aaaahhhhh! should i leave now?

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one week ago i started attending a private vocational lvn (lpn) school in san francisco...

things have not been what i'd hoped.

first of all (aahh i need to vent):

1. my prereqs instructor is burmese, has a totally incomprehensible accent and thinks

that teaching is making/projecting a powerpoint presentation and reading it out loud

2. i think i failed my first a&p test (tho we get to retake them each once)...the instructor,

for reasons best known to himself, takes several days to check our tests (good lord,

13 students' multiple choice tests of 30 questions? could be done in 30 minutes or less)

3. on my second test (multiple choice) i was reprimanded for crossing off the obviously

wrong answers on the test paper to help me focus (he said 'it looks messy')

4. at least 1/3 of the class (the filipina mafia) attempts to/does cheat on every test and

has seemed to get away with it so far

second of all...

5. today i called sallie mae and my first loan application was denied

should i get out before things get worse?

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i would definitly go.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, Skilled Nursing, Management.

I so understand where you're coming from on several of your points!

1. Fortunately my instructors don't have a hard to understand accent....but I have had instructors use the stupid power point presentations and simply read off of them. Plus they hand you the outline to follow along. I always want to shout out... "Hello!! I'm in college, which means I can read!!" I don't mind if they use them to give an overview and then they add practical info to it, but it becomes painful to sit through hours upon hours of someone just reading to you!

2. I have taken tests weeks and even over a month ago and still don't know my test score. It's frustrating not knowing how you did. Plus, we don't get to see the tests to discern what answers we got wrong so we can learn from them unless we set up an appointment time. It can be very difficult to arrange that time.

4. It can be disheartening to see others cheat and get away with it, especially if it seems the instructor is aware. It doesn't happen where I'm at....but keep in mind, if they cheat their way through nursing school they won't pass NCLEX unless they're bestowed a miracle. At that point when they go out and try and get a job it will become apparent that they have no clue what they are doing. So they are only doing a disservice to themselves. I would only say something if I noticed them using unsafe practices with patients once they are in an actual clinical setting.

5. I would see if there are other financing options available. Financial crud can make school super duper stressful.

Sorry everything to be so hard right now. Only you can know if it's bad enough to get out....but if you think that your own hard work and persistence could get you through AND you really love nursing, I'd stick it out. By the way, there have been some really bad days through-out. Some days when I felt like I was in a black hole and sinking, but right now I have about 30 days left in my program and I'm so glad I didn't let my negative self-talk get me down.

Good luck!!

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It sounds like your in the program that I am considering attending in SF. I am concerned about what you are experiencing, how can you understand the information if the delivery is so convoluted with a heavy accent. Have you discussed the communication problem with the instructor, perhaps that might help him be a better educator? Are there many group projects in your classes? Have you experienced any problems in that area yet? I know from past experience that it can be very difficult to just sit and watch fellow students do well on tests because they have copies of old tests to study from, or watch them cheat from each other.

If you could walk away without any financial burden would you?

What program would you try the next time?

What questions would you ask the school before signing up to prevent this negative experience from happening again?

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Specializes in Author/Business Coach.

Leave now and apply for RN school. You won't make much money as a LPN and won't get the respect they deserve. If you want to continue in nursing LPN experience "doesn't relly count," I was an LPN for 4.5 yrs and have been a RN for 2 yrs. My new employer counted my 4.5 yrs experience as 1 year of RN!

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Specializes in LTC.
Leave now and apply for RN school. You won't make much money as a LPN and won't get the respect they deserve. If you want to continue in nursing LPN experience "doesn't relly count," I was an LPN for 4.5 yrs and have been a RN for 2 yrs. My new employer counted my 4.5 yrs experience as 1 year of RN!

::Rolls Eyes::

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Specializes in Author/Business Coach.
Leave now and apply for RN school. You won't make much money as a LPN and won't get the respect they deserve. If you want to continue in nursing LPN experience "doesn't relly count," I was an LPN for 4.5 yrs and have been a RN for 2 yrs. My new employer counted my 4.5 yrs experience as 1 year of RN!

I'm not knocking LPN's as I was one myself. Its just that a lot of facilities/and people don't view LPN's as skilled, professional nurses. If the OP wants to continue on with their education I say skip the LPN and get the RN. I have stair stepped my career and advise no one else to do it. I started as a CNA, then Medication Aide, LPN, RN-ADN and now back to school for my BSN eventually getting my masters. I'm just trying to save this person some time and heartache:redbeathe...I've been there! Just my :twocents:

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I'm not knocking LPN's as I was one myself. Its just that a lot of facilities/and people don't view LPN's as skilled, professional nurses. If the OP wants to continue on with their education I say skip the LPN and get the RN. I have stair stepped my career and advise no one else to do it. I started as a CNA, then Medication Aide, LPN, RN-ADN and now back to school for my BSN eventually getting my masters. I'm just trying to save this person some time and heartache:redbeathe...I've been there! Just my :twocents:[/qu

Maybe becoming an LPN was a waste of time FOR YOU, but in my case it will help me gain more experience to enter this wonderful career. Just because you had a sour experience does not give you the right to discourage this person from continuing to persue her LPN . It will not be a waste of time and not all facilities look down on lpns... JUST MY :twocents:.... Anyway to answer your question hun...I'd say go with your gut. If you feel that something isn't going right, it probably isn't. However, I would not suggest that you go to a Rn program...Do whatever makes you happy..If you want to go to another LPN school that's fine, but just make sure you do your homework. Good luck in whatever you choose.

