LPN's are Nurses Too? Aren't they?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, This is my first post. I received my letter Monday accepting me into the LPN program at a school 40 miles away. I am sooo excited that I am telling everyone. But, when I tell them it is for LPN, they all get this look on their face, like disappointment. I am finding out that most people do not think of LPN's as real nurses. This is troubling to me. I am proud and worked hard to make it this far. Can someone explain this to me?

I applied to 3 schools and have been on waiting lists for sooo long, that it took over a year to get in. The RN waiting lists are 2 1/2 yrs long. One reason for the shortage of nurses, is because there isn't enough room for people to get in.

I hope I will do well and make a difference in people's lives.

Jenn

Specializes in Everything except surgery.
Originally posted by justjenn

Hi, This is my first post. I received my letter Monday accepting me into the LPN program at a school 40 miles away. I am sooo excited that I am telling everyone. But, when I tell them it is for LPN, they all get this look on their face, like disappointment. I am finding out that most people do not think of LPN's as real nurses. This is troubling to me. I am proud and worked hard to make it this far. Can someone explain this to me?

I applied to 3 schools and have been on waiting lists for sooo long, that it took over a year to get in. The RN waiting lists are 2 1/2 yrs long. One reason for the shortage of nurses, is because there isn't enough room for people to get in.

I hope I will do well and make a difference in people's lives.

Jenn

Jenn

Never doubt who you are, your worth, your goals or direction in life, just because someone else doesn't have the same vision as you. If you walk around trying to please others...you will never please yourself!

Someone else's path is not yours...so walk your own path, and be content in knowing that you know where you're going. It doesn't matter if they know where you have been or where you're going. Surround yourself with supportive people, and move on toward your goal no matter what it is:cool:

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Yes, LPN's are real nurses.

The one comment I have is that their training often times occurs in a technical school rather than an accreditted college or university. Like hospital-based RN diploma programs, the student earns no transferable college credit for all the work they do. Should you decide to further your education at some point later, you'll be startig at zero. Some community collees offer LPN to RN 1+1 programs. Some students complete the Associate degree in Nursing and then

opt to take the LPN exam rather than the RN exam.

There are lots of options. Whatever you choose you are doing the right thing entering nursing.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Corrections.

I agree completely with everyone so far on this post, there are good RN's and bad RN's and there are good LPN's and bad LPN's. I have worked with great LPN's and bad RN's in my history of nursing. I started out also as a CNA, went to LPN and then received my RN. I think that it was a great way to become a great nurse.

Good luck with your career and hope that you come to work with me after you complete your classes.:kiss

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It never fails WHAT you are ppl are going to always think that you need to "move up". THe NP's and PA'S get "When are you going to be a Dr." all the time.

I am an LPN, I was a PCT at one point and wanted to take on more responsibility...hence going to LPN school.

LPN's ARE real nurses...

Our joke at work (I work at an Urgent care that staffs ONLY LPN's) that LPN mean Low Paid Nurse...hehe.

and let me just state that I cannot imagine anything being harder than LPN school! That was the hardest 10 months ever! School and Clinicals 5 days a week, studying all weekend, spazing out over anything less than an 80 on test...geeze I kinda miss it all ;)

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I am now in my first semester of LPN school in ND. North Dakota requires that all LPN's have a 2year degree. My instructor told us the first day of class that we play a very vital and important role in Nursing and thereby treats us as equals. most of the books we have are geared towards being an RN.

So Yes we are are just as as important as a Registered Nurse

and remember the Key part of the Job Title it is NURSE

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Sometimes I get angry because in my facility LPNs and Rns do the same thing , but never get the same respect. We have an inside joke that RN means REAL NURSE and LPN means LITTLE PRETEND NURSE......although we do IV management...including IV pushes...and all of my beds are skilled.....The only difference I see is the net at the end of the pay period!

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Jenn, good luck to you in nursing school. If you are going to nursing school, I guess that when you are finished, you will be a nurse! My mother was an LPN before becoming an RN with an associate degree. When I decided to become a nurse, it ws she who encouraged me to get my BSN, mostly because a mommy always wants her child to better herself, I am sure :-)

When I started out, I was a unit secretary, then cross trained to be a tech, then monitor tech. All during that time I was getting my prerequisites for the nursing program. I worked with a lot of older nurses that were close to retiring and heard many stories about the "old days". One of the things that I remember were the stories about the educated fool RN who walked onto the floor as the charge nurse and was taught how to be a nurse by the LPNs that she was "supervising".....

Just keep your chin up and go for it! It will be worth it in the long run, I promise.

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Congrats JustJenn! Don't let anyone sneer at ya... time to edjumicate them as to what an LPN is.

A thought... get through your program, get some experience, and get an employer who'll pay tuition to get an RN... why? Payscale. I know it's already been said.. but in many places, you'll be doing (nearly or) the same work as someone who gets paid X bucks more per hour. Use the system to help yourself.. just a thought. :^)

And hey nursiepooh (moe)... that there was some eloquent post! Bravo!

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This is basically the question that I asked on my thread... but it seems like everybody got offended. I agree when you tell people you are going to school to get your LPN they look down on you and they always say why not get your RN. Our waiting lists in Ohio is one year also so I feel your pain. I'm not a negative person like some of these people here. Just want to say congradulations and NEVER stop dreaming!

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Originally posted by getbabygirl

This is basically the question that I asked on my thread... but it seems like everybody got offended. I agree when you tell people you are going to school to get your LPN they look down on you and they always say why not get your RN. Our waiting lists in Ohio is one year also so I feel your pain. I'm not a negative person like some of these people here. Just want to say con

gradulations and NEVER stop dreaming!

I am very sorry for the way you were responded toooo. Many of them must need a drink. But I did get ssome really positive answers. Best of luck to you. We will be as good at the other medical proff. oout their.

LPN for me will mean "Loving People -neverstopping.

Jenn

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Sure,LPN's are nurses.Congratulations to all of you who have applied and been accepted. Ive been an LPN for many moons,come Dec if things go as planned I will be an RN. Don't let anyone make you feel less than what you are. Dont feed into the alphabet, because it can get sticky. Good luck and keep us posted

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YES WE ARE!

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