Another noob RN vs LPN question!

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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Hi,

I'm complete noob to this. I'm a 5 year aerospace manufacturing engineer and am considering doing a career change to help people and family. I would like to know the real world experience. In this field, from the searching, the LPN does the dirty work; clean up poop..etc, needles, blood...etc and more tasks. True? The RN manages that and obviously a higher education. Is the experience level logic similar to other professions, as a RN can also perform or may need to perform LPN tasks when needed? From the lack of entry level RN experience, do they need to go through LPN training or experience? Also, can I transfer or have family members or friends go where I work? Theoretically, what if my friend is sick and I want to take care of her? Can I have her go where I work and be there(not 100% as I need to do my job) for her when needed? Obviously, I won't be favoring her, but it'd be nice if I can be where she is. From my experience or in California, people here are pricks even in hospitals. I rather look after my family and friends and have idiots that don't care doing things.

I've searched and these are some questions that I didn't find. Please help as they would determine my final thoughts in becoming a nurse.

Thanks!

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It really depends on the facility/job.

In the hospital, LPNs and RNs will both be doing bedside nursing. Depending on where you work, you may have CNAs/PCTs to help you with cleaning, tolieting, etc. Even if you do have help, you will still find yourself doing those tasks and should be willing to do those tasks. RNs will also hold charge and manager type positions. Although in many hospitals, you may need a BSN to do that.

In nursing homes, RNs will probably be doing mostly charge and alternate passing meds/doing treatments. It just depends on the staffing level. But even then I saw many times my charge nurse toliet someone or clean them up.

I was a LPN and have just finished RN school. There is a different scope of practice between the two depending on the state...so check you state board of nursing to see what that is. For example in NYS RNs can take care of central lines, but LPNs can't. In NYS LPNs cannot assess or teach.

In school there is a base that everyone is taught like patient care, passing meds, etc. LPN training is usually 10-12 months, while RN training is 2 years at a local CC or 4 years if you want you BSN.

I'm not sure about the taking care of family thing. In the facility I was at, I was not allowed to have family members admitted to my unit. But it doesn't mean you can't visit and make sure things are taken care of.

Hope that helps.

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In terms of advice, let me relate to you what popped into my head and then dominated my consciousness as I read your post: For God's sake, pleeeeeeeeeeeze DO NOT become a nurse of any kind, anywhere, at any time.

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Specializes in ICU.
hi,

i'm complete noob to this. i'm a 5 year aerospace manufacturing engineer and am considering doing a career change to help people and family. i would like to know the real world experience. in this field, from the searching, the lpn does the dirty work; clean up poop..etc, needles, blood...etc and more tasks. true? no. many acute care units in hospitals do not even utilize lpn's. you may have a nurses' aide to assist you, but even the rn cleans up lots of poop, blood, pee, etc. i also clean up after the docs after procedures, which includes their sharps. the rn manages that and obviously a higher education. is the experience level logic similar to other professions, as a rn can also perform or may need to perform lpn tasks when needed? an rn can perform the tasks an lpn would. think of the lpn scope of practice as a subset of the rn scope of practice. an rn can perform all the tasks an lpn would, but the lpn cannot perform all the tasks of an rn. and remember, where there are no lpn's, rn's do everything. from the lack of entry level rn experience, do they need to go through lpn training or experience? no, you can go directly to rn school and graduate/sit for the nclex and become a brand new rn (we call these folks "new grads," and you will find many threads here discussing them). that said, a person can choose to go the lpn school first, then take a "bridge" or rn to lpn course later. also, can i transfer or have family members or friends go where i work? theoretically, what if my friend is sick and i want to take care of her? can i have her go where i work and be there(not 100% as i need to do my job) for her when needed? obviously, i won't be favoring her, but it'd be nice if i can be where she is. your friends and family can go to whatever hospital their insurance will let them go to; however, that doesn't mean they will be on your unit. you would not be allowed to change units just to be where they are. moreover, i was taught that it is neither ethical nor wise to care for close friends and family. the first reason is that they are so important to you, that you might inadvertently spend a disproportionate amount of time with them (thus, not with the other patients for whom you are responsible. second, if your family member coded and died in your care, even if it wasn't your fault or wasn't preventable, what effect would that have on you? from my experience or in california, people here are pricks even in hospitals. i rather look after my family and friends and have idiots that don't care doing things. can't really speak to your view of humankind, but i have met very few nurses that didn't care about their pts. the few that don't are often burned out from too much work and not enough time in which to complete it.

honestly, if you are doing this more for your family, you are being unrealistic. 99% of the time, you would not be their nurse anyway even if they did come to your place of employment for care.

i've searched and these are some questions that i didn't find. please help as they would determine my final thoughts in becoming a nurse.

thanks!

hope this helps.

