Should I bother to get my rn?

1 If I don't really want to work in a hospital, should I even bother getting my rn after I do my lpn? I think I would like public or community health nursing but I don't know what setting that kind of nursing takes place in.
There are so many directions you can go after becoming a RN. Everytime I look for jobs, RN jobs pop up all the time and they are very diverse. LPN jobs other than nursing home jobs are few and far between in my neck of the woods. I say go for it. You are bound to find something you really like.

There are WAAAAAAAY more community jobs for RN's than anyother type of nursing. if you want to work in the community, i would recommend getting your BSN.

Most non-hospital jobs require RN or more!! If you are creative and flexible you do not even have to work in a hospital ever,,, there actually is not any rule to that effect. Usually easier to start there but not a rule. And even hospitals have non-traditional jobs...

Don't let "where you want to work" determine if you should be a nurse or not. I think that's the issue these days is that people think they can become nurses, make money and think it's all gravy! It's not! It's hard work, requires a lot of training/education, and sometimes not the greatest work environment, but if it's truly your passion and what you really want to do, then you will do whatever it takes to become a nurse.

i am an LPN right now (took my RN boards Sat, still waiting...) Anyways, I love being a nurse but the complete lack of respect I, and other LPN's, receive is nauseating. I feel some people want me to be ashamed of being an LPN. I had an EMT one time ask me if there was a nurse working, all while knowing I was the patients nurse. I had a patient one time tell me that "just so you are aware, every RN in the state outranks you". Gee, thanks. The lack of respect and limited job market was enough drive to me. Good luck in your decision.

Quote from KUNursingStudentDon't let "where you want to work" determine if you should be a nurse or not. I think that's the issue these days is that people think they can become nurses, make money and think it's all gravy! It's not! It's hard work, requires a lot of training/education, and sometimes not the greatest work environment, but if it's truly your passion and what you really want to do, then you will do whatever it takes to become a nurse.

I would say that if you want maximum flexibility as far as a work environment is concerned, getting your RN (preferably a BSN since a lot of places are starting to require a BSN as minimum) will open more door for you than stopping with your LPN. Goodluck in whatever you decide!

Here's an ideal. Get your LPN...work for a few years...start applying for jobs that you think you may like to move into, if you can't move into them because they want RN's, do an LPN-RN bridge class. I was very content as a LPN, but when I decided that I wanted to try something different, I knew I needed to go back to school to get where I wanted to go. Good luck!

An RN license opens the door to endless opportunities!!!

Quote from ShannonRN2010Here's an ideal. Get your LPN...work for a few years...start applying for jobs that you think you may like to move into, if you can't move into them because they want RN's, do an LPN-RN bridge class. I was very content as a LPN, but when I decided that I wanted to try something different, I knew I needed to go back to school to get where I wanted to go. Good luck!

I agree with the above post..... why go for your LPN when it will take basically the same amount of time to receive a BSN and become an RN. This will make you more marketable. I have found that allnurses.com seems to be a place where a lot of frustrated nurses come to vent. So remember that.. there are a lot of nurses out there who became RN's just graduated had no problems finding a job yes even in this horrible market and absolutely love their job. I say Go for it! Good luck

Quote from UpstateNyDollCnaMaybe you misread my post,but I never mentioned anything about money or thinking nursing was easy, and I also know how much hard work it takes to become an RN so there was really no point in you saying half the stuff you said in your post, but anyway I am not going to waste my time and money getting a degree if I might end up working in a place I will not like to work and end up miserable at work everyday,in the real world just having a passion for something is not enough,you have to look at other factors also.