Best & Worst about LVN/LPN

[Gonefishing1977]

Let me start by saying that I am making a career change at the age of 31. I started in the printing business out of H.S. and ran a business for 8 years. I left the printing business and became a State Trooper. I am currently in printing again and was accepted into the LVN program at a local college. I have always been interested in the human body, especially after the things I have seen in law enforcement. Last year I went through a couple of surgeries for Melanoma. That is when I decided to make a career change into the medical field. I plan on completing the LVN program in 1 year and then bridge to RN within a few years of completion. I have read several post from the male point of view and wanted to see what the best & worst thing about nursing is to everyone. I thankyou for your input.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The benefits of being an LVN:

1. Various opportunities

2. Steady income

3. Good entry point into nursing

4. Ability to earn good money while pursuing higher education

The drawbacks of being an LVN:

1. Lack of hospital employment in some cities

2. LPNs are typically paid less than the RN

3. Some members of the public believe LPNs aren't really nurses

4. Occasional abuse from patients, family members, doctors, other nurses

[Smokey9283]

Advantages

1. Gain nursing knowledge and use it faster than one would in a RN program

2. Gain nursing experience that will probably count towards experience after completing a RN program.

3. More job security than other fields, unfortunately people will always get sick

Drawbacks

1. Many RN's second guess what the LPN scope of practice is and therefore many patient care related tasks that are in the LPN scope of practice are taken away. (especially in hospitals)

2. all drawbacks previously posted.

[Fiona59]

Best: The training is over in four semesters (at least in my neck of the woods)

Work is plentiful and the wages aren't too bad

I never ever have to be charge nurse on my unit (active treatment charges are always RN).

If you find out you hate nursing you don't have a massive student loan ($15K vs. $50K for RN).

Worst:

Constantly expanding scope of practice without relevant increase in wages.

Dinosaur RNs that think they are responsible for my practice (they're not as we are responsible for our own practice here).

That's about it.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I have to ditto what Fiona said. I am not in charge, not interested in it for any reason in the world. I love working in the medical field, especially now that I have a better understanding on what is going on. I enjoy teaching patients and no day is boring. I don't believe I can handle the additional responsibility of being an RN, but I am a great team player and do my best.

[Gonefishing1977]

Thankyou for all the great input. I will work on my RN in the future just want to get into the field and start making better money. I currently have manager duties for $12 per hour and work 60-80 hours a week. This leaves little time for personal and family life. I will start the program 08/25/2008 for one calander year for $5,000 (good deal if you ask me). I can always go back into law enforcement but I really do not want to.

[Fiona59]

I'm just going by what I know from up here, but wouldn't you have better pensions and benefits by remaining a state trooper?

[Gonefishing1977]

i'm just going by what i know from up here, but wouldn't you have better pensions and benefits by remaining a state trooper?

yes the pension and benefits are good, but my best friend in the academy was killed in the line of duty. i have a family and with the line of work, drag racing (when i have time) and then the cancer, i decided i need to look out for my families best interest (not just mine). that is the reason i went back into printing. i figured i would work in printing until getting accepted to the lvn program, which i start in a month. i enjoy working with people, and get a thrill when i am able to assist some one with what ever their need may be. i have some of my prereqs done for the rn program. i will spend a few years out in the medical field before enrolling in the rn bridge program. i figure i will use this as a stepping-stone. i am not going into it for the pay. a decent living is all i ask for. all good things come with time.

[shannon_LPN]

i think the worst part of being a lpn is being treated like you are not a "real" nurse. i am a charge nurse in a nursing home, and whenever i receive report over the telephone from a hospital on a new patient and they ask my name, they always ask, "are you a rn?" when i reply, "no, a lpn", there's usually a typical "oh" response. also not too long ago when ems was bringing in a new admission (happens all the time) and i started to sign the paperwork, the emt asked me if i was an rn. when i said no, lpn, he told me he had to have an rn to sign. (i had never been told that before)!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

i think the worst part of being a lpn is being treated like you are not a "real" nurse. i am a charge nurse in a nursing home, and whenever i receive report over the telephone from a hospital on a new patient and they ask my name, they always ask, "are you a rn?" when i reply, "no, a lpn", there's usually a typical "oh" response. also not too long ago when ems was bringing in a new admission (happens all the time) and i started to sign the paperwork, the emt asked me if i was an rn. when i said no, lpn, he told me he had to have an rn to sign. (i had never been told that before)!

i would have politely told the emt "sure, i'll get an rn for you" and he would have seen how long he had to wait before the supervisor came and read him the riot act. sometimes, getting even means giving people what they want.

[duling]

You get more load compare to RN and get paid less!

[Gonefishing1977]

Once again thank you for all the information. I figure I should ask and listen so that I will have a greater understanding on the very near future. I will complete the RN bridge but need to get started in the mean time.