Apologizing for being "just an LPN"

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I havn't even started LPN school yet (will this September though!!!!) :monkeydance: and I'm finding that I'm already "apologizing" if you will for becoming "just an LPN"!!

I need to stop this! I'm CHOOSING to become an LPN, not an RN. If I had unlimited time, money and a great tutor to take the harder pre reqs, I would become an RN. But I'm 30, two kids, a mortgage, etc. I can't afford to take 4 years of school right now!

Plus, I want to see how much I love nursing before dedicating 4 years of time and money to a nursing degree.

I was getting a TB skin test required by my school and it was a nurse doing the test. I told her why I was having the test and then said "oh, but I'd like to be an RN one day". I shouldn't have even said that. I shouldn't be explaining to anyone or apologizing for becoming "just an LPN".

LPN's are in HUGE demand in my area and I know I will find a good job and be a GREAT LPN when I'm done, so I really need to be proud of that and stop making excuses to others as to why I'm not becoming an RN right now.

Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.
If anyone I know is pursuing to become an Lpn, I would ask why not become an RN,ADN. I have no disrespect for Lpns or anything like that, I just believe the system is getting over on individuals who dont go an extra year for schooling. Your doing a lot of the tasks that rns do but getting paid 1/2 or even less than 1/2. Sacrifice, even struggle for that period of time b/c in the long run you will be rewarded.

You may even make 2x,3x,or 4x as much being an Rn.

Fighting through an extra year or 2 is worth it. Have better job opportunities. And be able to call your own shots if you dont like the way things are going. If u choose to stick with becoming an Lpn, dont apologize for it. Make up a short excuse of why u didn't pursue rn.

Well money is not everything you know!! Being happy with who you are and knowing what works for one's self is most important.

Also maybe some of us don't have it in us to so call fight for another year. Yes, it may be worth it to you but not to everyone.

I will never never make up an excuse for being a LPN!!

Specializes in geriatric, ltc, telemetry, med-surg.

Way back when I was in LPN school it only took a little less than a year to graduate and I like so many of you have had things said to me and sworn I never wanted to be an RN, but after 18 yrs there just aren't any jobs unless you want LTC and I want to try something else. I did some courses through Excelsior for my pre-reqs. and was actually going to go ahead and finish through them but decided I needed the clinical experience so I started at the local university. I was so afraid of English,Speech and Math. But so far the only thing I failed at was the math last semester because I didn't get to finish the course due to problems with my Husband. But I have seen the differances that having your RN can make in many ways including less lifting, which is just great for me. I unfortunately didn't have a choice as to going back for the RN because I decided that I wanted to do Forensic Nursing and for that you must already have your Rn. Also I must say I do feel better about myself because I didn't think I could do it and now I know I can and will graduate in May of 2008. They have a bridge program and you just take one course because of your LPN and they give you credit for some courses so all in all I will have 1 1/2 yrs. extra to become an RN.

For those who can't affford it or just don't want to do it. I say that no matter how far you go you are already a nurse so why feel bad about it and if people only knew that Lpn's have so much more experience with hands on clinicals and people skills I don't think they would want anyone else caring for their loved ones. Good Luck to All.

I think it is really important for the US posters to realize that we CANADIAN PN's don't have the option of going to school for another year to become RNs. We can only bridge into the second year (if there is space) of the BScN degree, after completing the liberal arts options and a couple of nursing courses. So we are looking at four years on top of our four semesters at college to get our PN.

Depending on the health authority that employs us we have many areas open to us and the majority of PNs who work LTC or in any area of Geriatrics are there by choice not because it's the only area hiring us.

I'm proud to be an LPN but have no desire to go to school for my RN. I'd have to work full time for five years after graduation to pay off my loan and then I could retire.....

Specializes in oncology, trauma, home health.

I have to agree, as a cna, I always seem to apologize for not being an RN. Had I not gotten in to RN school (single parent, 2 kids, mortgage, dog who chews up furniture) I would have BEGGED to be an LPN. The unfair fact of the matter is, as an RN I will make $33 an hour, my new husband, a soon to be LPN, will make $20. I'm glad that I will be able to support him through RN school because this has been one tough mother of a time for both of us! We both love nursing and I guess, responsibility too.

But when compairing our studies he is taught "how" and I am taught "why".

Be proud of who you are!

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I have to agree, as a cna, I always seem to apologize for not being an RN. Had I not gotten in to RN school (single parent, 2 kids, mortgage, dog who chews up furniture) I would have BEGGED to be an LPN. The unfair fact of the matter is, as an RN I will make $33 an hour, my new husband, a soon to be LPN, will make $20. I'm glad that I will be able to support him through RN school because this has been one tough mother of a time for both of us! We both love nursing and I guess, responsibility too.

