LPN: pros & cons :) SEE CAP:

hi! so, every job has pros and cons, but some soon-to-be nursing students are confused to take the jump and become a licensed practical nurse before a registered nurse! im here to help you, but if this is your only option that is okay! it was mine, and i don’t regret becoming an LPN before starting my RN journey. so take a look with me <3

PROS😇:

-let’s start with the obvious, the pay💰.. lpn’s are licensed nurses, so they get paid a little bit more than nurse aides/cnas/pct’s etc. the pay is really great, when going back to RN school & need the money.

- YOU ARE A NURSE!!! regardless of being a step down from an RN, you ARE a nurse! don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. you went to school, you took your boards, and you got that certificate.

- you don’t have some of the responsibilities as an RN! sometimes, it feels good to get your job done with sustainable responsibilities & you aren’t going to get overwhelmed with twice the charting & responsibilities. you won’t get incredibly unstable pts, your ratio will be low, and you most likely will get the job done by the time it’s time to clock out.

-the program is only a year! instead of two years, you can go to school for one, which is also cheaper. (yes there is financial aid as well) & you get some experience if you’re planning on going back for your RN, and when you go back, you get to either skip a semester or sign up for a bridge program to complete which is just another year. you don’t have to dedicate two years of your time, in case you’re unsure or you wanna try to be an lpn before deciding to become an RN.

-as i was saying, you get the experience! you get the experience of patients, passing medications, different facilities and hospitals, etc. experience is key when going back to school or just being a nurse in general!! we do a lot that the RN does, so it’s pretty cool.

-can definitely do travel nursing! you can do travel nursing, especially if you don’t want to go back to school. a lot of people think RN’s can only do travel, but LPNS are not limited to that! they can also travel & make BANK while doing it!

-you make incredible new friends throughout school, & work. it’s insane how many nursing friends i have and can connect with in and outside of school and work. i was blessed to meet the ppl i have.

CONS🧐

-you get thrown anywhere. let me elaborate & put a disclaimer. not every work place is like that; it took me a long time to find the place that utilizes my certificate to the full capability. some places will work you as a cna for the day (which is fine, but it sucks when it’s all the time after you went to school), or you’re floated to another unit that you hate. sometimes you get the shit end of the stick bc you’re an lpn & you have to stand up for yourself. like i said you are a nurse.

-which brings me to this. again, people has tried to belittle you, tell you that you’re not really a nurse, you are. you 100% are & do not let anyone tell you different. you took that nclex & went to school. you are a LICENSED NURSE.

-you get paid less than an RN. you do have less responsibilities, however, you still do a lottttt of the same concepts as them, a lotttt of the same things, etc. i get there will be a pay difference, but the pay difference is extremely different lmao. i think we deserve more for the work we do, especially correlating with our poor overworked and underpaid cnas. (you guys are so important)

-you are limited. you may not be limited to travel, but you are limited in areas you work. a pro for a cna, they need cnas on icu’s , ED’s, nicu, etc. but as for lpns, they utilize RN’s more, so a lot of the times the unit or place you want to work, they may not take them which inspires a lot of ppl to go back to school, plus the better opportunities. me personally, i cannot wait to be a NICU RN. :)

to end with this, it’s worth it if that’s your first option babes. just remember there’s more out there. i believe in you guys! thank you for reading, and if you have any questions, feel free to msg or comment.🩵

#healthcare #nurselife #nurse #lpns #rn2023 #lemon8diary #nursingschool #nursingstudent