What Job Opportunities are available for LPNs?

peachshan, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2012

yes, they do! alot of them do actually... it's in nursing homes and home health agencies that I see alot of LPN's and CNA's.

Thanks! That is encouraging! I know people say go for BSN first but I have to keep options open and LPN is one option that is would work for me finances wise.

MedChica · Jan 31, 2012

- Hospital

- LTC...I LOVE geriatrics but I can't stand the nursing homes. SMH

- LTAC...you can get your icu/med surg experience here

- Dialysis...which, I'm thinkging, would be good for medsurg experience. I sat in afew times with the dialysis nurse. It's a cool job. The pay is ridiculous, but...the liability + long hours. I'd be on pins and needles the entire time.

- Home-health

- Hospice

- Staffing companies

Hospitals pay the lowest, typically. 13-14/hr in my area.

In other areas? There's an abundance of opportunity for an LVN.

LVN's typically start out at 19/hr in the nursing. You earn more elsewhere. I earned well over the avg when I just shot xray. No reason why I can't do the same with an lvn license.

Just depends on how hard you want to work....

I've an aunt who earns lots as a nurse...but, like me, she also manages her debt/income ratio well. Still, I read post after post from broke nurses on this site and don't know what to make of them.

There are hospitals in my area that hire LVNS. I can't give out the info, however.

...because everyone's trying to flock to Texas and no offense to anyone reading -- but we Texans need jobs, too!

*laugh*

As a nursing student, you can be a cna, med aide once you take fundamentals and pharm, respectively.

Check into the state hospitals for cna positions. The one in my area...you don't need to be certified. They pay $15/hr, too! I was so annoyed when I heard, because I paid out of pocket for my CNA before entering nursing school. If I'd known that I could be doing aide work without a cert....

I would've waited for nursing school.

Please research your area, however. Don't go by the open job listings. Read the fine-print.

Not trying to insult your intelligence, but there are wayyyyy too many people jumping into this occupation without a plan.

...or without researching the industry.

ANYWAY --after changing my major so close to graduating with an Macc (masters/accounting), I had/have no more tolerance for school. I'm running on fumes as we speak. 3-4 more years of school for a BSN?

No, thanks. I'd prefer a job.

I'm doing a one-year LVN program. Then, I'm going to summon the whole of my mental energy to knock out this bridge program...THEN, I'm going to go on a week-long cruise and take a 6 month break...but, after THAT --

*laugh*

I'm going to get that BSN and MSN.

What you choose to do, depends on your circumstances.

Me, personally? I have no kids. I own my car. I don't pay rent or utilities (my man does).

I'm prior svc military. Gi bill+ kicker+various other vet education benefits. Texas is a good state for that, btw.

So, yeah...it's worth it to knock out a 1 year program. My SLRP (military) is footing the bill.

FutureNeoNursing · Jan 31, 2012

Here in the midwest,LPNs work in long term care facilities, some hospitals,home care,dialysis clinics,Nurse reviewer in some insurance companies,Veteran nursing homes(they make between $3-4K a month in this area!) Substitute lpns in school districts make about $24/hr in the suburbs,temp agencies has a nice starting wage but usually no benefits. You can do private duty,and if you get certified in pharmacology,IV, or Gerontology that's another plus added to your resume.

Heavenly4505 · Jan 31, 2012

Around here (Cincinnati, OH), most of the opportunity for LPNs is long-term care. I graduated April 2011 and passed my boards May 2011. I started working almost immediately on a skilled unit of a long-term care facility. I am currently working at a different long-term care facility. Out of my class of 22 students, I believe only one was able to land a hospital job and that's because she worked there as an aide while in LPN school. To my knowledge, everyone else is either working in a nursing home or still searching for work (it's hard to get a job as a LPN around here right now). Home health does hire LPNs; however, MOST home health agencies want you to have one year's experience as a nurse in a hospital, nursing home, etc. before they'll hire you. Reason being that in home health, you are pretty much on your own. You need to have developed your critical thinking and nursing process skills very well because you are relying solely on your own judgement. You may find one or two home health agencies that don't require a year's experience, but around here, nearly ALL of them do.

Honestly, if I had it to do over again, I would have gone straight for RN. But, like you, I had children and a husband to support and figured I could be working quicker if I became a LPN first. Good luck with whatever you decide.