Group Forums >> LPNs ARE NURSES TOO! >> Is it worth going to school to become a LPN???
Is it worth going to school to become a LPN???
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Posted almost 5 years ago I've been thinking bout going to school to become an LPN for the last 3 months. My question is: A. Do you think it's worth going to school for? {I only ask this cause i was look at being a Pharm. first and when you get out of school they only start you at 9 an hour, so my thought was that would be a waste of time and money} and B. What is the difference between becoming an LPN and RN??? What much longer do you have to go to school for RN and how much more do you get paid?? |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago here is my answer to the questions you raise. First, have you ever been a nurse's aide. That is probably step 1 because you then know if you will like nursing. Also, LPN's in the hospital sometimes only make about $9 an hour - in nursing homes, they make considerably more. So, you need to know where you plan to work. If you decide you want to become a nurse, start with the LPN so that you are earning while you are studying. |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago hisprincess23 LPNs dont make $9 hour where you live? The LPN make way more $ than MAs though? I advise you too look around for other jobs for LPNs (*dont put all your eggs in one basket). Besides the cost of living in allentown, PA is cheap i have family that lives down there. Homes are really cheap beautiful area though. http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=LPN&l1=Allentown%2C+PA&tm=1 Average LPN salaries for job postings in Allentown, PA are 8% lower than average LPN salaries for job postings nationwide. LPN LVN LPN LVN in Allentown, PA
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| Posted almost 5 years ago i think LPN is more worth it http://www.pennfostercollege.edu/medicalassistant/index.html Because now Medical Assisants need a 2 year degree and they get paid less than a LPN? Medical Assistant In Allentown, PA $28,000 YR http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=MEDICAL+ASSISTANT&l1=Allentown%2C+PA&tm=1 |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago I've been an LPN/LVN for 16 years. I have done all kinds of nursing jobs. I hold license in 5 states. I tell anyone who is thinking about nursing as their career....don't waste your time with LPN. Go for the RN, or plan on getting stuck in nursing homes which are understaffed, you are overworked and you can be fired at the drop of a hat for something as simple as insisting the CNA's you supervise actually do their job without talking back to you. And I don't know any state that pays us over $35tho/year....including California and Arizona. |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago Well Burnedout10 with this recession going on i dont think there is easy to get any jobs? or anyone can be fired now? I think LPN is a good career. Most colleges rather take a LPN into a RN program quicker than a CNA? But where i live LPNs dont just work in nursing homes they work as school nurses, home care, dr.s offices children hospitals? I've read nurses comments on this sight that have said RN isnt even paid that much $ money http://nursinglink.monster.com/topics/2807-some-are-in-it-for-the-/posts I know some LPNs that make over $40,0000 yr? you need to keep looking or move to another state? Besides no offense but KS cost of living is cheaper thats why its in the country which pays less. If you moved more north there is more opportunities. LPNs where i moved to dont just work in Nursing homes i can assure you that. And this website isnt the only place to look for jobs. You need to go to careerbuilder, hotjobs, monsterjobs, advanceweb-the best website, the jobs on this website doesnt cover alot of LPN jobs i see in the daily paper. * Burnedout10 Dont put your eggs in 1 basket or you will continue to be burnedout |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago I just checked the job listings at this site. There are 580 jobs posted for LPN,LVN...ALL for registry agencies...which will pay a higher hourly salary, but with no medical benefits or guarantee of full time work. There are also listed 1000 RN jobs.....at actual medical facilities all over the US. Again, if you are going to be a nurse, go for the RN and don't waste your time and money on anything less. |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago http://nursinglink.monster.com/benefits/4352-10-reasons-to-choose-an-lpnlvn-license 10 Reasons to Choose an LPN/LVN License Nursing education can sometimes seem long, arduous and difficult to face when you are first making decisions about your career. However, if you have a desire to go into the field of nursing, there is a path, that is, perhaps as arduous, but at least, less lengthy. If your current life circumstances keep you from devoting too many years to a nursing education, if you have completed a high school diploma or GED and are over 17 years old, consider a Licensed Practical/ Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) certification and licensure. Here are 10 reasons this could be a reasonable path for you: 1. You can receive the education you need to take the LVN licensure exam with 12-18 months of classes. The kind of care an LVN learns to provide, include basic bedside care, bathing, lifting, mouth care, caring for wounds, administering injections, delivering simple procedures and measuring the vital