a patient (as far as patient care/satisfaction) than I have EVER done as an RN...my end goal has always been to become a FNP, however, life and family always came first. I was 24 when I finally went to LPN school. I'm 33 now going to FNP school. I find that I am running circles around some people in my MSN class who went straight BSN/'RN to begin with. I'm more comfortable with patient care and not afraid to take charge.

That being said my husband was military so we moved a lot. TX, KY, OH and FL- never had a problem finding employment as an LPN and with each yr of experience I also received better $$. I mostly worked home health, long term care, rehab, private duty, and clinic/doctor office work as an LPN. I never worked at a hospital until becoming an RN and let me tell you, for me, it sucked! I hated hospital nursing. I have done case management and went back to primary care as a BSN RN. You can see my educational progression in my signature line.

I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do. For me, 11 mo full time school = LPN, then another 18mo =

ASN, and then another 18mo got my BSN, and now 16 more months to go for my MSN =) Wouldn't have changed a thing!

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Specializes in ICU.
Go straight for RN program. I did LPN first and am now having a harder time finishing my RN. Besides after the LPN blocks in school you can take the PN nclex and get your license and have it while finishing your RN. In Az there are still LPN jobs,but hard to find,most of them are not in hospitals and not highly paid. LPN has been phasing out for 15 years, with greater progress each year. I agree with other posts,it becomes harder to finish school when u break it up, life happens while u are making other plans! Good luck with whatever u decide!

This is not true in every state. Most states require you to graduate from a LPN program to take the NCLEX-PN. There are no blocks for a LPN. You either go to LPN school or RN school and the classes are different. The scopes of practice are different. So what you need to do is research both roles and decide what you want to do and go from there.

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Lol! Wow! That's great! What year did you finish your LPN? In which State?

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That is really a tough question. If you love nursing and are looking for an in any way you can get one then go for it. I would always suggest starting as an RN if possible. I am currently and LPN, itching to be a RN. It is very hard to find schools that will bridge online for BSN and RN. Good Luck whatever your decision.

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TashaLPN2006RN2012 Your post is very inspiring. I am planning to go the exact same route as you, if I make it all the way. I"m already 35 :eek: still taking LVN (California) prerequisites and RN prereqs at the same time, so I'm starting a little late, but it's nice to see other's going the same route. Congratulations on your success! :up:
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This is not true in every state. Most states require you to graduate from a LPN program to take the NCLEX-PN. There are no blocks for a LPN. You either go to LPN school or RN school and the classes are different. The scopes of practice are different. So what you need to do is research both roles and decide what you want to do and go from there.

That is weird. So for your RN you go to school for two years and then take your nclex?what tests are there after first year of RN? You can't challenge the nclex PN after first year? That is a long time in school with no exit exams,leading up to nclex RN. I am starting block 3 of RN in august. I guess Arizona is cool that way,didn't know u couldn't challenge the test in other states.

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