Wanna know what an LPN license can get you?

[nekozuki]

People used to ask me why I "settled" and went to a vocational school to become an LPN, instead of going to a traditional college and becoming a "real nurse." I always had a list of potential answers running through my mind when that happened:

✔️ I do the exact same thing an RN does at my job with absolutely no variation.

✔️ I train both new grad RN's and BSN's, and have discovered that in my field, experience and competence are more valuable than the initials at the end of my name.

✔️ I work with babies, which is pretty damn cool (turns out I like them better than many adults).

✔️ I have an incredibly flexible schedule that allows me to continue my education.

✔️ The pay is much, much better than when I was the drive-thru girl at Taco Bell.

✔️ I took on 11 months of school and no debt to make sure nursing was what I wanted, rather than 2-3 years and a boatload of loans.

✔️ This Microbiology test isn't hard. My six-month old vent-dependent patient went into respiratory distress last night, and I guided them through it. That was tough. I eat micro exams for breakfast!

✔️ Vocational school helped me develop study/homework skills, so that when I entered traditional college, I got easy A's.

✔️ In Honors classes revolving around theory, I could speak about practical application in real life situations.

✔️ When scholarship time rolled around, I wasn't simply a student who wished to change the world. I was already actively changing the world.

So many students apply to awards because of who they want to be, whereas I could apply because of who I already am. When I had to write numerous essays, personal statements, and narratives about myself and my future dreams, I had so many compelling stories to tell about my job as an LPN. When asked about community service, volunteer work, or past experience performing good deeds for others, I got the opportunity to explain how such things weren't simply extracurriculars to me, but rather an integral part of my day to day life as an LPN.

Those people who used to ask me why I "settled" and went to a vocational school to become an LPN, instead of going to a traditional college and becoming a "real nurse?" These days, I don't need to tell them anything. Because I was awarded $124,500 dollars to complete my bachelor's degree, and $200,000 dollars for any graduate school I choose. Not because I was a traditional student (I came from one of those schools, a vocational school for people who weren't "good enough" for regular college). Not because I did well in high school (I dropped out at 15). Not because I was cookie cutter (I've got a dirty mouth, a sarcastic streak a mile wide, and I wear jeans and red converse to business casual events). Not because I had special advantages (as an older student, I had to fight for every opportunity, knock on many doors, and annoy professors into letting me take on special projects). I received all of this because of my work as an LPN and the way it made me stand out among other students when I transitioned back into traditional college.

So don't let anyone tell you this is a road for people who "settle" or don't have what it takes to hack it at a "real" college. You have no idea where an LPN license will lead you, or the impact you will have on the world because of it.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

RiaWndrful said:

Hello. Brand new here, mostly lurking haven't even started prereq's for the BSN but...

I wanted to respond to the accusations regarding the scholarship money. It is entirely possible for someone to get that much or more. One of my close girlfriends spent a good three months applying to every private scholarship she was eligible before we started grad school (non-nursing). She was awarded over 400k when the entire program was less than 30k. She did buy a house with the excess, and a Mercedes and focused on school. I took out loans and worked as a grad teaching assistant while praying to pass my comps. Now heading into this new direction I plan on using her methods to do what she did. I've no clue if what the OP was saying is true or not about the differences of LPN and RN however, at the very least her mentioning the award money hopefully encourages others to apply for scholarships like its a full time job.

I find it next to impossible to believe that someone without so much as an associate degree has been awarded scholarship money for graduate school. That is just not how it works.

Now, perhaps her facility offers to help their employees with their education, and she is assuming that down the line, she will be ready to go to grad school, and she will qualify for tuition reimbursement. Otherwise, no, this is not believable. Perhaps the OP's situation was not made entirely clear, and she can clear up this discrepancy.

I have met some incredibly sharp LPNs. Unfortunately, they cannot be hired at almost any hospital in my city. There are a few left at one hospital who were grandfathered, but no new hires there for over 15 years, and their scope is also limited. By facility mandate, they cannot give IV drugs, so the RNs on that floor (oncology-where IV meds are a constant, daily thing) have to give those nurses' IV drugs. I can only imagine how frustrating that would be.

LPN is a great stepping stone in a given person's career path. However, let's not pretend it doesn't come with some significant limitations, whether we are talking scope of practice, marketability, salary, etc.

