[wdiehl]

i recently got my license as a lvn and now am working at a local hospital, i am 37 with a 7yr old and a 2 1/2yr old, i have been a cna for 11yrs a medical assistant for 15yrs and a certified plebotomist I for 3yrs so the total i have been in the nursing career is 15 yrs, i have had 2 marriages and moved to cali from florida lost my dad 3 yrs ago and do not converse with most of my family i have a few close friends.i was pregnant with our second child when i started taking my prereqs,i remember standing up in class because i was so big with her i could not sit she was 1month early and i had to make up work, she was c-section just like my first, so then with the help and support of my husband, his family and my friends and collegues i managed to get through 2yrs of nursing school with the first semester with me failing but luckily i kept all my test and paperwork that i got a passing score the teach did not calculate my scores correctly and the rest of the semesters was just nerve racking i dont know how i got through it but i did and i graduated with a 3.2 grade average. then i took my nclex exam and failed it the first time i ran out of time at 96?s i was so messed up and things just did not go the way i planned all the way around i went with a peer of mine who drove me crazy and i found a letter from my daughter that said im mad at my mommy bc she ignores me. just awful. so i took it the second time 500$ later with a review class and hotel and gas to san diego and i passed with 85?s to make a long story short-it has taken me this long to get where i am and it was not easy i am going to take some time off and enjoy being a nurse. i plan to go on for my rn when i am ready so people get off our backs just because we are lvns some of us rather just stay that way this country needs good lvns just like it needs rns yes the money is better but we have to be happy with ourselves before we can move on money isnt everything when we are ready well let ya know proud to be a nurse wanda lvn

[TheCommuter]

If someone bugs you about earning your RN licensure, you can handle it in one of two ways. You can choose to be friendly and decide to 'educate' them on the role of the LVN/LPN. Or, you can tell them to mind their own business, because this is the best thing for your current life situation at this time.

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone views the RN licensure as the 'gold.'

[pagandeva2000]

You will make the right decision when you are ready. Never mind what others think; you have to do what is right for you. Be proud of your current accomplishment, learn all you can, and get a strong foundation for RN school. Good luck!

[jmking]

I got the same crap when I was in nursing school, whay don't you just become an rn? I usually just smile and say, "It's just not time yet." However, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking, like getting into lpn school was any easier.

[Starr1966]

I agree with you 100 %. I have that happen to me all the time from co-workers and friends. Always telling me that I'd be a great RN and I should go on for it.
Sometimes I think I want to, other times I'm not sure if I want to. I think about the added responsibilities, attending college again YUK. I think of the expense. If I did go on, I'd like to become a forensic nurse. I know above I mentioned added responsibilities, lol. But that is what I'd really like to do if I went on.

I think you should do what you want to , when you want to and not let others pressure you into it. When and if you are ready, you will know. In the meantime, enjoy what you are doing now.

Wanda/NE

[Tweety]

It's going to be common to hear this for a little while. Most people really mean well and don't mean to be insulting to the role of the LPN. I know it's irritating to hear so often (because many posters have posted this over the years).

Good luck to you in all that you do.

[shirleyjt2003]

Originally Posted by wdiehl

i recently got my license as a lvn and now am working at a local hospital, i am 37 with a 7yr old and a 2 1/2yr old, i have been a cna for 11yrs a medical assistant for 15yrs and a certified plebotomist I for 3yrs so the total i have been in the nursing career is 15 yrs, i have had 2 marriages and moved to cali from florida lost my dad 3 yrs ago and do not converse with most of my family i have a few close friends.i was pregnant with our second child when i started taking my prereqs,i remember standing up in class because i was so big with her i could not sit she was 1month early and i had to make up work, she was c-section just like my first, so then with the help and support of my husband, his family and my friends and collegues i managed to get through 2yrs of nursing school with the first semester with me failing but luckily i kept all my test and paperwork that i got a passing score the teach did not calculate my scores correctly and the rest of the semesters was just nerve racking i dont know how i got through it but i did and i graduated with a 3.2 grade average. then i took my nclex exam and failed it the first time i ran out of time at 96?s i was so messed up and things just did not go the way i planned all the way around i went with a peer of mine who drove me crazy and i found a letter from my daughter that said im mad at my mommy bc she ignores me. just awful. so i took it the second time 500$ later with a review class and hotel and gas to san diego and i passed with 85?s to make a long story short-it has taken me this long to get where i am and it was not easy i am going to take some time off and enjoy being a nurse. i plan to go on for my rn when i am ready so people get off our backs just because we are lvns some of us rather just stay that way this country needs good lvns just like it needs rns yes the money is better but we have to be happy with ourselves before we can move on money isnt everything when we are ready well let ya know proud to be a nurse wanda lvn

i agree with you, i have been an lpn for 3 years, i love my job and right now have no intention on returning to nursing school, i hear that same question all the time too. : )

[student-with-no-life]

what I always seem to get is people asking me when they find out im going to nursing school is are you going for your RN? I say "no" my LPN and they always come back with an "OOOOOOO" like Im less of a nurse because Im a LPN. Im not less of a nurse, i just have less schooling.
I thought I wanted to go on to my RN, maybe someday I will---but I really think once I graduate (which can't be soon enough) I want to be a LPN for awhile - i enjoy the bedside duties.

[BBsAngel]

I have been a LPN for twenty years. My original plan was to go on to school. Instead I got married and had my son. I have always worked. So I never wanted to take the time away from my family to go back to school. They would be supportive and there is not a doubt in my mind that I could do it if I wanted to. The thing is that I don't want to. I am perfectly happy now so that is what I tell people.

[pagandeva2000]

Originally Posted by BBsAngel

I have been a LPN for twenty years. My original plan was to go on to school. Instead I got married and had my son. I have always worked. So I never wanted to take the time away from my family to go back to school. They would be supportive and there is not a doubt in my mind that I could do it if I wanted to. The thing is that I don't want to. I am perfectly happy now so that is what I tell people.

That is my basic thinking...I didn't become an RN because I simply didn't want to. Period. I get annoyed when people say "You can do anything if you want to". I am sure of that, so, please, accept the fact that I am not going to become an RN because I just refuse to!! I have only been an LPN for a year, now, and I am tired as all get out. I am still mentally transitioning from being an aide to a nurse. But, it took a great deal of energy, time and headaches along with neglect of my family, which I value the most. I really don't want to re-enter into this again for a job that I really don't want.