signs of temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure. State laws refer to this as direct patient care and “data collection.” The LVN observes and collects information about the state of a patient’s condition so that the RN and physician can respond to that data with an assessment and diagnosis. Some states allow LVNs to start intravenous lines and attend to patients who need ventilator care. Often times, the LPN will find her/him self taking on the clerical duties of a physician’s office assisting in the patient scheduling, assuring medical records are completed and even managing and supervising the office. They also are prepared in their education to communicate with family members, and can then educate the family and the patient himself about home care or deliver other information the physician feels is important for the patient to know to enhance the healing process. The kinds of classes that need completion and that are part of an accredited program for LVNs/ LPN cerification include many classes also offered to the RN student. These include: • Anatomy and physiology During a program there are many hours spent in the hospital or physician office setting as the lab section of the program and the internship. As many as 1000 hours may be spent in this part of the program. State laws do require that Vocational or Practical nurses complete an accredited program and receive certification at the end of a program. After such a course, the student will be eligible to complete the NCLEX-PN licensure exam given to ensure the knowledge of the student and to actually give the student the license of LPN/LVN. The LPN or LVNs are the “front line” licensed staff of hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and physician offices. They are the skilled nurses that help gather information that is used to assess the condition of patients and then allows for correct diagnoses and treatment by the RN, Advanced Practice Clinician or physician. This is a growing field that can be a complete and fulfilling career in itself, or a beginning for someone who wants to continue on the path of nursing. |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago It is so worth going to school to be a LPN. You get more clinical experience. Think about it you can practice as a nurse while you pursue a RN degree. If you aren't sure about going all the way with nursing it is a wonderful starting place. There are so many skills to learn and to be able to practice them while you are getting more education to move up in the nursing world is fabulous. I love being a LPN. I have just as much impact on my patients as any RN. I can problem solve as well as any RN. I say go for it. Use all your options. I have learned so much in my five years of practicing nursing that sometimes I feel I know more than some of the RNs I work with. It has also given me the most confidence in myself. I am on my way to getting back to school to be an ARNP. Being a LPN first helped me decide which way I wanted to go with my nursing career. |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago His princess23 Its worth it!!! Just Go to school in Cananda and be a Registered Practical Nurse lol Canada LPNs are called Registered Practical Nurses? And Canada RNs are called Bachelor Science Nurses and need a Bachelor degree to practice? website: http://www.georgebrown.ca/nursing/index.aspx#top
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| Posted almost 5 years ago hisprincess23 you can teach and manage (there are alot of options available) Advanceweb.com From LPN to Educator In 1995, Coleman's affection for nursing and a desire to help train others interested in healthcare led her from the doctor's office to the classroom, when a teaching opportunity for a medical assistant became available. The transition from nurse to educator was smooth and successful — so much so that Coleman was recently named Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Career College Association (VCCA). The award is quite an honor, especially when considering that VCCA is comprised of 20 private colleges. An instructor at the Lynchburg campus of National College, Coleman also served as medical department chairwoman before being promoted to her current position as director of healthcare education. "I was working full time at a practice that specialized in internal medicine and cardiology when a teaching position came available for a night course in anatomy and physiology," explained Coleman. Coleman applied and was hired for the position. After the first night of teaching, she was hooked. Coleman stayed on staff at the doctor's office for 5 more years, but changed her schedule from full time to a more flexible status, enabling her to spend more time at the college. "I teach in a career college and, while we don't have a nursing program, we have a medical assisting program, which is how I'm able to teach [as an LPN]," explained Coleman. "It's a 2-year associate degree and it's very similar to nursing, but with a different type of certification. Our students are primarily trained for ambulatory care settings like physician offices and clinics handling both direct patient care and administrative duties." "Working in the medical field is not just something you do," she said, "it's who you are and what you believe. Alleviating your patients' pain, helping them through crisis situations and developing medical plans are the most rewarding things you can do. This is what I tell my students. This is what I believe."
