So, when are you going to get your RN?

If most LPN's had a dime for each time they heard those words, we would all be rich, and not have to work at all. LPN's are an intergral part of a health care team. They have a place in nursing. We can never discount that for some, becoming an LPN was the goal. And that we can be happy and content in that role. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

I am a happy LPN. I got my LPN late in life, because circumstances were all in place for me to do so. I was interested in increasing my clinical skill set. It was a perfect plan.

When I was younger, I graduated from High School with a goal in life of popping out babies and baking bread with a husband that would work. (To all you younger readers, this was a viable option in my day). I successfully raised kids, and when school time came, I was interested in something more. I was not an ideal student in high school, and took the local EMT course to perhaps do a little call, raise a few kids......even had the white picket fence. Then, family was ill and my parents sent me to CNA certification, and I spent some time with family taking care of them. Humbling, for sure.

I wouldn't call myself a "book smart" kind of a person. But show me, and I was right on it. To travel for an RN course of study, after many years out of school, and not the most ideal learner of abstract things read in books that then have to transpose to real life, was not on the table. My kids were reaching college age. It was their time. I took a job as a CNA at the local hospital. Life was good and I liked what I did.

Times change and so do values. The economy took a nose dive, I live in a geographically remote area, and it became obvious pretty quickly that I needed to go to an alternate level if I was going to be financially responsible in part to keep a roof. What work did for me was to give me a feeling of independence that I never knew. I could take care of things myself. It was liberating and enlightening.

I took 18 months of my life, made it work, went to a pilot LPN program in our area that seemed to come out of the blue, and continued to work in a different capacity in the same hospital I was employed at as a CNA. It allowed me a bit more pay, to focus on clinical skills that I love so much, and to be a different part of the same team.

Being an LPN is a good thing. It focuses on parts of nursing that may be most applicable to where you are in life. I have great admiration for RN's of every caliber. It is amazing to be able to increase your education to the highest level possible and I don't for a moment think that continuing one's education is a bad thing.

But for me, and many others like me, being an LPN is what we want to do. That is the end goal. It is what is comfortable, what the priority is, what the dream was and was realized. And that is ok. So no, not every LPN wants to continue on to become an RN. Some are happy right where they are.

Specializes in LTC, office.

I am a happy LPN working in a clinic. If I went back to school to become an RN I would not be able to continue in my current job; which I love.

Never say never, but right now I am staying right where I am.

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I was never really offended when coworkers asked "When are you going to get your RN?". No one (in my experience) meant it as a slight.

In fact, when they stop asking, it can be vaguely disappointing. Like they've given up on you.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Here's the deal there's nothing wrong with being an LPN, but it *is* true that job opportunities in acute care are dwindling fast for LPNs.[/quote']

^As much as I LOVE(D)-being an LPN is a part of me, and can NEVER be taken away from me :)-I went back to school because the opportunities I wanted as a nurse. I graduated from PN school, and the hospital I enjoyed working in stopped hiring LPNs...when I was first hired there, LPNs worked in Med Surg, the OR, Cath Lab, PACU, Step-Down, and the ER.

I enjoyed the various specialties I was able to do-Sub-Acute, where I did teaching, wound care, IVs, admission assessments, vents, education, etc...community health-specialist offices, where I worked side by side with physicians and NPs, and Home Health-PDN and home health. Even chart reviews for Medicare...which was...interesting...

I have acquired skills and a personality of being an advocate and resource nurse. my knowledge was broadened and my nursing career has been an adventure, but, eventually, for me, it reached a plateau...I wanted a larger flexibility that I had carved out for myself. I was taking classes here and there to put myself in that position. Long-story short, I went back into a BSN program, and have been licensed close to a year. I have seen the increase in flexibility that I wanted, and am happy...I still am licensed as a LPN as well-I refuse to cut the cord, lol.

If life was like I would like it to be, I would've loved to stay a LPN...however I know for my path, In my heart, my semi-retirement plan is to be a NP and community educator/nursing educator.

LPNs are STILL needed, IMHO in nursing...we-I still say WE-still refusing to cut that cord! ;)-are here to stay! :yes:

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Our culture has created a myth that education is the answer to economic and social mobility, but that is not necessarily true and with tuition so expensive and student loans so dangerous a person could end up worse off going back to school and find themself unable to get a good paying job or pay off their student loans.

