Why choose LPN?

[checkmate]

I mean no disrespect. However, if LPN's basically due the same job as RN's but are paid considerably less, unless the decision was out of your control financial, family, etc. Why would anyone choose LPN over RN? What are the advantages to choosing LPN as a career?

[NC Girl BSN]

I chose LPN because my back was against the wall. In NC there are tons of Community Colleges and I applied to 8 that were in a 50 mile radius for the RN programs. All the schools were competitive . At the CC closest to me, they had 900 applicants for 60 slots so I didn't get in because my HOBET and NET scores were soaring high in the reading sections. The second year, I didn't get in because at some schools I needed Chemistry or Micro or something else.I got so frustrated because I was trying to meet different criteria at all the schools and I would not have a course before the cut off date. So A friend of mine told me about an LPN school that did not have a wait list. She was getting ready to graduate and said by doing the program, I could work as a LPN doing the same skills as an RN and go back into an accelerated program. Wow I had never thought of that! So here I am, a new grad and it was the best thing that I have ever done. I went from making $12.41 an hour as a CNA to $20.00 an hour as an LPN. I have no regrets. So in other words the lack of space and competitiveness in an RN program made me choose an LPN program.

PS.

By the way, I am no dummy. I have a Previous University degree.(148 hours) Deans List 3.5 with A's in AP 1&2, Psy (Dev & Abnormal), Math, English you name it). Also received the NC scholars scholarship for $5000 a semester and had to forfeit it because I could not get into a RN program.( I couldn't score high on those Stupid placement test like HOBET and NET). Oh well. Their lost and my win because I'm a good intelligent 35 year old nurse.:monkeydance:

[sleepyndopey]

It's funny, I never wanted to be a nurse at all. 18 years ago a roomate of mine was applying to an LPN program that was offered FREE through the county we lived in(it now costs over $5000). Well my roommate got two applications in case she made a mistake on the first one. She didn't make a mistake and as a JOKE I filled out the second application. I didn't even know what an LPN was. I just filled it out and we had a good laugh because I was in no way geared toward nursing. Anyhoo, we got called to go in for an interview with the school. I was working as a bartender and I figured, "what the heck, I'll go, it's free. I'm not doing anything else during the day". So I went, got accepted and the rest is history.(my roommate never started the program by the way). My first job paid $11/hr. I now make over $30 with my shift differencials. I met my RN husband at my first job. I'm in school now for RN.

I think LPN is good if you don't have the time/money/motivation to go through a long RN program.

Anyway, that's why I chose LPN. My story is ironic, isn't it?:monkeydance:

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I chose LPN because it fits with my philosophy of nursing, which I believe is practical, to the point, and no nonsense. Anyone that knows me will tell you; I could not be paid to become an RN under any circumstances. I think that their focus is more in ridiculous paperwork that takes one away from patient care, being in charge of resistant people and basically, RNs are also complaining about their salaries. For me, I had to look at what I was interested in handling and my stress level. I wanted to be a nurse, yes, but I do not want their job. I respect them, will work hard with them, but will not wear their cap.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

At the time that I opted to go for the LVN program, I was 23 years old and living alone with a mortgage to pay, utilities, and other bills. Back then, I was a factory worker who worked very hard labor on 12 hour rotating shifts. For 3 weeks, I'd work from 5am to 5pm. For the next 3 weeks after that, it would be 5pm to 5am. With a work schedule that rotated constantly from dayshift to nightshift, I could not possibly attend school and maintain this job at the same time. The RN program was not feasible, because it would have taken 3 to 4 years when I could only attend school full-time for 1 year at the most.

I decided to quit my job at the factory to pursue the LVN program full-time. Since I only had enough money saved to be out of work for 1 year, I chose an expensive private program with no prerequisites or waiting lists. I started in October 2004, completed the program in October 2005, and have never looked back.