Advanceweb.com New-grad LPNs often find themselves holding supervisory positions sooner than they expect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By Joe Darrah Once new grads grasp their practical nursing diplomas, their expectations begin to rise. With just a licensure exam standing in their way, their dreams of becoming nurses are that much closer to coming true. While many facilities are developing more sophisticated orientation programs to ease the new-grad-to-new-nurse transition, employment opportunities for LPNs are becoming more demanding as the nursing shortage pervades all areas of healthcare. And with more opportunity comes more responsibility, even for new grads. Green Hills, an assisted living facility medication-pass training program for the facility’s nursing aide staff LPNs are needed for charge positions and sometimes hold administrative roles. New-grad LPNs can be assigned supervisory positions in acute care, assisted living and home care where nurse’s aides are employed. ‘I’M AN LPN; I CAN LEAD’ Christine Kline, LPN, also knows what it’s like to be thrust into a leadership position soon after taking a nursing job. A member of the June 2005 graduating class Kline, 41, earned her LPN by July of that year and took a job as a med/surg staff nurse that summer. At Reading Hospital, all LPNs are responsible for assisting RNs with delegating tasks to nurses’ aides and patient-care technicians on their units, Kline said, adding that this duty provides a sense of authority as well as clinical management. ‘YOU’RE AN LPN; YOU CAN LEAD’ Also sensing a need to refine LPN responsibilities when she joined Green Hills, Kline initiated a staffing change that called for LPNs to be designated “unit supervisors” to oversee nursing aides. Kline knew that their practical nursing education helped prepare them for such responsibility, so she assigned Melanie Hartzell, LPN, and Wendy Weitzel, LPN, 10 aides each, the total number of support staff on the day and evening shifts. As supervisors, Hartzell and Weitzel are responsible for delegating assignments, overseeing med passes and documentation, and ensuring that aides sign off all completed tasks. |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago Read Ladybugbow comment: I am currently an LVN but working towards my RN. A starting LVN (new grad) in my facitlity will make about $19.50/hr, whereas an RN will make $27.00/hr starting don't think there is much difference in an LVN & an RN other than a piece of paper & initials. Burnedout you should be getting paid more talk to Ladybugbow she lives in TX. U should move there!!!! |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago It is very much worth going to school to be an LPN. You will be looking at about 12 months in order to have a nursing license. I have found that many I know that chose to skip the LPN process and go straight for the RN are now regretting it. They have gone to school for 4-5 years and something happens right before graduation and there they are with all the schooling and no license. Most employers do not care if you are "almost there" if you dont have a license, you don't have a job. By first going to school for my LPN, I am able to work and earn a decent living while pursuing my RN. If I have to take time off from school for some reason, I still have a license and can still support my family. I would also recommend it, because you are taught the practical, hands on approach to nursing and are able to just fall right in when starting a job. I have worked with a lot of RN's that are straight out of school and have the degree, but have no idea what aptient care is, or even how to communicate with the patient, much less draw up an injection, or pass meds. I look forward to having my RN but am extremely grateful for the experiences that having my LPN has allowed me. |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago I believe that if you choose nursing, whichever path is right for you, you will know. Follow your heart. I became a CNA, then went to LPN school. I don't regret it and I love my job. A nurse is a nurse. It doens't matter if you have LPN or RN after your name. The love of the nursing field and for your patients is what guides you. The love of helping people and making a difference. I plan on getting my RN but want to have the clinical experience as an LPN first. I don't knock an RN. But I feel moving up in the " ranks" as has been said is a good way to go. You will know if nursing is for you. I didn't become a nurse because of the salary I would make or the paycheck I receive. I became a nurse so I could love and cherish each and every one of my patients. If the money was what it was about I would have said screw this a long time ago.. There is not enough money in the world or training/ education that makes a good nurse. You are a good nurse because of the person you are on inside. Education just perfects it. "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not."
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| Posted almost 5 years ago If I had of been more stable financially I would have went for my RN right away because I knew I wanted my RN, but I went for my LPN because it was more cost effective for me. If you are going to get an RN anyway just go straight for that but if you plan on doing LPN and your happy with that then just go for your LPN. Depending on what area of nursing you go into will determine the amount of pay. There are certain areas that seem to pay more than others so I would advise that you look at the wadges on your local state income comparison for salaries. |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago I told myself I would never be an "old"Lpn.Here it is 10 years later,I am still a Lpn.I like it! The pays is good,I make 2.00 more , than my f riend who just finished a BSN program.He works in the hospital!! |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago LPN's make way more than $9 !!! If you need to make more money now and don't have time to wait to finish your RN then go for your LPN. Or if you have to sit around and wait to get into an RN program and your accecpted into an LPN program now then start it! You can always finish your RN by bridging over, and then if possible work less because you'll be making more money as an LPN!
