LPN futhering ed to RN

canna42 · Sep 29, 2001

Such good responses to scout girl ha ha ha. I have been an LPN 25yrs. Have come across this type many many types. This attitude usually at some time comes back to slap them in the face. Had an RN with a MSN behind her name come to work with us once. I had high hopes that we would get some good advice etc from her. Hate to say it but she was an idiot in patient care. Your initials after your name does not necessarily indicate how good of a nurse you are. Most of the new Rn grads come to me for help (they say the rns make them feel dumb) but once they get a couple of yrs of skill behind them all of a sudden I am no longer a "real nurse". One Rn that I had helped A LOT actually said that to me once..one week later when a pt needed and ng..guess what? I was the only one that knew how to insert one ha ha ha. Who says after a person graduates that education stops? We continue to learn same as anyone else in a medical profession.

barbiegirl1 · May 14, 2002

I think this attack on scout girl has gone beyond what was her intention. First of all, the LPN program in My community college is 10 months. Not much more than 6. Secondly, I am in the ADN program and with all of my pre req's out of the way, Eng 1 and 2, A&P 1 and 2, Microbiology, Nutrition 1, and Into to psych and into to soc, I have 2 nine month sessions PLUS one summer, worth of RN classes and clinical.

But that wasn't her point. And like someone else here said, look at the business of wether to get the ADN or BSN or the PA or NP or MD etc etc. Each step up in the field of education gives you more money more respect and ultimately patient care and self respect is what matters, isn't it??? So instead of bashing scout girl, try understanding where she is coming from and how hard she has worked to get to were she is today. I would be happy to get to know her. To privately email her and get some pointers, strength and tips from her. God knows, as a new ADN student, I will need all the help I can get. Thanks for lettting me vent

Tracy ADN--RN Student 2002

biscuit_007 · May 14, 2002

I too am proud to be an LPN. Although i did return to become an RN iam still an LPN and will always be in my heart. Nursing is plagued with people who are more concerned with self promotion then the greater good of the profession and patients that depend on us on a daily basis. Although I love being a nurse, it sickens me to see all of the infighting, back stabbing and general meanness within the profession. As an LPN i felt like i was a professional because i was expected to act like one. Now, As an RN, I still strive to act like a professional and forgo all the pettiness of the argument of LPN vs. ADN vs. BSN. Isn't it getting just a little old? We all play different roles in the healthcare TEAM. Its time that we just leave it at that and try to play like a team. WE all have our place and roles and none is more important than the other.

boobaby42 · May 16, 2002

I want to be an astronaut.

boobaby42 · May 16, 2002

In nursing school, as a senior, I was in charge of an entire floor of patients with all the IVs and IV meds. I was never given only 2 pts, except during my first year.

Every school is different, and I dare say duds are graduating from all of them, some how.

We should all support each other.

TEAMWORK

in_lpn · May 17, 2002

I feel very fortunate. I'm an LPN, have been an LPN for 10 years, in a variety of clinical settings. Without exeption, the RN's I worked with in Indiana were wonderful teachers. They encouraged me to be the best I could be, and I tried to live up to their expectations of me. My schooling prepared me for the perfect world, the RN's I worked with showed me how to react in the real world. I could do everything they could do, except for hanging blood, inserting a picc, and IV push. They learned to respect my judgement, and I knew I could count on them to help me when I needed it. I even trained some of the RN's coming into the hospital I worked out. One other item, We were a teaching facility also, and the college professors also let me train the RN students.

