Working as lpn while doing adn program?

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Has anyone had the experience of working as lpn while doing adn program? Is weekend work opportunities less likely for a lpn in comparison to rn? I'm trying to figure out my options and the idea of getting that experience in seems like such a good idea. Any input would be appreciated.

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I worked full time nights as a LPN while getting my ADN part time. Took me 5 years of 1-2 classes per semester. It was very hard, but it was worth it. You probably won't have any issue finding a weekend job as a LPN since most places are short on the weekends. But it really depends on the job situation in your area. Good luck!

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

I'm a LPN in a ADN program. I work 3 days/week, M-W-F. (classroom time is one day a week + one day a week for clinicals). Several people in my program work weekends at either a hospital or nursing home. It's extremely advisable to get experience as a LPN while working on becoming a RN. There are several people in my program who got their LPN license but have never worked in healthcare and in my area, it's really going to hurt them when they start applying for jobs.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I worked 32 hours per week as an LVN while completing my associate degree in nursing (RN). I attended school every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday while working 16-hour weekend double shifts as an LVN at a local nursing home every Saturday and Sunday. I never had any financial worries while attending school because I was earning a rather competitive wage as an LVN.

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I'm currently in an ASN program. I work as an LPN, anywhere from 1 to 3 nights a week (12 hour shifts). We're all LPNs in my class. So for the week, there's only one clinical day (about 10-12 hours) and two lecture days (3 hours each).

There is plenty of time to work. Just about all of us do, with jobs ranging from hospice, to corrections, to nursing homes. Some of us work through an agency, while others work per diem. That way we have the option to pick work days around school times and exams. For those who work on staff, they are lucky enough to have employers who accomodate their schedules. It can be done! :)

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I'm so glad to hear that it would be a good idea to get that experience and the income would really help with school expenses. I want to give myself every advantage that I can and you all have really convinced me to do it. Thanks so much for all the responses. :)

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I'm working part-time as an LPN while going to school full-time in a BSN program. My employer is wonderful about adjustments to my schedule for school. It isn't easy, but it can be done. Now if my husband would just understand why I don't have time for movies, visiting with friends, swimming, housework....

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Specializes in Home Care.

I got my LPN license in Oct 09. It took several months for me to find a job, luckily I found a weekend Baylor 7a to 7p position in an LTC. I start the LPN-RN program in August. :)

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I am a LPN, about to start LPN-RN bridge program in August. I work LTC, Fri, Sat, Sun, twelve hour shifts.

Good luck to you.

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I work with 4 RN's who worked at our facility as LPN's during their LPN to RN ADN bridge schooling. They all dropped their weekday schedule and picked up an every weekend schedule. One did every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They all graduated and passed the NCLEX-RN on their first shot. We work in LTC. And our facility is pretty good at scheduling around school schedules. And having all of them wanting to work weekends, every weekend, much easier for our facility. Most people don't want to work weekends, especially every one. It was much easier to find replacements for the weekdays the students were dropping than it would be to find weekend replacements. :)

That being said, they all had completed the pre-reqs and all of the non-nurse courses for the RN program prior to entering the RN program. So they only had to deal with the nursing courses/clinicals which made working every weekend do-able.

I am doing my pre-reqs for the bridge program now, currently I'm working part time but plan on dropping down to just weekends when I have to take a heavier class load (so I can complete my required classes to apply to the bridge program) but for now, I'm able to handle working a full time and part time job w/part time schooling.

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Specializes in Home Health, Education.

I just started working per diem at an inpatient hospice facility, per diem doing crisis care for the same company, continuing my work at 2 agencies, and am beginning RN pre-reqs part-time next month. Where there's a will, there's a way!

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I'm doing it now. Not easy......... but I'm glad to be applying what I see on the job to my school work.

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