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| Posted almost 5 years ago GO FOR THE RN IF THAT IS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IN THE LONG RUN. TIME IS MONEY. I WENT TO SINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND CAPITAL UNIVERSITY IN THE LATE 1980'S AND EARLY 1990'S. LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU FELLOW NURSING STUDENTS. |
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| Posted over 4 years ago I think you should go for your LPN, hopefully you already started since you posted a while ago, and just bridge over that's what im doing, I only work agency so I work when I want. |
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| Posted over 4 years ago I am in management in a large hospital in Ohio and Ijust looked up the starting salery at this hospital and the LPN's start at $16.88 an hour and RN's start at $23.91. As to being worth it going to LPN school, I would say that money isn't everything. LPN training provides more hands on clinical training than an RN program. You can bridge over to become an RN at many colleges and universities as well as accredited web and mail programs. Some of my best RN's are the ones that were LPN first. I would say that it is worth it to go to LPN school. To those people that say it is a waste of time, I would say that in Northern Ohio LPN school is 11 months most places and with the waiting list for RN programs, you might be on a wait list for a year or more. GO FOR IT hisprincess23 and let me know how it is working out. John L. Racher RN, BSN, MSRN-BC
One should study Philosophy, Archeology and History: Because
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| Posted almost 4 years ago I am trying to go to school to become a LPN but the schools that offer the vocational certificate program offer classes during the hours of 4pm-10pm. I am currently employed and my employer refuses to modify my work schedule to alow me to go to school. There is a school in my area called Dade Medical College, however they charge $40,000 for a vocational program. They do have classes that begin from 6pm to 10pm however, I consider it too "pricey" for a school that I am not even sure if they are accredited. Is there a way to take some of the LPN Theory courses online and then take the clinicals at another time? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks |
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| Posted almost 4 years ago I worked as an LVN for thirty five short years, and I have to say I never regretted not getting an RN license. From the first I worked with very smart, very generous professionals. I learned from just about everyone I ever worked alongside and I used that increased knowlege to improve my position in the workplace. I retired about five years ago due to health issues, but in my last few years of nursing I made between $80K and $92K. If you're wiling to assume responsibility and learn to meet the requirements for advanced positions, you'll be well served by your LVN/LPN training. |
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| Posted almost 4 years ago I definitely think its worth going to school for. But please make sure you have a passion for nursing before going for it. Ask yourself is it really what you want to do, and if you can commit to being a truly good nurse. NOTHING is worse than working with a nurse who actually hates thier career. I became a LPN about 4 or 5 years ago, and can honestly say I love this field. And if you wish to continue on to becoming an RN there are several nursing programs that offer LPN to RN or BSN tracks. The pay is good as an LPN,but there are many more opportunities as a RN (money and position wise). The responsibilities are more with RN, but from what I'm told depending on where you work the workload isnt as bad. You delegate alot of duties. Aside from wanting and loving the field, another plus: its ALMOST recession proof. Hope this helps. |
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| Posted almost 4 years ago Business2CNA says ...
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| Posted over 1 year ago Hello, I want to apply for LPN course in Canada. Its of 2years. Is it worth applying? After i complete my course, will i get Registered Nurse Lisence to practise in Canada or USA. Can i work in USA also after i finish my course in Canada? My LPN lisence counted in USA or i have to give exam again? Please let me know soon. |
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| Posted over 1 year ago Hiya ash111, Congratulations on your choice of careers. However, I can not answer this question, because I'm not a citizen of Canada.. I can tell you though, I have many friends from Canada and they have worked here in the USA. I think I would contact the CBON and get the answer, right from the horses mouth.. Best of luck to you and please keep us posted.. I'm sure you will get other member's posting here.. I look forward to their information... Teresa |
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| Posted over 1 year ago Hello,
Thank you for your comment. Please kindly let me know so that i can apply soon. I am thinking of applying in USA and Canada but i dont know which is the best option. I am confused. Please let me know my queries so that i can proceed further. Thank You. |
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| Posted over 1 year ago Hiya, I'm not sure of the laws, but you may want to contact the board of nursesin the state you wish to obtain employment in..Also, by searching on the web, you may also find nursing schools/colleges and ask them the requirements for admission.. Best of luck to you and please keep us posted.. Teresa |
