Pros & Cons of Being a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
If you plan to enter the medical field, chances are you have heard of nurses, physicians assistants, technicians, and specialized doctors. You may have been overwhelmed by the seemingly endless career paths available to start your career in the medical field.
If nursing is your chosen career path, you may want to consider becoming a licensed practical nurse, or LPN. Like any job in the medical field, there are perks and downfalls of becoming an LPN. Before you start planning a path to earning an LPN degree, you must know the pros and cons of becoming an LPN.
Fortunately, we are here to help you decide on your career path. This article provides a comprehensive explanation of what an LPN is and the pros and cons of pursuing an LPN career. Make sure the decision to become an LPN is right for your goals and future.
What Is an LPN?
An LPN is a medical professional that provides basic patient care such as recording vitals, inserting catheters, wound care, and discussing healthcare with patients. Additionally, an LPN is responsible for making patients comfortable and reporting statuses to other medical personnel.
An LPN should not be confused with a registered nurse or RN. While both titles have "nurse" in the name, the job duties and education requirements differ. Typically, LPNs require less schooling than an RN.
However, both LPNs and RNs are vital positions in the medical profession, and a career as an LPN offers many benefits.
Benefits of Being an LPN
LPNs enjoy many benefits from their nursing career paths rather than other nursing positions like an RN. Check out some of the major benefits of being a nurse below!
Make a difference in people’s lives
Any person who wishes to pursue a job in healthcare wants to make a difference in the lives of everyday people. As an LPN, you will contribute to changing lives firsthand.
Your job duties will be critical to the well-being of patients and the efficiency of your workplace.
Join the job market sooner
Licensed practical nursing as a field is growing fast. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), from 2020 to 2030, the job market for LPNs will increase by 9%.
Additionally, with an LPN degree, you will be able to enter the job market much sooner than others who pursue other nursing career paths.
Why? The education and training requirements to become an LPN take up to 2 years to complete, with some students finishing the requirements as quickly as a year. This way, LPNs spend much less time and money. LPNs will also develop nursing skills as soon as they become employed.
Advance your education
If you already have a degree in biology or anatomy, earning an LPN diploma may be beneficial. Since LPN programs do not take long to complete, you'll have a resume booster in no time.
If you want to further your education even more and become an RN down the road, becoming an LPN makes the process of becoming an RN easier. A lot of LPN programs allow students to fast-track into an RN program.
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Have a flexible schedule
One of the greatest perks of becoming an LPN is the flexibility in scheduling and work-life balance. Most LPNs work 8-hour shifts compared to much longer shifts experienced by other healthcare workers.
LPNs work weekends, part-time, and full-time. Additionally, there are many job opportunities for LPNs to work online from home.
Gain a steady salary
According to the BLS, LPNs earn an average annual income of $48,820. This is a steady, comfortable salary about $10,000 higher than the average yearly income for all workers.
Additionally, if you want to earn a higher salary, you will be in a great position to do so. As someone who already has an LPN diploma, you will be in a position where you can swiftly become an RN.
Travelling for work
If you love traveling for work, plenty of traveling LPN jobs are available on the job market. Best of all, on average, traveling LPN jobs pay more than typical LPN jobs.
Disadvantages of Being an LPN
Like any job, becoming an LPN has several drawbacks. Before officially deciding to become an LPN, consider if the pros outweigh the cons of the industry.
Flexible schedule
You probably have noticed that a flexible schedule resides in the benefits section of this article as well. Depending on who you are, the flexibility of an LPN job may also be a pitfall.
Since the schedule will be flexible, you may work weekends and holidays. Additionally, some people may prefer a more structured schedule.
Lack of specialization options
Another pitfall of becoming an LPN is the lack of specialization options. Since the responsibilities associated with a job as an LPN are smaller, your specialization options will be smaller. This is especially true when comparing an LPN career path to an RN career.
However, as an LPN, you can still specialize in certain areas such as wound care.
Physical demands
As an LPN, you will be on your feet pretty much your whole shift. You will frequently be required to walk and utilize your extremities. Some people may enjoy the constant movement while others may hate the physical demands of the job.
Since LPNs often help patients get dressed and clean themselves, you may even be required to lift a substantial amount of pounds. On average, expect to lift at least 50 lbs.
Conclusion
Pursuing any job in the healthcare industry is highly respectable and rewarding, both morally and financially. Individuals in the medical profession must be caring, intelligent, driven, and responsive.
Before deciding on your career path, make sure it's right for you! If you have already decided to become a licensed practical nurse, there's no better time than today to start changing your life and the lives of others!