You have to do what is right for you! In the midwest LPN's were phased out of hospital nursing in the 90's, they were given an ultimatum to get their RN or lose their job by some hospitals, other use them as techs, but cut their pay. By the same token, I am hearing that some hospitals are mandating that their RN staff get a BSN by 2020 or lose their job. It is a dilemma do you go back to school to try to hold onto your job and in the process become overwhelmed by student loans or do you decide to let the job go and try to find something else? Either way it is not a pleasant situation to be in! I don't know what I would do if faced with this dilemma, although I would try to pay off my mortgage before 2020 rather than take out more student loans when I'm so close to retirement.

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Specializes in ED, LTC, SNF, Med/Surg.

In Ohio, every hospital I know of will only hire BSN graduates OR an ADN graduate only if they sign a contract stating they will get their BSN within so many years (usually five).

Not true at all. Apparently you've never heard of Cleveland Clinic, OSU Medical Center, Riverside Methodist Hospital, the State of Ohio, or the Federal Government... They all still hire LPN's. The lax-luster small town hospitals, they all want RN's, this is true, because it makes their lousy facility LOOK like it's something it's so blatantly not. That is it and that is all.

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Specializes in ED, LTC, SNF, Med/Surg.

I think, the problem is primarily a legislative one. I watched sooo many good people, who would have made great lpn's, rn's, even NP's, fail out of nursing school, because of the barriers to entry, ie licensure requirements by the government. Why do we have a shortage of doctors? Because who the **** wants to devote 12 years of their life to something non-stop, and when it's all said and done, really not make that much money, especially after . I want to be a NP someday but this whole push for DNP, or PhD by 2015 just disgusts me. It's always been a masters, now it has to be a "doctorate" a faux doctorate that is, where you take classes in things not pertinent to your career at all. The whole thing is just a big joke. It's nothing more than a bigger rat race brought to you by the government. Oo and the big push for NP's to have a doctorate... guess who's behind it? The DNP's that are ****** off someone who spent less money and time, to do the same job, and probably does it better, have the same scope of practice. Healthcare and Medicine is in DESPERATE need of some deregulation

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Specializes in Anesthesiology.

Hi to all.

First let me introduce my self, 30 y male from Europe who is about to receive his LPN licensure in IL trough CGFNS. I evaluated my papers, send to BON and waiting for responses. As most of emigrants I use to work a lot of different jobs but not the one that i go to school for. So finally I get my things together after 8 years I started working again in medical field as MA. 8 years are long time period and I just realise how much people forget if they go away from medicine. Anyway I was wondering if someone could actually explain me how does LPN to RN bridge works.?

Thank you so much

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
Oo and the big push for NP's to have a doctorate... guess who's behind it? The DNP's that are ****** off someone who spent less money and time to do the same job, and probably does it better, have the same scope of practice.[/quote']

I'm sure there had to have been a huge study suggesting safer practices, higher pt satisfaction, and lower mortality when under the care of a DNP NP vs a more traditional MSN NP

I'm just sure!!! :-P

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There is nothing wrong with wanting to be an Lpn, everyone doesnt want to be an RN. As long as youre happy that is all that matters.

I want to be an rn not only for more money, but for more opportunities and, I would like to be an Nurse Practicioner and do not want to do bedside nursing forever.

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I have been told that hospitals aren't hiring unless you have your BSN. I am about to start an ADN program and already people are encouraging me to enter a BSN program upon completion. Is this true?

Unfortunately, yep. I live in the Chicagoland area and BSN is either required upon hire or within a few years of hire.

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No it is not true, and you will find further elaboration in the RN forum with anything marked ADN / BSN. It is a rampant debate and misconception.

It completely depends on where you live. My friend worked as a tech in a hospital for 4 years before graduating. She then applied to that hospital as a nurse, and they told her straight out that she needs her BSN before considering her, despite her being an exemplary employee for them for4 years AND had letters of recrecommendation from instructors. I don't think it's right, just stating facts.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I met an LPN today during a drug test preparing for our first week of RN transitions. She said she was so nervous bc she had never drawn blood or started an IV. I told her it was all very easy. I said to her, "at the hospital you get 8 weeks of training as an LPN and if you're an RN it is 12."

She exhaled a sigh of resignation and uncertainty.

I perked up and asked, "in the last few jobs you held, how many days of orientation did you ever get in your LTC or rehab?"

"Like three" she laughed.

"You see," I exclaied. "You can learn all of those skills! It's only a matter of becoming comfortable with them."

I am over this disease known as RN-itis. Time to just join them. As I've said before, places ran by mostly RNs are set up for success while places primarily ran by LPNs ate set up for failure!

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