[Coloradogrl]

Well today I told a family member I have decided to go into LPN school instead of begin a Respiratory Therapist and I didnt get the response I thought I would

Pretty much she told me I was making a HUGE mistake and I would regret it because I would not be making ANY money and may be able to bring in 33k if I am Lucky! She told me it wasnt to late to go to RT school and I really need to look at what I was doing to my future! She told me that I would never be able to bridge over and if I want to work in LTC I might as well be a CNA

I was hurt and I am soooo upset I cant even sleep! I wish this wasnt getting to me and I could just let it go but it hurts really bad

[RNinSoCal]

Hello Coloradogrl,
I am an RN but I just had to pop in and support you in your decision to become an LPN. You can tell your family that nurses used to do everything that RTs do. It became a separate profession because the nurses were spread too thin and they needed separate specialties to take the load off of our backs. I can manage a vent, change a trach, deep suction and deliver nebulizer treatments with the best of them! The wonderful thing about being a nurse is VARIETY!!!! We care for every part of the pts body, not just the lungs. Nursing is a wonderful profession. I love the life long learning process that is being a nurse. You do not have to work in long term care if you don't want to and you can always move on to get your RN. And you can tell your family that many nurses make more than RTs, especially in California. Remember that you are living your life for you not for anyone else. The best thing you can do for you is to find a profession that you enjoy.
Best of luck in your journey to becoming a nurse.

[Tweety]

Aw shucks, why is it that family members, the one's who know and love us the most, and hurt us the most?

Ultimately, as trite as this sounds, it's your life, you follow your own inner voice and do with it what you will.

When the anger fades kindly explain to them, how hurt you were andyou would appredciate their support, whether they agree or not - because this is what families do. And that yes, you can bridge LPN to RN.

I'm sure they don't realize how much they hurt you and didn't mean to. Good luck.

[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by Coloradogrl

Pretty much she told me I was making a HUGE mistake and I would regret it because I would not be making ANY money and may be able to bring in 33k if I am Lucky!

I'm an LVN who has already earned $42,000 to date this year; in addition, the year is not yet over.

[Jamie Dale]

Families often try to live their lives through us.You must do the right thing for you.In the end it's you, not your family,that has to live with your decission.Everone has readily available opinions for others as to how they would or would not do things.Sometimes its tempting to get caught up in the confusion of the drama.So,my opinion, LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE...and life will be worth living.

[Jules A]

I have a girlfriend who is a new graduate LPN in LTC making $27 per hour so your family member is way off base as far as that goes. Its all well and good to have support but if they can't...then oh well. Live an independent life, feel happy and secure with the decisions you make for yourself. Good luck to you.

[casey12873]

I've been an LPN for about a year and a half now. I had a family member do the same thing to me, too. (She's an RN.) She said I should just go get an associates and that I wouldn't be happy as an LPN. I've also had a resident's family member (who is also an RN) tell me that LPN stands for "little pretend nurse" and RN stands for "real nurse". I know exactly how you feel. The good news is that both of them are wrong. I love nursing. Period. It doesn't matter if you're an LPN or RN--we are all nurses. I just finished up my IV therapy course today--very exciting--and really want to go back and finish my associates, but only because it is what I want to do. Some people say things they don't mean, and sometimes just mean people say things. Hold your head up and be proud of being a nurse!! Also--my first 3 months as a nurse, I made $15,000!!!!! Hang in there--follow your heart!

[Coloradogrl]

I cant tell you HOW MUCH all your responses really mean to me! Today I was sitting at the park watching the ducks and this was STILL killing over what she had said:-( I know I even thought about calling my school and asking for my spot back in the RT program!

But what it comes down to is that I WANT to be a nurse! I would like to go on to RN some day but I think I will be happy working as LPN! I know it is still nursing(I dont care what some A**holes say!) I know I am not going to go around saying...."well I am in LPN school but I am going to bridge!" I am going to be proud of what I am doing! I dont have a problem working in LTC and I think they need great people in that area of nursing and I THINK I CAN PROVIDE THAT!

I am glad I didnt call and I am glad she did that to me because in some ways it helped me realize I really do want to be a nurse!

[casey12873]

GOOD FOR YOU!!!! Hang in there!

[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by Jamie Dale

Families often try to live their lives through us.You must do the right thing for you.In the end it's you, not your family,that has to live with your decission.

This was true in my situation. My mother wanted me to become a lawyer because she has always had an interest in law. She attended paralegal school, but dropped out after 7 months. She thought that a major in anything other than law was silly.

However, I didn't want to become a lawyer.