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| Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 21 | 
Oct 29, 2009, 10:34 AM
 Re: Sick of being a LPN
I've been an LPN for going on 18 years. I consider myself a "little pretty nurse." Not a "L'Peon," like one of my co-workers said. I am smart. I work very hard and I'm competent and with good common sense. I take my job very seriously and I do my job efficiently. I've grown thick skinned, as I have been very mistreated over the years. I feel I am in prison every day at work. Working for someone who has no people skills, a nurse manager who chose to have no children of her own, who does not have a hair of compassion on her head for people who work hard, never call in and who are loyal. I've cried so many tears for the last five years that she has been our nurse manager that I'm just doing my time, until the time is right for me to move on. With the economy the way it is, I'm stuck for now. Realistically, it'll be about 6 more years before I get paroled from this hellish experience I'm living every day. It hasn't always been this way, just for the past five years. I'm a survivor. I am strong. I have the wherewithal to continue. I see the slightest glimmer of light at the end of a very long dark tunnel. I have no desire getting my RN. I never want to treat people the way so many RN's have treated me. I am content being an LPN.
 | | No. 22 |
Oct 29, 2009, 11:37 AM
Re: Sick of being a LPN Originally Posted by BlondieNH  I've been an LPN for going on 18 years. I consider myself a "little pretty nurse." Not a "L'Peon," like one of my co-workers said. I am smart. I work very hard and I'm competent and with good common sense. I take my job very seriously and I do my job efficiently. I've grown thick skinned, as I have been very mistreated over the years. I feel I am in prison every day at work. Working for someone who has no people skills, a nurse manager who chose to have no children of her own, who does not have a hair of compassion on her head for people who work hard, never call in and who are loyal. I've cried so many tears for the last five years that she has been our nurse manager that I'm just doing my time, until the time is right for me to move on. With the economy the way it is, I'm stuck for now. Realistically, it'll be about 6 more years before I get paroled from this hellish experience I'm living every day. It hasn't always been this way, just for the past five years. I'm a survivor. I am strong. I have the wherewithal to continue. I see the slightest glimmer of light at the end of a very long dark tunnel. I have no desire getting my RN. I never want to treat people the way so many RN's have treated me. I am content being an LPN.
Wow! What can I say..I'm sorry and I'm sure you are a great nurse! If it gives you any comfort that kind of thing happens in all careers-I worked for a company where no one had people skills-keep your head high knowing that you make a difference!  | | No. 24 |
Oct 29, 2009, 06:29 PM
Re: Sick of being a LPN
I have learned "to find the good in the bad." I decide on a daily basis what kind of day I'm going to have. I am however human and not a robot. When things get to me, I'll look for the "diamond in the rough," in my day. It could be as simple as a rotton patient being mean to me and giving me a hard time, so then, I will look for a patient that pulls at my hear strings and get a hug and I'm all better. I have made too many sacrifices for my family to give up at this point. I am paid well, I have great benefits and yeah, I do work my tail off for it. When I'm done with my 30 year career in nursing, there will undoubtedly be more good than bad. My boss has "narccicistic personality disorder," although I'm no doctor, but she sure fits the definition. I have suffered greatly under her command, but like I said in my previous post, "I'm a survivor."
| | No. 25 |
Oct 30, 2009, 12:39 AM
Re: Sick of being a LPN
I also feel the nursing school has something to do with LPN's being looked at as inferior. I live in New Orleans and when you graduate from the RN program at Charity, they have a beautiful ceremony (so I've heard). They make you feel absolutely special.
For the LPN, I've heard its not like that. You get a Diploma and thats it...so i've been told.
I was going to go for my RN degree but I failed my TEAS exam. Since I don't think I am so smart anymore, I am going to go for the LPN program.
I do get another chance at the TEAS, but I am so scared of failing it again.