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Specializes in Author/Business Coach.
I'm not knocking LPN's as I was one myself. Its just that a lot of facilities/and people don't view LPN's as skilled, professional nurses. If the OP wants to continue on with their education I say skip the LPN and get the RN. I have stair stepped my career and advise no one else to do it. I started as a CNA, then Medication Aide, LPN, RN-ADN and now back to school for my BSN eventually getting my masters. I'm just trying to save this person some time and heartache:redbeathe...I've been there! Just my :twocents:[/qu

Maybe becoming an LPN was a waste of time FOR YOU, but in my case it will help me gain more experience to enter this wonderful career. Just because you had a sour experience does not give you the right to discourage this person from continuing to persue her LPN . It will not be a waste of time and not all facilities look down on lpns... JUST MY :twocents:.... Anyway to answer your question hun...I'd say go with your gut. If you feel that something isn't going right, it probably isn't. However, I would not suggest that you go to a Rn program...Do whatever makes you happy..If you want to go to another LPN school that's fine, but just make sure you do your homework. Good luck in whatever you choose.

So where in my post did I say getting an LPN was a waste of time??? RE-READ. I too was your age, as a matter of fact I was already a LPN! You will learn (if you do want to pursue to a higher degree), if not, stay a LPN. Don't knock me for becoming a RN. If I remember correctly they asked for opinions on a PUBLIC forum. And don't knock me for telling the OP to get a RN degree. If you want less respect, and much lower pay for a lot of shared duties as a LPN vs. RN, go right ahead. I was proud to be a LPN, but didn't like the way I was looked down upon by employers and others in the healthcare field. Do you know how hard it is to get a decent paying LPN job in a hospital? Where I come from there are LPN's few and far between. The only jobs that really had a major need for LPN's were in the Nursing home and LTAC units, both of which I have worked. I know where I come from...You should step back and learn from someone else who has been there already.

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It seems to me - that too much focus is being put on what people think of you - such as coworkers, other nurses, etc. I think people should pursue RN (regardless of its right outta the gate, or from LPN to RN) for the purpose of furthering their education and broadening the scope of care they can provide to patients. I DON'T think anyone should pursue an RN simply for more prestige, pay, respect, or power. For some people - especially people making a 2nd career of nursing - the LPN to RN route is the only reasonable option to get us working in the career field of our dreams. It can be very rewarding, a solid foundation and solid building block to become an RN. I think its irresponsible to discourage someone :Leave now and apply for RN school. You won't make much money as a LPN and won't get the respect they deserve. If you want to continue in nursing LPN experience "doesn't relly count," - and in my opinion telling someone LPN nursing DOESN'T REALLY COUNT IS THE SAME AS TELLING THEM ITS A WASTE OF TIME.

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So where in my post did I say getting an LPN was a waste of time??? RE-READ. I too was your age, as a matter of fact I was already a LPN! You will learn (if you do want to pursue to a higher degree), if not, stay a LPN. Don't knock me for becoming a RN. If I remember correctly they asked for opinions on a PUBLIC forum. And don't knock me for telling the OP to get a RN degree. If you want less respect, and much lower pay for a lot of shared duties as a LPN vs. RN, go right ahead. I was proud to be a LPN, but didn't like the way I was looked down upon by employers and others in the healthcare field. Do you know how hard it is to get a decent paying LPN job in a hospital? Where I come from there are LPN's few and far between. The only jobs that really had a major need for LPN's were in the Nursing home and LTAC units, both of which I have worked. I know where I come from...You should step back and learn from someone else who has been there already.

Oh I'm sorry you said that the LPN experience "dosen't really count" ( like that's any better):nono: First of all Im not knocking you for becoming a RN. I too one day will become an RN. What I don't appreciate is how you degrade lpn's in the healthcare buisness. Not everyone is insecure and feeble.I personally don't care what others think of me and will continue not to care once I become a lpn. My age is irrelevent to this conversation. I have MANY family members who are LPN's and get as musch respect as RN's or even more at the facilities they work at...oh yeah and thanks for the offer but I'd rather not step back and learn anything from you. :smokin::smokin:

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Additionally, I want to add that telling someone "lpn experience doesn't really count" is extremely disrespectful to LPNs who bust their A$$ every day - day in and day out - to provide quality care! This attitude is exactly what perpetuates the stereotype you spoke of. I am not trying to be rude or catty - but I hope you can see things from a different perspective. You are now making LPNs feel exactly how RNs made you feel - and you didn't like it right?? So the solution isn't to become an RN so you are a "better nurse" because that doesn't make you a "better nurse" it makes you a different nurse. The solution is to treat everyone with respect and dignity - just as we should our patients. We all are in it together right?

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