Is being an LPN REALLY that bad?

Nurses LPN/LVN

Updated:   Published

It seems like people frown upon LPN's....always saying "Just become an RN." I thought becoming an LPN was a good career choice...other people don't seem to think so though o_O

So for all the LPN's out there, do you enjoy your job? Do you think you made the right career choice?

It seems like people frown upon LPN's....always saying "Just become an RN." I thought becoming an LPN was a good career choice...other people don't seem to think so though o_O

So for all the LPN's out there, do you enjoy your job? Do you think you made the right career choice?

I have a job I love in homecare. The case I have will not hire an RN - only an LPN because the job is relatively easy. They don't want to pay for an RN - & honestly it isn't necessary. I love both my patient & her family & am very happy. & I am happy with the pay as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
In many areas, LPNs have fewer career options than RNs do. Even where I worked, all but one of the LPNs in the critical care unit were verteran nurses, and they generally did not hire new grad LPNs except if that person had some sort of "in" (they hired their unit clerk) or was in school to get their RN.

Apart from passing pills, many employers in my state treat LPNs like glorified CNAs - which is a tremendous waste of talent, IMO. One employer I worked for would not let an LPN touch anything concerning an IV even if he/she was IV certified. An RN had to go in even if all they were doing was hanging a new IV bag. I thought that was absurd.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In all honesty, I love all three of my jobs. Do I feel like I've made the correct career choice? Absolutely not. If I had it to do over I would study radiology. Of course, I don't have the time now as I have a big house payment and need to work these jobs in order to pay all my debts. I do love my jobs, my life, and my DH. I am a very positive person and like to surround myself with such. My co-workers are definitely a big reason why I love my job. We joke around, have fun, and it makes the day go by much faster. I used to be a believer that you shouldn't be friends with your co-workers outside of work, but I have developed several best friends.

I guess what I am trying to say is it all depends on where you work and who you work with. I have had jobs which made me absolutely HATE being an LPN but it didn't make me want to be an RN either. It made me want to get out of nursing altogether. Now that I've gained confidence in my abilities as an LPN and have developed close friendships with my fellow co-workers, I am satisfied with my practical nursing license. Do I want more? Yes! I want to study radiology and I also wouldn't mind studying Occupational Therapy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi

LPN ROCKS!!!!

I made a great career choice. In some working environment esp. Nursing homes and mental health facilities in most case P,s are Head Nurses in these settings.

Inretropect, we are nurse and we all have a story about nursing school both good and not so good.

The work is rigorous and clinical are burials on the not so good days and nclex is a thron in our side. So BIG UP all the R's and P's.

In nursing school my preceptor was an LPN and she had a wealth of information to pass on to us students because she was just completing her rn aswell.

Please the RNs don't mean any Mal-feeling just giving a word of encouragement to get us to our fullest potential and to advance our career that's how I see at it.

We are a team and we are providing the best service to our clients. Everyone on the team is a vital member and that how we provide excellent care.

Also, people are in different stages in their lives. So don't be dismayed be encourage.

Peace and Blessings to all the Hard Working Nurse. We are speical.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I don't think so. I don't want to be an RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been an LVN for 27 years. I would not change one day of it ever! I started out in SNF's but have worked in home health and hospice. Currently I work in pysch and spend time in South America working in clinics. I considered going for my RN several times but there was never a compelling enough reason for me to do it. I work with doctors, RN's and APRN's that respect me and I get to do the work that I love. And trust me, I don't care what letters follows the name, if someone called me "tech school nurse" we would have a serious problem.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

A lot of people asked me if I want to be an RN. My answer will be NO. I've worked in nursing home, boarding care for mentally disable pt, home health & hospice. My current job right now is full time home health & per diem hospice. I love my jobs & is fulfilling. I dont like the added stress & responsibility as an RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it depends on your career goals as well as the environment in which you are working.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Not in my opinion.

LPNs are limited in where we can work and our scope is different. We're meant to care for patients with expected outcomes, whatever they may be. It's not better or worse than working as an RN, it's just different.

also, RNs and LPNs are often interchangeable in environments where LPNs work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do what is best for you. I have friends that wanted and/or needed to finish school, become nurse and obtain a better salary FAST so they went with the LVN route. The schooling was also way cheaper and easier to get into. In one year they are making $22 an hour as opposed to the $13 an hour they were getting before. I went the RN route, had to starve myself for way longer, acquired some debt but I had no kids or anything better to do. We now work a long side each other doing pretty much the same job but I am making $8 more per hour....but then again I have a 20k loan to pay off while they have none.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC & Rehab Supervision.

Working as an LPN just made more sense in my "story". I missed one grade, leaving me out of the RN program. But I saw I could get into the LPN program, so I figured why not? My program was a killer 10 months, and soon I'm starting my first nursing job.

I love it because I will have experience as a nurse while going back for my RN, hopefully going for my prereqs in the spring. Becoming an LPN has truly opened up my world. I'm also going to start saving for a house in the meantime.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rehab/LTC.

I love being an LPN! I chose this route vs RN because I could graduate, obtain my license and start working quicker. I have zero regrets. I do plan on going back to get my RN soon, but I am beyond happy and content that I earned my LPN first.

I work at a skilled nursing facility. Specifically with rehab patients and a few LTC patients. The only things at my facility that I can’t do that a RN can, is pronounce death and draw blood from a PICC. I do admissions, discharges, assessments, blood draws, deal with IV atbx, flush PICC lines, skin assessments, wound care, care plans, etc and so on. I’m also a charge nurse. I make decent money too.

All of that will help me when I do choose to go back and get my RN. I’m very thankful I have the foundation for when I go back. It will *hopefully* be easier the next go round compared to when I did the LPN program.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment