Im trying to become an LPN.. is this a bad choice?


This Question From California LPN Programs | 2 Answers


Well im 19 years old right now im thinking of going into the nursing path. I don’t want to even try for RN just because i suck in math. and i know chemistry and math is a big thing to pass when it comes to that. but i do want to become an LPN. As long as im in the hospital helping people than i’ll be happy. i’ll finally be attending a community college this spring and i have a few questions.

people are telling me about some waiting list?? if i plan on becoming an LPN will the waiting list take me like 5 years to complete the LPN program? I want to complete it in atleast 3 years at the most.

How much do LPN’s make exactly?

Will I be wasting my time? Because it seems that RN’s are in higher demand then LPN’s. from what i hear and see.

any answer is appreciated! thank you

i live in san diego california if this helps at all answering my questions.
lol i shouldve delved deeper into this. im filipino and if you know its the filipino thing to become a nurse lol. ive grown up with my family doing something in the medical field. i know friends and families who are RN’s, LPN’s, CNA’s, and Nurse Practitioners. I know very well what they go through and what comes with the job. how stressful it is and how much of long hours they put into it. I wouldn’t go into something that I want to do for the rest of my life without researching it first. but thank you all for your asnwers.

2 Comments so far

  1. Seamono's Wrong Turns on June 8, 2010 8:15 am

    I’m not too sure about San Diego, but here in QLD, Australia any type of nurse is in extremely high demand. So there is no waiting lists. You have to be prepared to put in the years if you really want to do nursing.

    I can understand why you want to become a nurse, but have you thought of what you actually want to do within the medical industry. LPNs are usually for use in Retirement homes, psych wards, prisons, etc – Long term areas. While a RN is a much more satisfying job, and alot more action.

    I’m not too sure of how the American systems work, but here we are able to do a ‘bridging’ course for a year, then be accepted into our originally wanted course with extra credits. Or do work then be accepted by already having experience in the area.

    Beware that the nursing industry isn’t all handing out pills and looking after post-op patients. There are alot of people that don’t want help, and you do receive alot of abuse from patients. Half of the job will be cleaning, including bodily fluids, and you must be prepared that not everyone can be saved. So make sure it is what you wish to do, and your not getting yourself in deeper then you can handle.

    I suggest figuring out what area you want to be involved with, then look into alternatives if you wish to get into RN but don’t have the marks – such as extra credit working or study.

  2. michael on June 8, 2010 8:43 am

    if you are a people person who can take alot of abuse and dont mind being told what to do and doing all the dirty work for R N.s and doctors than the health care field is for i dont want to sound like it is all bad but think about what you do as a lpn you cannot be a doctor or r n unless you have the college it takes years of training and untill find a niche in a place you like you will have to do all the dirty work i am not a doctor or nurse but have worked in extended care nusing hospitals no one but the doctor or RN S get treated like they even matter and most of the places i have been were in it for the money not the care
    some of the things i saw were really bad its not all bad but dont think that just wanting to help people is enough you have to be able to take alot of S*** to get the good jobs and it can take years of college your best choises are in imagery like M.R.I or X ray tec ect
    you are helping people but dont have to take so much crap this is just an honest opinion from some one who s been there do what you think is best for you