I currently volunteer at Childrens Hospital in New Orleans and the RN's on the floor I work on don't even say Hi to me. They ignore me most of the time and are very rude to me. Now I am not saying that all RN's are like that. But the ones that I have to deal with treat me as if I am from outer space.
Someone told me that some tend to treat Volunteers like that. Thats terrible.
| | No. 26 |
Oct 30, 2009, 08:54 AM
Re: Sick of being a LPN
To Blondie and RNhopeful:
You will always find evil people everywhere in every profession-it's a fact of life-but both of you please believe that you are making a difference in this world and stay positive! It's what you believe not what others perceive....
| | No. 27 |
Nov 01, 2009, 04:47 PM
Re: Sick of being a LPN
One of the things that I believe everyone should keep in mind is that no matter how much greener the grass appears on the other side of the fence, those people have their challenges as well. In fact, if you cross that fence, you will probably discover that the archtypical personalities STILL exist. So, when you do decide to return to school, please do it for YOURSELF, and for what reasons make sense to YOU. In most cases, it is to have more career choices/advancement than your current situation probably allows, the other is money. Any reason is fine. Just know what whereever you go, you take yourself with you.
So, confidence, pride in what you do and self value must begin today. A person that chooses to mistreat LPNs or otherwise really has issues from within, and while it certainly SEEMS to be personal, it usually is not. That person has other issues they are dealing with that somehow, making someone else feel small makes them feel better. Do NOT empower them. When you return to school, you'll know that no man is an island...it may be true that one person's position may emcompass what the ancillary staff do, but it is still a human being that is capable of becoming overwhelmed...so, when you become RNs, Nursing Supervisors, etc... hopefully, you will be one that values each tool that makes the engine work. Best of luck, everyone!
| | No. 28 |
Nov 01, 2009, 05:13 PM
Re: Sick of being a LPN Originally Posted by Dcrane Wow Thanks for the great advice! I need to do a little more research-I live in Florida-hardley any schools have nursing (any that are in a 50 mile radius)and massive waiting lists- 
I highly recommend skipping LPN. Back when i went to LPN school, it was only a 13 month program (16 years ago). Now, its 18 months. For 6 months more you'll have an ADN, which means it will be WAY easier to find a job in the area you want to go into, significantly more money and significantly more respect.
What i hate about being an LPN:
My co-workers (RN's) and patients, arent the ones that look down on me. They come to me for advice. Theyre placed with me during their orientation because i have multiple years of experience in multiple areas of nursing. Its the administration that is the constant irritation. They feel, the need to continually "put you in your place" by telling you that you are no longer qualified to do things that youve been doing for years. "i was qualified to take patients with epidurals for 15 years....today, i'm not qualified" However, they do send the students, new grads, and new hires to me to educate THEM on how to take care of a patient with an epidural.
Also, lots of areas try to "phase out" LPNs routinely. Then they figure out that they cant afford to pay all RN salaries, so they "allow" you to work in their facility again. Of course, until management decides to try to phase you out again.
| | No. 29 |
Nov 10, 2009, 05:20 AM
Re: Sick of being a LPN
I totally understand where the LPNs who are frustrated have posted here are coming from. I was also sick and tired of being sick and tired of explaining myself, and defending being an LP/VN!
Thankfully I was given an awesome opportunity to make a whole lot of money, without going back for an RN degree I didn't desire!
I now work for the most part M-Thurs/Fri, rarely on Holidays or weekends, and I make almost three times the money I made an a Traveler/Agency LPN. ALL my expenses are completely paid in full, including even the snacks I buy, dry cleaning/laundry, parking...etc. I can fly home every week, with all costs paid, and if I want to fly a family member here to me, it is paid for also!
I still keep my license current, but only because it helps me get the IT positions that are looking for people with a clinical background. The best thing that ever happened to me was getting out of patient care, and getting into IT!
Don't give up, look for opportunites off the beaten path, and you may just find a gem! Your nursing experience maybe an open door to a great opportunity.
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