The LVN pay is not too bad, and I can live quite nicely as a single female with no spouse or boyfriend. I'd hate to brag about my lifestyle, but I only earn $4 less than the RNs who work alongside me, and I absolutely don't live from paycheck to paycheck. I live in a spacious single family house in a new subdivision, have 2 newer vehicles parked in my driveway, and have amassed enough money in my savings to go 18 months to 2 years without working if an emergency arose.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I did the LPN program only because of my situation at the time - stationed in Las Vegas for short period of time and no chance of getting into the RN program because of the wait. However, i knew all along I would go for the RN. I was an LPN for two years while I finished the ADN program.

Would I do it again? Yes, because that's what it took. Would I stay an LPN? Nope, I wanted more opportunities. That is why after 8 years being an RN, I went back to school for the BSN, MSN and post- MSN certificates.

If I had to do it over, would have done the BSN right from the beginning but oh well, life sometimes isn't that cooperative. Good luck.

[Perpetual Student]

I chose to do it for numerous reasons, with the understanding that I will merely use it as a springboard to becoming an RN in the near future (hopefully I can start in April or September) and a nurse practitioner in the (rather) long run. I would never advise anyone to choose to become an LPN INSTEAD of becoming an RN, but I think it might be prudent to do so PRIOR to becoming an RN depending upon personal circumstances.

My family is somewhat poor and unstable, making it difficult for me to depend primarily upon their support during a lengthy educational program. I also did not want to incur much--if any--debt. The entry level ADN and BSN programs in this area are incredibly hard to get into, too. I did not want to risk not being able to get into a program near my home in a timely manner as it was crucial that I be able to earn decent money ASAP if it became necessary due to further familial destabilization.

That said, I have little desire to work in the fields where it is easy for LPNs to get jobs. I currently have a home health job that is very pleasant to do, but the pay is rather low and it is not something I could continue do after moving out of my parents' house and expect to move forward in life. Yeah, I could get a job that pays more, but most of the ones that pay considerably more aren't things I desire to do.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

1) Cost

2) Schedule

3) Opportunity

[Jules A, MSN]

I wasn't really sure I wantd to be a nurse but figured I could get through a year of anything so I applied to the LPN program first. The good news is that I love nursing and am continuing on toward my ADN now. I am happy to have the security my LPN becase there have been a couple of people in their second year of the RN program that have failed out and they have nothing to show for it. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I'm in an ADN program that offers the one-year LPN certificate as an option. I chose to take the option while continuing on in my second year to become an RN. The reasons I chose to take the LPN option were:

1) It would allow me to work less and focus more on school.

2) It would be an opportunity to learn and gain experience in nursing.

I do not regret my decision. Being a nurse is so much harder than nursing school that I feel I will sail through my second year.

[swee2000]

Shorter waiting list!!!!

I was actually in an RN program at one time, but had to drop out in 2nd semester because of an undiagnosed health problem. When I was finally ready to go back to school in 2006, the only option available to me was 2nd semester of the LPN program. In fact, at that time, the waitlist for the RN program was so long that I wouldn't have started 2nd semester until this Fall. I can't imagine how backed up it is now. So instead of sitting back & twiddling my thumbs, I opted for the quicker route and finished the LPN program, graduated w/honors, got my license in 7/2006, and have continued working in the hospital on the Med/Surg unit as a LPN.

For me, I don't regret any decisions I've made thus far. Yes, I hope to go back one day and finish an RN program and take Boards all over again. But it wouldn't be due to dissatisfaction with being an LPN, or because of the lower salary or lack for advancement. It would be for the sole purpose of knowing that I could overcome all obstacles put before me and reach my dream/career goals. However, if that day never comes, I will always look back on life knowing that I enjoyed & loved every day that I was able to work & be an LPN.

That's my story.....

[CrispyRN]

I was an LVN for 5 years. I bombed my first semester in college and then LVN pre-reqs were one semester. But it was never my goal to stay a LVN. However, I'm glad I learned and had the oppurtunity to learn in those 5 years to have a better basis for my RN.