[OldGrayNurse]

LPN weighing in here....just to make a couple of points. Yes, there IS a difference in the scope of practice between the two nursing degrees (RN/LPN). I was actually taught that in practical nursing school. However, to say that practical nursing does not teach nursing theory is misleading, I think. I think it may depend on the school of nursing.

When I attended practical nursing school in the mid-eighties, we were very much taught by "old school" nurses who had at least a MSN (very rare at the time) and one had a PhD (almost unheard of), all in nursing. Whether or not they did it intentionally, or whether the curricula demanded it, they did teach us theory. I not only learned the "how" (which is what I think many practical nursing programs teach exclusively now) but more importantly, the "why". They spent long hours not just teaching from a text, but also explained nursing care, described proper nursing care (well beyond OUR scope of practice, so that we could have a reference point, and hopefully, have few steps in place should we decide to dive right back into an associate program or higher) and applied both to the practice of critical thinking and decision making. We just didn't take multiple choice exams, either. We took oral exams, diagrammatic exams, and essay questions. We started out with something like 48 students; 15 of that 48 graduated a year later.

Of course, we were not allowed to practice beyond our scope during clinical rotations, but when an instructor was present, she often would point out the role of the RN in whatever it was we may be doing at the time. For instance, if my patient was receiving IV Lasix, my clinical instructor would make sure that we all (all of us who on that rotation at the time) watched the RN actually draw up (yes, this was the days of multi-dose vials) and administer the Lasix (as long as the patient and nurse agreed). We also had to explain not only why the Lasix had been ordered on that patient, but also why Lasix may be ordered in general, what we should look for while administering it, proper way to administer it IV, what were the contraindications for administering it IV, etc. We actually made rounds when possible with the physicians, sat in on meetings with therapists, and got to be present in the OR for various surgeries being performed. (I myself got to observe an AKA....in the EIGHTIES, y'all. I don't have to tell some of you what that meant ). If we missed a test for any reason other than being ill, we got a zero, and there was no such thing as a makeup exam. If we brought a valid physician's excuse, we were allowed to come on a Saturday, and were given ONE timed essay question in order to get a makeup grade. Most especially, THERE WAS NO CURVE.

If you were failing any nursing class (not general education) the only way to make up any ground was to agree to "shadow" a couple of our clinical instructors who were also picking up extra shifts at the hospital to supplement their income. It had to be on a weekend, evening or night shift, as you weren't allowed to miss any class time to do it, and you had to stay the whole shift and write a detailed essay on what you experienced. The entire day only counted one point to your grade, so God help you if you were failing by more than a couple of grade points.

When it was time to graduate, we were all individually counseled by our instructors as to what "specialty" type of nursing we may best be suited for (peds, OB-GYN, Ortho, etc) and where we probably shouldn't work.

They probably weren't the only technical school doing some of these things at the time, but as I got out in the real world and began my practical nursing career, I can tell you that nurses who learned what I did in school were few and far between. And now, these last few years, at least where I live and work, new graduates I've come into contact with seem know far less about the "why" than I did when I graduated.

So to say that we LPNs have a different scope of practice is absolutely correct. To say that all LPNs don't learn theory is incorrect, IMO. There is NO way I would ever be able to fully comprehend what I am trying to learn now in a bridge program without the foundation I received in my practical nursing classes. Thank you, Mrs. Judd, Mrs. Hickman, and Mrs. Adams!

I would never assume to teach an RN anything in my facility, unless that RN was learning general practices specific to my facility and nursing care that was within MY scope of practice (for example, learning our EMAR system, what forms are needed to fill out for a new admission, when and how to notify physicians, etc. But to claim I do everything they do and can teach them everything they need to know is misleading at best, and downright wrong otherwise.

With that being said, yes, there are those of us fully satisfied with providing bedside care and other care within our limited scope of practice. I have been an AANAC-certified MDS Coordinator for well over 10 years, and love my job. However, my company has decided that only RNs are now able to do what I do; therefore I have a limited time to return to school and receive my degree or return to floor nursing. I am in school under protest, but admit I am enjoying learning many more things than I did the first time specific to the RN role; so, yes, there is much more to learn pursuing an entry-level degree. I'm sure ADN-prepared RNs that return for BSNs and higher degrees feel the same way about their ADN experience. Peace, y'all!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I was an LPN for two years prior to completing an ADN.. However, I do wish now as an MSN-prepared provider that I had not gone the circular route to get where I wanted to be.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

Okay, the OP wrote this:

"1. I do the exact same thing an RN does at my job with absolutely no variation."

