About to finish LPN School in the DC/MD/VA area and think I wasted my time

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I am so depressed right now, I am getting ready to finish up my LPN program and think I wasted my time. I am planning to return to school spring semester to begin pursuing my RN but I am thinking maybe this is a waste of time as well.....maybe I am just depressed, there are like no jobs in the area for LPN's so my chances of getting a job are like slim to none. The folks that do hire LPN's want you to have at least a year of experience in your scope of practice. It's hard when no one will give you a break....I am thinking about maybe switching and going into another compnent of healthcare such as respiratory therapy, because the nursing programs (RN) in my area are so competitive so I mean I could posibly sit on a waiting list so I am just really confused on top of all this I just had to have back surgery.....any type of happy words or thought of encouragement could really help me right now :)

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I am sorry to hear you just had surgery and hope you are healing well. What I would do is take one step at a time, get your license and see what happens. There may be other areas of nursing that may pop up such as corrections (have to be strong for that), home care, assisted living, clinics, etc. Try not to give up hope before you start. And, if you do decide to go into other health created careers, investigate what the market for those positions are in before you start.

Have you thought about Excelsior, or another on line program? Does your state accept on line education as a route for obtaining your RN?

I wish you the best of luck...and for the moment, try and relax and heal.

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Thank you, only one school in MD is recognized in MD for online classes in obtaining your RN. I will do that. It's just so hard to go from being super active to not being able to do anything and feeling as if I wasted time because being a LPN doesn't mean anything

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why start the lpn-bs track while you wait...this way you can be finished in a year or so with your rn...not sure if that is an option for you

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i wouldnt see it as a waste of time....now that u have ur lpn you can at the least start the lpn to rn program...

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
i am so depressed right now, i am getting ready to finish up my lpn program and think i wasted my time. i am planning to return to school spring semester to begin pursuing my rn but i am thinking maybe this is a waste of time as well.....maybe i am just depressed, there are like no jobs in the area for lpn's so my chances of getting a job are like slim to none. the folks that do hire lpn's want you to have at least a year of experience in your scope of practice. it's hard when no one will give you a break....i am thinking about maybe switching and going into another compnent of healthcare such as respiratory therapy, because the nursing programs (rn) in my area are so competitive so i mean i could posibly sit on a waiting list so i am just really confused on top of all this i just had to have back surgery.....any type of happy words or thought of encouragement could really help me right now :)

breath laydiebug....you are almost done! focus on finishing this lpn program and worry about finding a job later. there is no sense of worrying about getting an lpn job when you don't even have a license yet. it is normal to feel this way towards the end of the program but shake it off and get back to school mode as you will need it for all the upcoming exit exams and the nclex.

good luck!!

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Specializes in Med Surg.

I'm 27 years old and been an LPN for 4 years. When I first graduated from my PN program in Louisiana, there wasn't really any jobs either posted out there. BUT, I didn't let it get to me. I made a resume and a cover sheet with reasons why I'd be an asset as a new nurse. I got the phone book made a list of all the nurse homes, rehab facilities, dialysis centers, and hospitals, and just filled out applications, gave out resumes, and called to each one to follow-up.

I got a job in a nursing home, then while doing that worked through an staffing agency going to other LTC facitilies, rehab and hospitals. I moved to Kentucky and now work at the VA Hospital in Med Surg. My pay is great, I get paid about what an ADN RN does. HOWEVER, I'm now back in school to become a RN. I lucked into this Med Surg job. Just from working in various places, I realize that there are so many more job opportunities for a RN vs a LPN.

Once you get your job as a LPN, definitely go for your RN ---> you'd at least have more on the job experience than a brand new RN would have, AND a better chance getting a job OR staying at the job your at but more pay.

RN is the way to go...

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Haven't done NCLEX yet, maybe in in JAN 2010. I am finished with my LPN program @ 52, male and a CNC in LTC. It is very hard to finish this type of school, very rough to think about landing a job as a freshly hatched LPN/LVN. While your'e discouraged and getting better from your surgery, get the phone and make a goal of contascting three facilities each day, by phone and by mailing resumes.

As you may know, doing even a small thing while depressed is better than doing nothing. The jobs are out there and the work needs to be done by someone.

In a month or two come back to this thread and tell us about the experiances you are having at your job as an LPN.

By that time, I will need to be encouraged by you to keep plugging away at getting a job as an LPN.

You voiced some of the thoughts I am having right now, thank you for telling us how you feel, it helps to know others are in the struggle also.

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