Greetings -

I'm currently enrolled in nursing program prerequisites at my local community college. I'm trying to decide whether to apply to the LPN or RN program. I volunteer at a local hospital and it has been interesting, but I'm not necessarily set on working at a hospital myself. A doctor's office, correctional facility, home health, hospice, or community health clinic might be a better fit for me. I think I'll have to experiment to find out. I also think I'd like to get an ADN or BSN someday, but for now, the shorter LPN program is more appealing and lets me get back into the workforce faster. The thing is, I've been told by some nurses that LPNs are being phased out and the job opportunities are getting more limited. I don't want to complete a program only to find there are very few employment opportunities at the end of it. I'd apperciate if anyone had any comments on this issue. Thanks so much!

 If you can go for the RN,  DO IT!  Never put of for tomorrow what you can do today.  The field of LPN is becoming smaller and smaller.  CNA's and MA's are a lot less expensive to employ.  You will have many more opportunities as an RN.  Take it from someone who has been an LPN for 18 years and find myself unable to find employment in a large metropolitan area.  I worked in an specialty for 15 years and they have all but fazed us out.  They want RNs.  GO FOR IT!

I've noticed in my area that an already small job market for LPN/LVNs is becoming even smaller.  I would have to advise anyone to pursue an RN license if they want to improve their employability.