This may be true at her job, but not necessarily with her state's scope of practice.

Do we know what that job is? I know in my LTC, RNs do the admission assessments. Otherwise, on a day to day basis, we all do the same work due to the type of resident care we provide.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

My son is in LPN classes right now and has already been offered a job, contingent upon passing the NCLEX-PN in seven months. Although his plan is to go on and become an NP, he is already getting a thorough grounding in basic nursing theory and skills including critical thinking. Who says LPNs are being phased out?

[Maltruistic]

all-k said:

The title should read, "Wanna know what you can get with an LPN license?...a stepping stone to an RN license". Because that was basically what the article was about. I think its great that you're proud of your job. However, this article is confusing and misleading. RN's and LPN's do not have the same scope of practice and you stating that you are doing the same work as an RN sounds illegal to me. Not to mention the pay difference is pretty wide. RN and LPN education is entirely different and while I agree I have met some very comptenent LPNs in my time in health care, they do not learn the VERY important theory base that RNs do. Good luck furthering your education!

I beg to differ I am in Pediatric Home Health in TX and I am a LVN, and I make $1 more than an RN working the opposite shift of me on the same pt (I negotiated my pay better than him I guess). Our scope in this job is the same. She said in her job there is no difference in duties, which holds true for many jobs I have come across just like in the nursing home with charge nurses. Although I have just finished my RN program because I want to go in the military as an officer, I will never demean or think less of another nurse because she/he has two constinents in front of her title vs my one. Kudos to her, and good luck in future endeavors!

[Ndy-RN]

@nekozuki LPN You are a true nursing hero:)

[klone, MSN, RN]

RiaWndrful said:

Hello. Brand new here, mostly lurking haven't even started prereq's for the BSN but...

I wanted to respond to the accusations regarding the scholarship money. It is entirely possible for someone to get that much or more.

But in order to be able to APPLY for scholarship money, the person has to be accepted and/or enrolled in a program. As an LPN who has not even started a BSN program, she has not applied for grad school. Yet, she has been given $200,000 for any grad program she desires?

No, I'm guessing that if what she says is true, an individual has offered her this money. I'm curious how she knows this person.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

LPNs are not allowed to do assessments in some states, but they are allowed to pass meds??? That is so scary.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Maltruistic said:

I beg to differ I am in Pediatric Home Health in TX and I am a LVN, and I make $1 more than an RN working the opposite shift of me on the same pt (I negotiated my pay better than him I guess). Our scope in this job is the same. She said in her job there is no difference in duties, which holds true for many jobs I have come across just like in the nursing home with charge nurses. Although I have just finished my RN program because I want to go in the military as an officer, I will never demean or think less of another nurse because she/he has two constinents in front of her title vs my one. Kudos to her, and good luck in future endeavors!

What?! Do you mean consonants? Yeah, that's all it is, just a letter. There is NO difference between the RN and LPN education and scope of practice. Just letters! Who knew?

No one should demean another person for having less education. Pointing out that there are differences between the education and scope of LPNs and RNs is not the same thing as demeaning one of them. It is simply a statement of fact.

If your goal is to work at an acute care facility in a specialty area, LPN will not cut it for you in MANY locations. Nowadays, it doesn't always cut it to simply have your RN in many large cities. Anyone interested in nursing needs to check out their local job market and see what any given education level or credentials will get you in terms of job opportunities and salary. Then you can better formulate your goals and what it's going to take to achieve them.

[rzyzzy]

ThePrincessBride said:

LPNs are not allowed to do assessments in some states, but they are allowed to pass meds??? That is so scary.

LOL.. nah - that's not scary - Med Techs (CNA's) passing meds under the "supervision" of an LPN is scary. Allowed in ~20 states..

[Libby1987]

Man, there is a lot of sour bowls of Cheerios this morning!

Did I miss something? I don't see where OP is getting her RN, OP said bachelors and graduate degrees, not BSN.

My boss is an LVN, she is an outstanding individual who thrives in her work.

I think success and job satisfaction has more to do with the individual than any particular degree.