Bashed for pursuing lpn route

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

I am so tired of people downing me for going the LPN route first instead of straight to RN. What is wrong with being an LPN first? What is the big deal? I had an old instructor say to me, "you're too smart for that; you should have just went straight through to be an RN, your wasting time". I can't take another negative comment!!!:banghead: How can anyone say that Im wasting time when I'll be an LPN within the next year. I was wait listed for the RN program. I'd be wasting my time if I continue to WAIT on the list doing nothing. What's wrong with people's view of the LPN role!!!

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
You have the patience of a saint, my friend, because I think I would have smacked her upside the head.

Would it not have been sufficient for her to have said that you're a great nurse and not bash the others and not put you down for being an LPN?

:flmngmd:

I definitely think that it would have been sufficient, but because we were in a public place around virtual strangers, I felt it was a bit better to give the response I did. And, the end result will be that I will continue to get easy overtime :D. She did try to throw a double swipe-one at LPNs-then, trying to see what I would have probably said about RNs for her to gleefully run back and report.

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I am proud that i finished my RN up. It was a long road, as many of us know, with kids and life, pursuing any schooling is never easy. But with that said, I will never regret the path i choose.I believe it has helped me greatly. I will also ALWAYS respect my CNAs and LPNs becuz i too have been in their shoes. I know how difficult it is to be a CNA. They(which I once was one) work harder than I ever did as an LPN. And as an LPN, I have went into facilities as agency where I couldnt get any help at all and had to do EVERYTHING by myself.

I guess the moral of this longdrawn out post is "never forget where you came from"...I know I wont. Much respect and love to everyone, no matter what your title is, youv earned it. Its not easy doing what we do as healthcare professionals....or else everyone would do it.*wink*

Sami LPN-RN???(maybe today?????)

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I'm in a similar situation. I moved from another state and started looking for nursing programs. All of the RN programs have a three year wait, unless you want to be 40k for a private school that seems kind of shady. The community college here bought a LPN program and there was no waiting list. Since I have some college already, I'll probably have my BSN around the time I would actually be able to start the RN program.

A thing to remember, when some of the RNs or BSNs talk about the LPN program with a preieved attitude, it might be because they look down on people who become LPNs. It just might seem kind of pointless to them to take a track towards a lower paying and more restrictive job.

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Specializes in MR/DD.

I decided to get my LPN first.. I will begin RN classes this fall

LPN school is basically the first year of RN school anyway.. the way I see it, it is a great way to get some experience and earn some money while pursuing your degree I am taking baby steps.. and when i do become an RN.. I will have better luck getting a job then someone who just "went for it"

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Hello,

First of all, I would like to point out that anybody who has the objective to put anybody down is likely on the wrong track. Therefore, if there is an RN putting down an LPN, it is unnecessary. Likewise for an MD putting down an LPN, or a surgeon putting down a family doctor.

All roles are necessary to keep up the wellbeing of the general public.

However, that being said I would also say it is ignorant to "overlook" the fact that different roles include different responsibilities. A seasoned LPN would have better "intuition" about some things than a new RN, yes. An RN on the other hand has more education in terms of assessment.

I think things like perineal care, personal hygience assistance, meal assistance, oral care, all the things carried out by LPNs are indeed necessary and important. I think the reason why they are looked down upon, is because it is very "dirty" work. Let's face it, nobody likes to clean up anyone's behind (even though it will prevent pressure ulcers, etc). If there was a way to eliminate having to do this, nobody would vote against.

Some people enjoy critical thinking more, others enjoy hands on work. Or, their finances won't allow them to upgrade. OR they don't have sufficient education to go on. This is not a reason to put anybody down.

At the same time I think it's pretty ignorant to say that LPNs have as much education as RNs, and that RNs are as well educated as MDs.

As somebody that went through university and did a biology program, I can honestly say there is a noticeable difference in levels of achievement between those that are bound for medical school, and those that choose nursing. There is also a considerable difference in the pace between LPN courses and RN courses.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I think things like perineal care, personal hygience assistance, meal assistance, oral care, all the things carried out by LPNs are indeed necessary and important. I think the reason why they are looked down upon, is because it is very "dirty" work.
I was an LPN/LVN for four years, from 2006 until 2010, and very recently earned my RN license.

Sorry, but I did not perform tasks such as perineal care, personal hygiene assistance, meal assistance, oral care, or other basic ADLs during my years as an LVN. The CNAs did all that stuff. I was too busy with medication pass, IV therapy, assessments, documentation, wound care, enteral tube feedings, tracheostomy care, respiratory treatments, finger stick blood sugars, injections, continuous positive motion machines, suture and staple removal, taking verbal and telephone orders, and communicating changes in condition to physicians and family members.

Sorry, but LPNs complete some of the same tasks as RNs in many different healthcare settings. After all, the "N" in LPN certainly stands for "NURSE."

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In my hospital, he who finds the poop cleans the poop. Doesn't matter if it's the Unit Manager or the NA. This is on top of all their other duties/obligations.

I really shudder when I read post on here that basically say "that's the PNs/NAs job".

I can only cross my fingers that I nor a loved one in my family wind up in any of these nurses facilities.

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i worked with a physician one day last week assisting him with a new emr program implemented at his hospital. he asked if i was an rn, i said an lpn, and he said, and i quote, "same thing". i felt such a rush of pride! although i already had alot of respect for this pulmonary doctor, it just shot through the roof when he said that. :nurse:

barb :smokin:

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Yeah I have found that healthcare professionals outside of nursing tend to feel the same way. The focus on the similarities rather than the differences.

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Specializes in LTC.

You know what is best for you and be proud of what you have accomplished! :yeah:

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Specializes in LT, skilled, IV, pediatrics.

I personally believe any profession is what you make of it. I'm an LVN/LPN and am very proud of it. I remember my nursing instructor tell me once that a main difference between an LVN and an RN is that the RN knows the "why" and the LVN/LPN knows the "what".

Meaning...An RN is more body systems trained and knows why the disease process is occurring, whereas the LVN/LPN is more practically trained on what to do about systems they are seeing. Also, the RN is a manager, by default and the LVN/LPN is more of the "go to" person on the floor.

I have multiple degrees in different professions and decided to become a nurse as my last career change. I love being a nurse and if I could, I would trade my BS and MS I worked very hard to get in order to put it in the medical field.

Will I ever become an RN? Probably not...I've been a manager, owned my own business, and I love what I do now. I work in a LTC/Rehab facility and wouldn't trade it for the world. It's hard work, but I'm used to that. The difference is, I don't have all the employee drama I used to have when I was a manager. I come into work, take care of my patients, and go home feeling like I've accomplished something and made my patients life just a little brighter.

I stay out of the "chit-chat" and just do my job. It's very rewarding and so much less stressful!

My plan is to just add to my existing LVN license. I have my IV Certification and I plan to get a few more.

So, if you feel you need to be an RN, then by all means Go for It! It's a life goal, you should always pursue your dream. I did and I'm a proud and happy LVN!

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