Any LPN's or RN's here?

[tink_n_pooh]

Hi All

I decided to go back to school this past semester to pursue a nursing degree (Associates/RN). The nursing programs around here are extremely competetive and I'm not sure that I will be able to get in to start clinicals this coming Fall semester. I'm anxious to get started and I could enter into an LPN program without much difficulty.

I'm wondering though, what career options are available for LPNs? I'm pretty sure most hospitals around here are no longer hiring LPNs, only RNs.

I've also seen online programs to go from LPN to RN, anyone ever do one of these programs or know anything about them? I really want to be an RN, I'm just wondering which would be the best option for getting there.

Thanks!

 

[yeartolate]

I cannot speak to your geographical area, but I do ork with a fair number of LVNs.

Most had a difficult time going back to school due to family responsibilites and financial concerns.

The amount of money (out here) that is spent for that bridge program is enourmous. One gal stated there was virtually no classroom time, and the course would be nearly $40,000 dollars. The other concern is while you are an LVN you get LVN wages. Let us say it takes you 4 years to finally get your RN. Most places that I kno of will start you off at new grad wages. So you may be able to keep your seniority at your facility, but you will lose out on 4 years of step increases. (by the way, out here RN's make twice the LVN wage)

Most LVN's that I know fully regret not getting their RN from the get go. (then again, we may be looking at major geographical differences in pay and cost of school)

But you must do what is right for yourself and your family.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I am an RN, Assistant Director of Nursing, for a skilled nursing facility. Most think that it is "just" a nursing home, but not really. We have a lot of sub acute, and rehab patients.

Anyway, we hire a lot of LPNs, and 4 of my 6 managers are LPNs. Many facilities allow LPNs to be managers, but some only allow LPNs to be floor nurses.

I can speak for Ohio, and Maryland. Hospitals usually hire RNs. Sometimes they hire LPNs as techs. Drs. offices hire LPNs, but anymore I think they are hiring more medical assistants.

As for the on-line programs. I know many who have tried these, but can only think of 2 people who were successful on-line. Some of the programs are very expensive. I have a lot of LPN friends who are in RN school, or have jsut graduated. It is doable, while working, but be prepared for weekend work, with weekday school. Very busy.

My opinion. Buckle down, and become an RN from the get-go. I have an associates, and most of the RNs I work w/ have the same. You can go pretty far w/ an associates.

Good Luck

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

no advice, but as a fellow nursing student

 

[Disney Doll]

My opinion. Buckle down, and become an RN from the get-go. I have an associates, and most of the RNs I work w/ have the same. You can go pretty far w/ an associates.

Good Luck

I agree.

LPNs will be phased out of health care eventually, due to the acuity of patients and the limitations of an LPN's license.

And do yourself another favor and go for a BSN, no just an associate's. BSN will be entry level for nursing positions.

 

[mgilmer]

Hi All

I decided to go back to school this past semester to pursue a nursing degree (Associates/RN). The nursing programs around here are extremely competetive and I'm not sure that I will be able to get in to start clinicals this coming Fall semester. I'm anxious to get started and I could enter into an LPN program without much difficulty.

I'm wondering though, what career options are available for LPNs? I'm pretty sure most hospitals around here are no longer hiring LPNs, only RNs.

I've also seen online programs to go from LPN to RN, anyone ever do one of these programs or know anything about them? I really want to be an RN, I'm just wondering which would be the best option for getting there.

Thanks!

My wife got her LPN from a local technical school and had no problems making good money doing private duty. She decided to go forward and get her RN and went thru Excelsior College and did it completely online. The costs are not to dissimilar to what you would find from a private college you had to attend and it only took her one year to go from LPN to ASN-RN.

 

[mgilmer]

I agree.

LPNs will be phased out of health care eventually, due to the acuity of patients and the limitations of an LPN's license.

And do yourself another favor and go for a BSN, no just an associate's. BSN will be entry level for nursing positions.

Uh, no. There is a continuing shortage of nurses that is only growing. More and more often positions that used to be RN only are now being filled by LPNs simply because there are no RNs for the positions. As for degrees, you definitely will NOT find that a BSN will be an entry level for nursing. There are simply not anywhere enough slots in BSN schools to cover the growing need for nurses. There is a role for BSNS if you want to go into administration or MSNs if you want to teach, but most all RNs in the future will be ASN-RNs. This comes from my wife, the nurse, by the way.

 

[RNMOM]

I have been an RN (diploma grad) for 33 years this coming June.

