why not go for RN?

[minnymi]

i've read several posts where LPNs are upset about either the RNs or the patients not viewing them as "real nurses."

the fact is this: if you are secure in your position then you wouldn't care. if you care enough to let it bother you and to post about it...then you care!

so...instead of trying to "change the way people view LPNs" why not just become a RN? seriously?

i got a bachelor's degree when i was a single mom....struggled the WHOLE time...and didn't even get a job at the end of it. went BACK to school to become a RN/BSN after all that...so the whole, "i don't have time to go to school because i have a family" excuse won't really answer my question. i didn't have time to go to school either...both times. that's why i woke up at 4am for 6 years straight and got my kids out of bed in order to get that RN title.

why don't you?

and if your answer IS that you "can't" then please don't complain about how lazy the RNs are or how much more they get paid, etc, etc....because you have NO IDEA what they may have done to get where they are or how much DEBT they have because of it.

thank goodness america is equal opportunity. go get YOURS!

[AngelofLTC]

Wow, seriously?

[minnymi]

Wow, seriously?

yes, seriously.

if the shoe doesn't fit you then don't wear it.

if you're the griper then here's your opportunity to gripe!

[AngelofLTC]

No gripe from me. I honestly haven't read any of the posts you're referring to. To whom are you addressing this post? It just seems very personal.

[minnymi]

No gripe from me. I honestly haven't read any of the posts you're referring to. To whom are you addressing this post? It just seems very personal.

just look through a few of the threads below this one..."lpn not taken seriously"...or "should we drop the licensed"....

it's not really personal at all...

i just worked VERY hard and sacrified a LOT to get my RN/BSN so when i see posts here where people say that they "work way harder than the RNs" or "they should get the same respect as RNs" it's annoying.

i'm not saying that anyone should be disrespected, but if you want the respect of a RN (if your perception is that we receive so much respect) then do what it takes to be a RN!

if you aren't willing to do that then let it go!! be comfortable and confident in who YOU are!

it's the same as someone who works at McDonald's complaining about all the "rich people" or "people who went to college" having money or "thinking they are better" blah blah blah.

if you like working at mcdonald's then good for you!! but if you are annoyed by the people who are more educated, or make more money, or get more "respect" ....then go do what they did!

[AngelofLTC]

Ok, point taken. I am confident with me... I can tell you feel very strongly about your opinion. I look forward to hearing some of the responses from the previous posters.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Well, I know in my job (and in MOST LTC facilities) RNs and LPNs DO do the exact same job. A RN is assigned a hall just like I am. I can do anything in our facility that the RN can do. (we don't push IV meds or transfuse blood where I work, so even that's not an issue). And anyone who says LPNs in LTC don't do admissions, discharges, assessments, etc. is living in some sort of absurd fairytale land.

Now, with that said, I don't think all

RNs are lazy. There are lazy RNs and lazy LPNs. Duh. Saying anything otherwise would be just as stupid as you saying LPNs don't deserve the same respect as RNs. And of course RNs should get paid more. They hold a higher license

and are compensated accordingly. Again, duh.

As for those other threads you mentioned, the only complaints I saw there from LPNs was how we are sometimes not considered "real" nurses. Are you seriously saying that if we want to be real nurses we have to get our RN? Not only is that a stupid thing to say, it's also just plain wrong. Are you just trying to troll things up around here?

[bluemorningglory]

Hmm....well..let's see...there are not all that many open RN programs around here..BSN or ADN..in my area. I personally know of people who have an awesome GPA, references, work experience, etc. and even they cannot get into these programs. It is not a lack of ambition; it is a lack of space.

I am going for my LPN this fall because there is an open space in a local program. I don't have to jump through a million hoops to start it. I know friends who have taken all the prereqs and cannot get into an RN program.I'll get my LPN and then can bridge to RN.

OP...you come across like a martyr but somehow I think there is more to ypur story..I am sure you had some breaks and help along the way;)

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Most of the RN programs in my area have a 5 year plus waiting list for clinicals.I would be close to retirement by then. And it is expensive. OP you noted in your post that you have now incurred a significant debt, so I would assume with housing, kids and expenses, that you need to do some creative budgeting. I am not rich by any stretch of the imagination, however, I do not like to live paycheck to paycheck if I can help it. Bottom line is that we are all adults, and work should not be Junior High.

I think it is wonderful that you were able to juggle kids and college. Good for you! The choices you made may not be suitable for someone else. We all have our own stuggles and stories. My child is now working 2 jobs to get herself through college, as my oldest child did. I fear that the loan debt will be akin to a mortgage. An LPN and RN scope is quite similar in most facilities. And Brandon LPN is correct--we are all nurses, some lazy some not, we are all licensed professionals. My license can be taken away just as quick as an RN's for an error. And as an aside, I have oriented more RN's to the clinical side of what I do than I can count. I think RN programs are a great deal of nursing theory, where as LPN programs are essentially all clinically based. So both of us are helpful to each other. New RN grads really have little clinical experience, but they can write a heck of a care plan.

[Limik]

I don't think you have taken into account those of us who are content with being an LPN. Not everyone has to become an RN to feel as though they are where they want to be. To original OP, it just seems as though you made a very personal attack and I would caution you that you are speakking to a very wide audience here. We all need to respect other nurses and their roles in healthcare. It is this kind of bashing from other nurses to other nurses that makes me worry about the fate of nursing in general!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

It sounds like someone has a chip on their shoulder.

[minnymi]

. Saying anything otherwise would be just as stupid as you saying LPNs don't deserve the same respect as RNs.

show me where i said that!

i've never seen RNs saying that.....i've seen LPNs complaining about it.

it's just a fact that doctor's opinions are more valued than a RN's opinion because they are more educated, and SOME people value a RN's opinion more than a LPN for the same reason.

what if you saw a CNA venting about how they function the same as a LPN, but they just get paid less.

what's the difference?