What made you choose LPN/LVN?

jasminewilliams · May 9, 2013

I chose to become a LVN because it opens the door to becoming a RN. Obtaining your license is a challenge which is another thing that attracted me to becoming a LVN. I know only hard workers have the title :-)

Iâ™¥Scrubs, LPN · May 9, 2013

Finances and I wanted to make sure that before I went into nursing I would like it. I also want to work in a clinic or Doctors office. And someday I would like to have a family so I'd like somewhat predictable hours and I would love to be able to spend time with family.

Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN · May 10, 2013

I got turned down by the same RN program twice so I've decided to take another route instead of pushing back my dreams of persuing my nursing career. I can also complete my program in 12 months, work, and do my RN online.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 10, 2013

Back when I enrolled in an LVN program in 2004, I was 23 years old, living on my own, and working 12-hour rotating shifts in a factory. I had a mortgage and other financial obligations, so I could not be out of work for more than one year. And my factory job had a schedule that was not conducive to the schedule of a full-time nursing student.

To top it all off, I only had 16 college credits to my name. I chose a program that would enable me to graduate in 12 months. Hence, I ended up selecting an LVN program at a nonprofit trade school with a decent reputation of serving the local community for nearly 40 years. I completed the program and picked up the pieces of my life (financially, at least).

Mrsladysoul83 · May 10, 2013

Flunked out of Rn school spring '11 & in my area you have to wait 5 years to reapply. Advisor told me to change my career path. I didnt want to be a Lpn because i like others talked bad & down about them like a fool. Talked to other nurses RN's & found that alot of them were Lpn's for years before getting the RN & talked to lot if Lpn's as well & decided that i can major in something i dont want & wait the five years or go with my heart & passion & take another route & so i went with option 2 & got into a Lpn program & will be entering my FINAL SEMESTER the 20th of this month & will be FINISHED AUG 6th!! Luckily for me, the hospital i tech at still hires Lpn's! Now that im almost done, i should have gone this route waaaaaaayyyyyy back when i graduated out of high school '01. I have a solid firm foundation to build upon & i wont stop until MY HOUSE IS COMPLETE!

WideOpenHeart · May 10, 2013

Hi... I'm almost set to start an LPN program in July.

I was actually prepping to enter an accelerated BSN program, but I was very concerned about being able to pay for the shortfall (between the tuition/books/etc. and my tribal scholarship)... which amounted to 8-10 thousand dollars, at least.

On top of that, I was very much dreading working during the intensive program, which would have been absolutely necessary.

While struggling with this conundrum, I found out that the local LPN program is very good, with a total program cost which will be covered by my tribe's vo-tech scholarship program.

If I do the LPN program, I can work for one year, then enter the LPN-BSN program at the same university where I was going to do the ABSN.

In the LPN-BSN program there, you do almost everything online, with your work hours counting for clinicals. (After all, you've been drenched in clinicals during your LPN program.)

You go to campus one Saturday a month (and a handful of other times, I hear), and you're done in two, rigorous-but-manageable semesters...

You get the same degree, from the same university, at a much reduced cost (compared to the ABSN).

Basically, in three years, I'll be an RN with two years of nursing experience, as opposed to being an RN with one year of nursing experience, unwanted debt, and (no doubt) 15-20 stress pounds from junk food and anxiety.

It is very exciting, also, to think I can be actually NURSING in one year! (And I live in Oklahoma, where the scope of practice for LPNs is very, very broad.)

So, that's it, in a big, verbose nutshell.

If I had it to do over again, I'd get my LPN right out of high school, and then progress to BSN... but I was an ARTIST (a writer).

P.S. It might help, here, to know that I have a bachelors in English, a masters in gerontology, and a masters in wellness management.

I love health. I love people. I can't wait!

WideOpenHeart · May 10, 2013

P.P.S. I've never cared if my nurse was an LPN or an RN.

Heck, most of the time I don't even know!

(And I'm a "health professions" person...)

ShesAcuteNurse, ADN, LPN · May 10, 2013

I chose LPN because of how long it would take to complete mainly. That would be only a year where I live. I would later like to return to get my RN-BSN.

MrsCuoco · May 11, 2013

I chose to do the LPN program as part of my university's career ladder model because I am 37 years old and wanted to be entering the workforce as a nurse ASAP. I graduate in 6 days!

I'm glad I did it this way because nearly every nurse I have encountered during clinicals who was an LPN before becoming an RN feels they are far better prepared for the workplace. The RNs I have encountered who were not LPNs first tell me they wish they had been. The BSN mentor students who are assigned to shadow us during med-surg clinicals are amazed at how much us "lowly" PN students actually know!

Not to bash on any who got their BSN only...just saying that I feel, and that I've met many nurses who feel that being an LPN first is truly a superior educational track.

allnurses Guide · May 11, 2013

I chose it because it was fast and I wanted to get out of dead-end jobs like being a clothing salesperson and a pie waitress. At that time, you knew you pretty much had your pick of jobs as well. I even went to the dreaded "for profit" school. Had no problem paying back the loans, again that's another reason the "nursing shortage" scam angers me so much.

Real people are having real loan payments come due whether they have a job or not - when likely they assumed they would have at least 6 months worth of paychecks under their belt.

edit to add: Congrats on your graduation Mrs. Cuoco!

Kittythestudentnurse · May 12, 2013

I chose to return to school for LPN after being laid off from my job. I had always wanted to work in the health care field.

Previously, I dropped out of university twice before, and at the time I thought i would probably never finish school. I started a career after dealing with personal problems and was happy until the job started feeling too redundant and purposeless (working in an office long term was definitely not for me) and was let go a few months later.

Being laid off was a blessing in disguise. I received funding through second career (a program in ontario for people returning to school after losing their jobs).

I feel like its the right time for me to be in school- I am more mature, and I know what the real work world looks like.

I will be starting 2nd semester in the fall and I can't wait, I love nursing!