We heard the same things back in 1975 about LPN's being done away with and entry level for nursing would be BSN. Well, it hasn't happened yet. I can say that ASN-RN's were a very new phenomenon back then and look at them now! Most of the new nurses are ASN-RN's.

There is and probably will continue to be a nursing shortage because not many people want to spend all that money for a college degree to do the amount of work involved when there are so many other jobs available to them. Who wants to give up every other weekend and work shifts? We also have such poorly organized retirement, unlike teachers. I worked all those years and until the last 10 years when we were able to invest our salaries, don't have anything to show for it.

I would get the RN if you can. Just do it. Then you don't have anything you have to do later on unless you choose to get further training. RN's make a good bit better salaries and have a lot more options open to them too.

Good luck and God bless all of you who want to be nurses. I am retired now, due to health issues and still miss my patients. I think nursing is really a calling and not just a job.

 

[yeartolate]

Another AD RN here.

I have never been refused a job because of it. I have been offered management positions without it.

If there was a push, it is for my CCRN and ACLS (critical care nursing certification and advanced life support certification)

It used to be that home health required BSN. But that is not true anymore.

There are certain advanced certifications that will require a BSN.

Realistically, alot of it is geography. In Northern CA, it is possible my only interview question would be "when can you start" (which is funny because the pay is near obscene).I realize this may not be true in other areas of the country.

If BSN were a viable option open to you, go for it.

But if the AD RN program was the most realistic - do that.

But seriously, I believe you will regret it if you go for LVN first.

 

[RNMOM]

You make a good point yeartolate. I too had my CCRN in telehealth nursing and in the past was ACLS certified when I worked recovery room. It was tough work but I miss it.

I didn't find the CCRN very difficult but the ACLS was another matter.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

You make a good point yeartolate. I too had my CCRN in telehealth nursing and in the past was ACLS certified when I worked recovery room. It was tough work but I miss it.

I didn't find the CCRN very difficult but the ACLS was another matter.

I thought ACLS was pretty easy but maybe that's because I was a paramedic and everyone else in the class was a medical student
They were way confused.

Have you tried the forums at allnurses.com? They have one for every state and you can get a lot of really good local information. I believe what a few people haves said is true, it's very geographical. Here in Boston it's not easy getting into a city hospital with anything but a BSN

 

[Cool-Beans]

If you don't have the time or money it takes for BSN, see if you can't become an LPN and then do a bridge to RN/BSN. If you do have the time, just do the four years.

I did the RN thing first, then went for BSN (which was mostly stupid classes like Management, Statistics - not a whole lot of nursey stuff.) If I had it to do over, I might do it differently!

And if you ever need any help, please don't hesitate to PM me. Nursing school is hard - especially if you don't have tons of time to devote to studying - and I would be happy to help anyone in any way I can.

Stick with it. There isn't a more rewarding job in the world. You may get home tired and some days you get home unhappy or disturbed. But not one night will you go home and not be able to say, "Today I did something important and worthwhile." It doesn't pay well, but like Mastercard, some things are Priceless.

I thought ACLS was pretty easy but maybe that's because I was a paramedic and everyone else in the class was a medical student
They were way confused.

Have you tried the forums at allnurses.com? They have one for every state and you can get a lot of really good local information. I believe what a few people haves said is true, it's very geographical. Here in Boston it's not easy getting into a city hospital with anything but a BSN

I didn't think ACLS was all that hard, either. I did think it was silly for me to learn something I wasn't licensed to do, but it wasn't difficult, IMO.

Alex is a medic? OMG. Medics in your area must be much less raunchy people than around here. I have two friends who are medics (one became a nurse, but keeps her license) and they are THE most foul-mouthed, dirty-joke telling people I know. Also two of my closest friends, but I'm forever having to say, "AAAAAHHHHHHH! STOP! La-la-la-la I can't HEAR YOU!!" and listen to them laugh. And all their medic friends are like that.

...maybe it is the class of people I hang out with, but I think it is the medics!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

it's very geographical. Here in Boston it's not easy getting into a city hospital with anything but a BSN

I agree, and was going to say the same thing. And if you do, there's an expectation that you will go back to get your BSN. Some of the hospitals are even bringing college courses onto hospital campuses to make it easier.

you definitely will NOT find that a BSN will be an entry level for nursing.

most all RNs in the future will be ASN-RNs.

