Working as an LPN while finishing RN???

[galenanurse2b]

I am wondering what everyones thoughts are. I recent graduated with my LPN, and I am wondering if working a year as an LPN during my last year would be benificial, or be useful to my resume working as a nurse for a year? I dont want to compromise my grades (fail) either.

Has anyone done this? Did you find it to be helpfull? What department or what kind of work did you do? Any negitive experiences?

Thats everyone

Jen

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I just graduated LPN school too. I accepted a part time LTC position. I am going back to college in September to finish up a few pre-reqs needed for the LPN to RN bridge program.

I worked full time during LPN school and did just fine in regards to grades (graduate with honors) and clinicals etc.

I want to work as an LPN as I go through school because I don't want to loose the skills learned or the knowledge I gained during school. I think if I didn't work as a nurse while going to school for 1 1/2 yrs, I would seriously loose a lot of knowledge and skills. As it is I've been out of school only 2 wks and I already forgot some of the "how to's" of some skills I mastered in school . Just made me pick up my books and review and refresh and it came right back.

[heaverboo]

I was an LPN for a year and a half before getting my RN license. During the LPN to RN transition class we were required to take I worked 2 12's and a 8 and went to school the other 2 days. Once I got into my actual nursing courses I cut back to 2 8's a week but in my last semester I didn't work because school was 3 and 4 days a week with assignments that needed to be done outside of school and also had to do clinical prep (look up meds and do a prep tool with patient's dx and history and so forth). I work on an ortho floor which is pretty fast paced. I had other friends that work full time all the way through the program and made it, so it's all in what you can afford and if you put your mind to it I guess. I'm a high stress person and was also anal about my grades. I was able to take time off during the last semester thanks to my husband. It probably does look good on your resume being you worked as a LPN while going to RN school. I feel like it was beneficial to some degree to have the LPN because you were always ahead of everyone else in clinicals. Good luck to you in your transition.

[missjennmb]

FWIW I saw 3 separate jobs in the past month and a half for RN's with "either 1 yr RN experience or 3 yrs LPN exp" so regardless of what I think, those hiring must give some sort of credit to the time served as an RN.

I am just starting LPN school and will be working administrative stuff at the hospital during LPN school and fully intend to switch to an LPN position (hopefully w/ my hospital) while I go through the LPN->RN bridge program.

[Long Island Nurse]

I started out as an LPN working on med-surg floor and then the medical ICU. (This was many years ago). I also worked in the OR as a scrub nurse while going back to school for my Associates degree. I work for a large teaching hospital and working as a LPN afforded me with many opportunities and experiences. As you stated, don't jeopardize you school grades and see how much you can handle, but I feel keeping up with your skills, learning new ones and learning how to prioritize you time will help you in the end. Working can also afford you "connections" in regards to future employment as an RN. Lastly, check which hospitals offer their employees tution reimbursement towards their ASN or BSN degrees. Good luck!!

[Jules A, MSN]

Yes, I got my LPN first so I could work while I was in the RN program. It has been very good to me. Good luck.