Why did you choose LPN instead of RN?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 22, 2008

I became an LVN, because admission into an RN program was unattainable at that point in my life. My well-paying factory job was not going so well, so I needed to change career pathways rather quickly. The LVN program enabled me to enter a new career field in a little over 1 year's time.

kimmyj74 · May 22, 2008

I'm just wondering why others chose to be LPN's and not RN's. I will be starting a technical school program in the fall. I chose LPN because it was faster, I can gain experience and then go on to RN later if I choose to. I also love the medical field. I feel as a secretary I am limited and I want to have more impact on the people I see. I look up to the nurses in my life.
One other reason, is because my other is older now and will need care someday. I would like to be able to give her the care she needs.:redpinkhe

Oops, I meant my mother is getting older.

MeowTimesTwo · May 22, 2008

I chose to be an LPN first for a couple reasons. One, because I'm an older "returning" student who didn't do so well when I initially went to college after high school. A lot of RN programs around here have waitlists and strict criteria and it just made sense to go where I could and start getting experience. I'm older and wiser now and have been doing really well since I started taking prereqs and now that I'm in LPN school (PRAY that keeps up!).

I also wanted to do something while I was going to school for my RN. I was going to go back to medical assisting, but I think learning the nursing process and everything else via LPN school with help me a lot.

I got into a hospital program and will work for them when I graduate (gotta love tuition assistance!) and I can get into their RN program after I've been an active LPN for 6 months. Not a bad deal. :)

tothepointeLVN, LVN · May 22, 2008

Time factors. Looking at a 2-3 year wait for a RN program so opting for LVN. Also felt that going for a 52 week program would be an easier pill to swallow for the short term than a full 2.5 year course.

p2o8 · May 22, 2008

i actually started as a stna, now i am going to graduate in aug as an lpn. i chose this route d/t so many rn courses in my area that are going either bsn or ma. i do not want my bsn at this time. nor do i want to wait 4+ years. i will have my lpn and bridge to rn in less time than a rn bsn. now to mention the waiting list for just an associates degree for rn. there are not too many 2yr programs for it around me. who knows though, after graduating and all the studying i have been doing, i may just not go back!!! :yeah: :nurse: :heartbeat

Jules A, MSN · May 22, 2008

I had a decent job and wanted to try something different but wasn't positive I really even wanted to be a nurse. I figured I could at get through only 1 year of anything and at least have a license to fall back on. As luck would have it I really enjoyed nursing. I have absolutely no regrets about the way I did things. Even in hindsight I think I would have been pretty miserable if I went through a full year of ADN school with nothing but a CNA cert. to show for all that effort. It took me a bit longer but the security and confidence I had from being a LPN made the RN-bridge painless, ok nearly painless. :)

amjowens · May 23, 2008

It sounds like most of us posting are planning to become RNs, but taking the LPN route as a step.

For me, I think it's great that nursing offers the step-by-step plan to get to where we want to be. Since I don't have a lot of health care experience, and would like to eventually become a NP, I want to work as a LPN while getting RN, RN while getting BSN, and then BSN while MSN. Financially, too, it makes sense.

I would probably have gone straight for my RN, but there was a almost a year of waiting for that, and so looked into LPN school. I'm SO thankful for this experience now (through the ups and downs, I'm learning a lot).

Price 2002 · May 23, 2008

i got my stna first in may in 2007 after spending 6 long years working in banking. july 11, 2007 i start a local lpn program (i graduate in 10/1/08), i knew i wanted to be a rn someday and in the area i live in this was the easiest way to go about it. i really happy that i am doing things this way. i feel like i am going to gain a lot of valuable expirence working as a lpn while i am going to school to get my rn. someday i hope to get my masters in nursing education. good luck to everyone!

*Scrubs* · May 23, 2008

I chose the LPN program because I have little -to- no desire to become an RN first and foremost, but I did consider it- because hey who wouldn't like to make a little more money? :up:

I am by no means lazy but for a married mother of three who works, the RN program seems a bit ridiculous. :bugeyes: I wouldn't want to 'chip away' at it and take forever getting my RN. IMO they make the RN program more difficult than need be especially with the demand for RN's. Not to mention the fact that there is a three year wait in my area.

The LPN program works for me. It is quick and it fits my familys' schedule. And as far as the job opportunities go...I love LTC!! I really do...so it suits me.

CLUVRN, MSN, RN · May 23, 2008

My answer is pretty much the same as everyone else's---easier to bridge to RN later on if I want to, less time, cheaper, can make a pretty good living if I want to remain an LPN

missjennmb · May 23, 2008

I honestly did not know anything about RNs and LPNs and all that when I first app'd for the LPN program at my college. All I knew was that my BIL makes mad money as an LPN in long term care, that I needed to find a new field (I'm formerly an administrative assistant/web dev/tech support girl and there are very few well paying jobs in the area we moved to for any of them) And to be honest, although I wanted to go back to school in the biggest way and have for a VERY long time, I didnt think I'd be able to afford to go (daycare for 2 little ones on top of the rest plus the responsibilities of parenting/wife-ing) so the LPN program was a godsend to me.

That being said, I found out after I already was accepted that there isnt jack for LPN jobs in my area. I could more easily get a hospital job as a CNA than as an LPN. So... now on top of starting my LPN nursing school in Sept, I have already app'd to a transition program for my ADN that starts in Spring 2010. If I'm lucky enough, somewhere during all of this I'll find a company that will pay for it! lol