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Licensed Practical Nurses

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Everybody has their dream job. It takes people a while to figure that out, and for others they know what they want to do by the time they are in first grade. It's different for everybody and their ideal job can change many times until they find the one best suited for them. Some want to be firefighters, movie directors, or may want to pursue a career in the health field. Those who want to go into healthcare get impressions from what they see in movies or on T.V. They don’t realize the number of jobs that are in this field. Nursing is a category under the health care field that people underestimate. There are three levels of nurses. Each of these require different levels of education and come with varying salaries. A LPN, Licensed Practical …show more content…

Schooling, degree level, and ten year are all factors that determine how much a nurse can make. Licensed Practical Nurses require the least amount of education and have the lowest salary. “According to figures released in May 2011 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for LPNs across the country in 2010 was $20.21 per hour, which for full-time hours works out to $42,040 per year” (“What Hourly Rate Does an LPN Make?”). Although the average hourly wage was $20.21, entry-level wages can be much lower. As LPNs gain experience and seniority, their pay will go up. Some LPNs may not work full time, which can reduce their pay as well. Another factor in determining how much LPNs earn depends on where they work. Nursing homes are the largest employers of Licensed Practical Nurses. In 2010, “Nursing care facilities paid an average hourly wage of $20.72, slightly above the national average” (“What Hourly Rate Does an LPN Make?”). Nursing homes employed one-third of all Licensed Practical Nurses in 2010. Hospitals and doctor offices were second and third. The location of the nursing homes, hospitals and doctor offices can also be a factor in determining how much an LPN can make. Higher wages correlate to higher-than-average cost of living. In a metropolitan place like San Francisco, the wages are much higher there than they would be in a non-metropolitan place like Wyoming. For LPNs, it’s …show more content…

Licensed Practical Nurses only have to go through a one year training program and pass the National Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). This is the fastest way for people who are interested in the medical field to get started right away. Registered Nurses, however, require a college education. Those who want to become an RN will have to go to school and receive their Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or an Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN). If the person wants to get to work sooner, they will choose to just get an associate's degree, which only requires two years of study unlike a bachelor's degree which requires four. Mainly due to the salary difference between LPNs and RNs, becoming an RN is much more appealing to me. Additionally, there is not a large salary difference between registered nurses that have their associate's degree versus ones that have their bachelor's degree. A better option for me would to get an associate’s degree. At this point in my life, I am so eager to finish school. I can make a decent salary and live comfortably as an RN with an associate's degree. Perhaps in the future I may reconsider pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Nursing. As of now, I am content with an Associates Degree in

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