lpn/rn

is anyone an LPN or an RN? where did you go to school? is there a big salary difference between the two? can an lpn work in the hospitals?

Re: lpn/rn

Bumping because I know a few of you are nurses.

Re: lpn/rn

in our hospital, on our unit, LPN's are not allowed to start IV's, and take doctor's orders. RN's take the orders for them.

IMO, and what i tell my LPN friends, is to try and go for the RN. we end up doing just about the same amount of work, and RNs get a better pay rate (not too sure how much is the going rate, though---)

from what i gathered, LPN schooling is more centered around clinical practice, whereas RN schooling has a lot of theory, papers...

i have met some really strong LPNs who had you not told me, i would not have known they were not RNs.

maybe an LPN on the board can tell me if i'm way off target or what.

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i am an RN.. I started out going to school to be an LPN.. honestly i got a great "clinical " experience but didn't really understand the "theory " behind what i was doing.. i went on to Suffolk Community College where i got my degree and then became an RN. The pay difference in my hospital is double for an RN. I work in an ICU so there aren't many LPNs ... there is only one... and she does discharges and stuff like that.. FM me any time i'd be glad to give you any information you want


ETA: alot of hospitals are going all RN.. i don't know if they will ever be able to staff the hospital like that but that's what i hear!

Message edited 9/11/2007 9:30:53 PM.

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I am an RN, I went to school @ Adelphi. I do believe there is a big difference in salary, don't know how much. I do know that Labor & Delivery @ North Shore Manhasset hires LPN's because that is were I work. LPN's there give med's, and are scrub tech's in the OR for C-sections, they also assist in the L&D recovery rm.

Message edited 9/11/2007 9:46:12 PM.

Re: lpn/rn

An LPN is a 1yr program not a college degree. An RN either requires and associates or a bachelor's in Nursing. Each institution has their own guidelines on what an RN or LPN can and cannot do. One thing I know that is pretty universal is that RN's can administer blood while LPN's cannot.

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Ok here you go.....Keep in mind i'm from Michigan so salary may vary

LPN is a certification where as a RN is an actual degree. You can start with your Associates and work your wy up to your BSN or even your Masters. Some RN go on to be Nurse Practitioners(?)
LPN's usually work in nursging homes and on the floors at the hospital...cardiac step-down, med-surg, and L&D at select hospital but not all. Every place is different on the do's and don'ts. You are taught pharmacology iv placement, and jst about everything a RN would learn but on a much smaller scale. Here there is a significant difference in salary at the hospitals LPN $12.50/hr RN $26.47/hr however, in m ost nursing homes it's not as much of a difference LPN $18.75/hr RN $20.17/hr.

If you are unsure that nursig is right for you then I would start as an LPN student and you can always switch. There are pro's and con's to both. If you really don't have much medical experience or knowledge then I would do the LPN first to get the "lay of the land" This will help ease you into the role but with much less responsability(?) and get you used to charting, pt care, dealing with familiies, doctors, and so forth. If you have a pretty good idea about whats going on then go for the RN. Keep in mind you can always go back to school for your RN if you choose the LPN route and most places have the LPN to RN transition classes. Good Luck to you and if you have any other questions I might be able to answer always feel free to fm me!

Lindi

Re: lpn/rn

I answered on Pregnancy board :)

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RN's make more money..around $70,000
There are more jobs for RN's..LPN's I think make $30-40,000

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RNs definitely make more money.

If you are debating between the two, go for the RN...I know it is more time but so worth it.

My mother is an LPN, and because of the major nursing shortages, she ends up doing RN and LPN work, but only gets paid as an LPN. There's also other advancements as RNs for even more money (in terms of administration of other nurses, etc).

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My sister is an LPN and I can tell you she is at least as strong as some RNs she has worked with. She works in a nursing home and has been promoted to a nursing supervisor because she is so good. What stinks is, like everybody said, she gets paid less than an RN does. She is in the process of taking the transition program to covert the LPN to an RN. The program is 3 semesters, plus needing 3 pre-requisites before even getting into the program. That is really 2 years that it will take her, in which time she could have completed the whole RN program. The only advantage to her being an LPN first is that she was able to increase her salary from nursing assistant, and she has learned alot along the way, which I think will help her in nursing school.

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Go for the RN. you might have more responsibility as the RN but the pay is better and you can do everything for your patients and not have to depend on the RN to pick up your work that you're not allowed to do. I'm an RN and I work with a lot of LPN's who are a thousand times more experienced then me but I have to hang their blood and start the IV's and "assess" the patient which i think is BS because everyone should be able to assess their patient. I went to Farmingdale. FM me if you have any other questions.

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RN Here....

definitely go for your RN-- it basically comes down to one more semester and a whole lot more $$

I went Nassau's program - and have sinced moved on to DC for my MSN -- FM me for any more info