But when compairing our studies he is taught "how" and I am taught "why".

Be proud of who you are!

That is what a friend told me about LPN training, that we are taught what with a bit of why, and the RN is taught the why. I sat for a continuing education class today for EKG interpetation that was taught on an RN level. I was able to keep up, but I did see the difference of how we were taught. Would I return back to school...no I won't, but I was pround of myself that I was able to sit amongest them and comprehend what was going on without the degree.

Specializes in ER/SICU/Med-Surg/Ortho/Trauma/Flight.

Yeah ok I was an LPN first and I find it insulting when people put them down.:angryfire

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

If anyone I know is pursuing to become an Lpn, I would ask why not become an RN,ADN.

You and thousands of other people. :stone

It's the individual's life to live, and whatever route to get where they want to be is up to individual to decide.

Specializes in Pediatrics, L&D.

Well, I take my NCLEX-PN on Thursday, and when I finally become an LPN, I will NOT be apologizing for it in the least!!!! I am working full time as a unit secretary right now and I have six kids and a disabled husband to support. I am going on for RN because that was always the plan.... and I will then get my BSN and my FNP... because that was always the plan. But I will never look down on LPNs or regret my time spent as one, anymore than I will look down on RNs or regret my time spent as one once I am an FNP. Some of the most amazing nurses I know are LPNs, and I have to say, the P for practical is right on. The LPNs I know who have been LPNs for years are some of the most practical, down to earth, to the point, hardworking women!

If anyone I know is pursuing to become an Lpn, I would ask why not become an RN,ADN. I have no disrespect for Lpns or anything like that, I just believe the system is getting over on individuals who dont go an extra year for schooling. Your doing a lot of the tasks that rns do but getting paid 1/2 or even less than 1/2. Sacrifice, even struggle for that period of time b/c in the long run you will be rewarded.

You may even make 2x,3x,or 4x as much being an Rn.

Fighting through an extra year or 2 is worth it. Have better job opportunities. And be able to call your own shots if you dont like the way things are going. If u choose to stick with becoming an Lpn, dont apologize for it. Make up a short excuse of why u didn't pursue rn.

I do not agree with your logic at all. There is such a great need, and to say that a LPN does not fill that need is crazy, and uninformed. To read what you wrote tells me a lot about you. You mentioned money foremost. Is that what true Nursing is all about? For all the LPN's out there, there is absolutely NO reason to make any excuse for why you became a LPN. Be proud of your achievement. All you LPN's out there need to teach these people how to treat you. RN's need to respect LPN's, period.. I said my piece. PEACE

Specializes in Geriatrics.

I think we all have those "When are you going to become" stories, when it gets down to it, you are a Nurse. You are there to comfort, and care for your patients. The rewards are great, so is the pain we deal with day to day. I have had many RN's tell me that they know LPN's that can dance circles around RN's. I have had them come to me for advice on a patient. Last night as I was doing a dressing change (rather complicated one) the patient asked if I was an RN. I told her I am an LPN, and that I would be the only one caring for her this night. When I had completed the dressing change, she stated I did a better, less painful, job than the nurses at the hospital. For me, reward enough!

LPN's of the world unite! Stand tall and Proud! We are the front line in so many areas.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

When you think about it, wasn't Florence Nightingale an LPN?? Her duties certainly seem to line up with mine. She too had to fight for the respect she deserved. I refuse to be ashamed for shining her light into the darkest corners.

I'll get flamed for this, so I'm putting on the asbestos scrubs right now..

Nursing has evolved over the centuries. Back in Flo's day, it was a job no-one wanted. The military used to take wives along to care for soldiers in Wellington's day.

Flo made is respectable for women to take up nursing. Her training methods were practical. Skills that nurses needed. Yes, there was deference to doctors (and men in general due to the era).

Since the '70's at least in my neck of the woods, the BScN has been the "goal". The degree nurses I work with all want to wind up in management, and a few have admitted that they don't know why they need a degree to be a bedside nurse.

The PN graduates of today have skills that RN diplomas and hospital trained nurses of the '80s.

It almost seemed that a vocal few in RN associations have managed to restructure the education system of several nations in the goal of a "degree holding nurse".

Nursing today is attracting a diverse body of personnel, but I'm disturbed by the number of second degree students who never wanted to be a nurse but have found their original degrees did nothing for them in the real world. These nurses in my experience want nothing to do with bedside nursing and want to go straight into management or become a nurse educator.

Well, the world can only use so many managers and educators. Perhaps its time to rethink the degree and reserve it for experienced nurses who want to go into management or educate other nurses in the hospital setting.

Get's fire extinguisher ready...

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