:paw:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

"Theoretically, what if my friend is sick and I want to take care of her? Can I have her go where I work and be there(not 100% as I need to do my job) for her when needed? "Please keep in mind that hospitals do not run exactly as pictured on some television shows. For instance, one nurse does not work in the ER, Labor & Delivery, Med/Surg and ICU on the same day. (Or, for that matter, the same year.) As mentioned above, it is not only unwise to care for close friends and family, but even the potential to care for them would depend upon whether or not they have the condition that your floor/unit takes care of.

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Thanks for the responses. The answers do help! As harsh as it may sound, that's reality to me. People often go around and try to sound nice not realizing what they're getting into.

catshowlady - I totally agree w/ your ethical stand point and is making me think about the situation. The truth is, you know as well as i do not 100% people completely care, otherwise we won't have what we have in this world today. If you are fully in belief we are in utopia, then I take off my hat to you that you have so much confident in our industry.

kcochrane - Thanks for the explanation

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"Theoretically, what if my friend is sick and I want to take care of her? Can I have her go where I work and be there(not 100% as I need to do my job) for her when needed? "Please keep in mind that hospitals do not run exactly as pictured on some television shows. For instance, one nurse does not work in the ER, Labor & Delivery, Med/Surg and ICU on the same day. (Or, for that matter, the same year.) As mentioned above, it is not only unwise to care for close friends and family, but even the potential to care for them would depend upon whether or not they have the condition that your floor/unit takes care of.

Like the last post I responded, I totally agree with you. Thanks for clearing that up.

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In this field, from the searching, the LPN does the dirty work; clean up poop..etc, needles, blood...etc and more tasks. True?

cna's and enviromental services do the real dirty work, but lpn's and rn's aren't beyond wiping butts at times.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
Hi,I'm complete noob to this. I'm a 5 year aerospace manufacturing engineer

I've searched and these are some questions that I didn't find. Please help as they would determine my final thoughts in becoming a nurse. Thanks!

I suspect a troll. The post does not support the educational level I would expect from an aerospace manufacturing engineer.

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I suspect a troll. The post does not support the educational level I would expect from an aerospace manufacturing engineer.

Hi,

Thanks for coming forward with this post as it only confirms to me there are sorry people like you in the industry. You're pretty good for judging my educational level from a few statements and realistic questions. I'm not like you that uses euphemisms to cover up scenarios that actually happen. Maybe you consider cleaning up people's sh1t, puke, puss, blood as tech support? Not that to say I'm not ready for it, either, but that's what it is and that's my question. I dunno if it's true, but to see that you have 20+ years and you still act the way you do, pretty sad. I'd hate to be your coworker. Under some stress, you'd probably freak out and start the blame game like everyone else....:down:

Thanks for the compliment. So you suspect or judge aerospace manufacturing engineers to be a lot smarter, huh? I'm sorry to disappoint you and including myself, but that's not the case in the real world. Open your eyes...

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
hi,

i'm not like you that uses euphemisms to cover up scenarios that actually happen. maybe you consider cleaning up people's sh1t, puke, puss, blood as tech support?

why would you assume this??

thanks for the compliment. so you suspect or judge aerospace manufacturing engineers to be a lot smarter, huh? i'm sorry to disappoint you and including myself, but that's not the case in the real world. open your eyes...

i've been on this forum for several years now and don't wish to get into with you. i'm just saying it doesn't take a "rocket scientist" to spot a troll. if you're really not, please accept my apologies.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Let's please stay on task and answer the original poster's questions without exchanging insults, making accusations, or engaging in unfriendly debate. We are all reasonably intelligent individuals and should behave accordingly.

Thanks for your cooperation and understanding!

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