LPN (Licensed Practical Nursing)

Anyone here an LPN? I'm hoping to go to school for it starting in January, and I'll eventually go for my RN.

I started college as a nursing major, but because of personal issues, dropped it and eventually changed my major to psychology, and I will be done with my BA in January (woohoo!!)

I have done nursing classes and clinicals so I have some idea of what to expect, but I want input from LPNs. I'm thinking I want to work in a doctor's office or an urgent care clinic.

Thanks!

Hello SingDanceRunLife: I'm not an LPN. So I'm not who you want to hear from with regard to this post. But I wanted to congratulate you on finishing your psychology degree & now moving into the nursing field.

I'm a retired vocational rehabilitation counselor. As such, I am curious about your plan to get an LPN license, to be followed by an RN license, now that you'll already have your Bachelor's degree in psychology. If you wouldn't mind, may I inquire as to your reasons for proceeding in this direction? Is it simply a financial consideration or is there another reason? At first blush, so to speak, I would think the more typical path would be to go straight for the RN license once you have your BA. Thank you!

Thanks for the congratulations!

There are multiple reasons for my wanting to do LPN first including ease of getting into a program (it is a lot easier than getting into an RN program) and being able to work sooner. If I then later decide to go for my RN, I will be able to do that part time while still working.

To be perfectly honest, the main reason I'm getting my BA is because it's expected in my family and I wanted to prove to them and myself that even with all the curve balls that have been thrown at me, I could. A year and a half ago, I was ready to drop out with one semester to go.

I am an RN and I think getting an LPN license and then proceeding to RN is an excellent idea. As you mentioned, you can be working once you have the LPN license. LPN pay is decent and some hospitals will help with the cost of the LPN-to-RN program. Another thought is that you will be working in your field sooner and have a good idea whether or not you like nursing before you invest more time and $$ in it.

Best wishes to you. I've always loved nursing and I hope you will also.

Thanks.

I actually really liked nursing when I was doing it, but I wasn't yet diagnosed with bipolar and I was unmedicated, so it was too much for me and I ended up changing my major.

Being able to start working earlier is a big part in my decision to go the LPN route. I've already been working full time for a year and a half and I like working, so stopping that for 2 years seems like a lot.

all for this discussion... I gained some new insight as a result of it.