JANIE81851 · Dec 15, 2002

I AM GOING THROUGH THE CHANCELLOR LEARNING SYSTEM - JUST INTERESTED IF ANYONE HAS DONE THIS

JANIE

MrsK1223 · Jan 5, 2003

I've heard more LPN's complain about having to do more "technical work" and that RN's dont do squat. There's a reason RN's are over LPN's and aids.... RN's are a part of a profession. LPN's are taught more technical/vocational parts of nursing and RN's are taught to think more critically and have more in depth study of pathologies and physiology as well as clinical. There is an educational difference. I think LPN's are great but they have to keep within the scope of their practice. Just as I have known RN's who seem to know more than some of the physicians but we don't complain about not being paid cause we obviously know there is alot more behind the M.D. behind their name....its called education and if you have worked hard to get thru RN schooling or medical school, and it's not easy. No one who has not been thru it should demand to be paid the same if they didn't earn the education. Education has it rewards. I've never understood why anyone would choose to got thru 2 yrs of school to be an LPN when they could go for an RN in the same two yrs or Medical assistants getting a degree in it in 2 yrs. I understand waiting lists but choosing to when you know LPN's and MA's are paid less and advancement is very minimal. But Kudos to those who do cause they are needed.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Jan 21, 2003

My LPN program was a 1 year program, but it entailed taking 24 credit hours (yes, 24) the first semester, then 18 credit hours, then 12. It was very intensive. On the other side of the coin, I have learned a great deal in my current RN program. In my facility, RN's are considered more valuable because there is such a shortage of them right now. It has nothing to do with whether LPN's are capable nurses, and everything to do with the confines of our scope of practice. For me, all the BS that goes along with the title of LPN just adds to the incentive to finish the RN program. It is possible to turn a negative situation into a positive outcome.

MrsK1223 · Jan 26, 2003

Just wanted to add that LPN's are very valuable and we need them. I as an RN have learned a lot from LPN's as a new nurse. My first job after school was the infirmary RN for the entire psych hospital on 3rd shift. I had medical and psych problems to contend with. It was an LPN that had been there for yrs and yrs that helped me thru. (Thanks Betty). But it was me that was ultimately responsible for any codes within the hospital and for my infirmary and multi-needs unit patients. I had to delegate duties but done so in collaboration with the LPN and patient care associates. I never felt superior but did feel the weight of responsibility I carried and took it very seriously. RN's have to do a lot of critical thinking...so just cause you see one not moving to do as much patient care at any given time doesn't mean she isn't working....she's always got to be thinking and preparing for the next thing to do and for all the staff she is responsible for as well as her patients. NOt to mention all the damn charting...which is a huge legal responsibility. Nurses of all rank, but espeically RN's have been getting hit from all angles...from nurses aids, LPN's, physicians, other departements, management, Nursing supervisors, patients and patient families....we catch it from all angles. So either we all need to come together and support one another or RN's are going to continue scattering out of the field.

Jenn CLPN · Apr 23, 2003

I am a LPN taking pre-reqs for Rn school. It seems to take forever because there are so many core classes. I cant wait to finissh either. It does seem like the LPN's in our office are doing more then the RN's are. Its so frusturating.

debRNo1 · Apr 24, 2003

Originally posted by jaylex
It's discouraging not finishing up in a timely manner. Can anyone relate?

I dont think this was originally posted to be yet ANOTHER debate and arguement over LPN vs RN :nono:

I was a PROUD LPN who is now proud to be an RN. I did the same as you- I took classes from practically the day I passed the LPN boards. I decided that an external degree would work best for me and persued my associates degree with EXCELSIOR.

It took me five years working at my own pace and YES it was a little discouraging not to be able to finish up in a "timely manner" BUT that was my choice. Two LPN friends chose traditional programs and finished up way before me. I was happy and proud of them but honestly that was discouraging too.

I wouldnt trade those years of experience as an LPN and that is what made me the nurse I am today. I would be terrified to be a brand new RN without any prior nursing experience.

CNA's make the best LPN's

LPN's make the best RN's

I did do the work of an RN for LPN pay for many years and this too is discouraging but I look at it like a learning experience.

I left LTC after becoming an RN due to what was available to me if I stayed. I was to become a "clipboard" nurse as they called it and was anxious to gain the skills that EVERY RN should have so now I am on a busy med-surg unit- back in my uniform doing the hands-on nursing stuff that I crave to do !!

I would prefer to work side by side with the CNA to LPN or the LPN to RN rather than that 4 year RN who hasnt touched a patient and feels that giving somebody a bedpan is a deeming task.

Just my 5 cents..........

deb