Again, probably regional. But these are debates that have been ongoing for 40 years, not sure you can really state them as fact.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I didn't think ACLS was all that hard, either. I did think it was silly for me to learn something I wasn't licensed to do, but it wasn't difficult, IMO.

Alex is a medic? OMG. Medics in your area must be much less raunchy people than around here. I have two friends who are medics (one became a nurse, but keeps her license) and they are THE most foul-mouthed, dirty-joke telling people I know. Also two of my closest friends, but I'm forever having to say, "AAAAAHHHHHHH! STOP! La-la-la-la I can't HEAR YOU!!" and listen to them laugh. And all their medic friends are like that.

...maybe it is the class of people I hang out with, but I think it is the medics!

I always thought nurses took it so they would know what was going on and deal with the meds etc

As for the rest... it's been a few years

 

[Cool-Beans]

The Cleveland Clinic is one of the best hospitals in the country and has arguably the best cardiac care in the world (and are building a whole new heart building now - still just starting, but they're working on it daily). People from all over the country and other nations come to the Clinic for care. When those rich oil sheiks get sick, guess where they go? Cleveland Clinic.

And the Clinic hires RNs with associate degrees as well as BSNs and on up.

Don't be discouraged if you can't get a BSN right away. You don't NEED a BSN to get a job everywhere...or even in the best hospitals.

Do what you can. Do it step by step if you have to. But do it. SO worth it in the long run.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I always thought nurses took it so they would know what was going on and deal with the meds etc

As for the rest... it's been a few years

LOL, I took it because they said, "You have to get ACLS to work here" and I wanted to work there.

 

[yeartolate]

You make a good point yeartolate. I too had my CCRN in telehealth nursing and in the past was ACLS certified when I worked recovery room. It was tough work but I miss it.

I didn't find the CCRN very difficult but the ACLS was another matter.

When I first did my CCRN about 20 years ago, it was pretty brutal. I did quite well, but alot of hard studying got me there. I was to hear how comparitively easy the test is now. YOu do not even have to have ICU experience anymore to take it.

Now ACLS is no big deal to me. I worry more about BCLS. Am I gonna be able to stand up after the CPR? Will my arthritic wrist be able to withstand all te CPR if my partner doesn't know what to do and we have to keep repeating cycles? Will I have a hot flash halfway through and drip sweat all over the manniquin? Will my front hook bra give way and injure an unsuspecting EMT ?

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Wow Thanks for all of the replies


I really want to be an RN (not so much LPN) but I'm willing to step into that middle ground if it was going to be more feasible to do the LPN then a bridge program to RN.

Now it's all about if I can get into the RN program... Wish me luck!

 

[Mono~rail]

If you can do it, I recommend the RN route. Associate's or BSN, either one is fine. If you have the time and there is a BSN program near you, then just go on and do it that way.

I went to college in my mid to late 20's, and my university only had a associate's program which was great for me. Keep in mind that the test for state boards (licensing) is the same for associate and BSN grads.

I have many friends from nursing school who have been taking travel assignments to all parts of California. They all have associate degrees, and none of them have had any trouble getting those assignments. I have heard though what WMAlex said about it being difficult in the northeast for associate's RN's to find work. I'm not sure why that is, but a cousin of mine had that problem.

I have a very dear friend who went to LPN school in her early 20's and she eventually bridged and got her BSN RN. It was a BSN program that was closest to her. I worked with an LPN who wanted to go back to school and bridge, but it was so difficult for her. She had a rather hard time and eventually gave up.

I know the hospital I worked at did phase LPN's out of certain depts because so much of the work exceeded their scope of practice. Some were taken away from pt care duties and given clerical work that needed nursing experience to get accomplished.

Whichever route you choose, be proud! Nursing is a proud and noble profession that is infinitely rewarding. It doesn't matter what alphabet soup follows your name.

ETA: I'm glad I was able to go the RN route because I think the limitations of an LPN license would have frustrated me. But that's just me.

 

[golfgal]

I agree.

LPNs will be phased out of health care eventually, due to the acuity of patients and the limitations of an LPN's license.

And do yourself another favor and go for a BSN, no just an associate's. BSN will be entry level for nursing positions.

You are seeing this more and more around here but mostly in hospitals, clinics still use mostly LPN's.

Another thing to consider is that an LPN around here makes about $16/hour, tops out at maybe $22/hour after 20+ years. An BSN will START at about $25/hour around here, making in the $50,000+ range to start and moving up to $90K+. For an AA degreed RN you can subtract about $15,000 for each of those numbers.