Anyone Just Interested in Being an LPN, and not an RN

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I have been a CNA for almost 10 years, I am currently on a waitlist for an LPN school. I was just wondering, does anyone here just want to be an LPN and not continue on to RN? It gets so irritating when people ASSUME you are going to get your RN! I'm always happy to say nope! LPN is my focus now, who is to say being an RN isn't in my future. But as of now I have no desire to become an RN. I work in a hospital side by side with nurses and don't get me wrong, I love my nurses, but do not desire to do all that they do. The money is great but the stress that I see my nurses endure is not healthy! Not to say it is this way of course with all nurses but it has become the norm. I think a lot of them get into it for the money and in return end up miserable.

Not trying to put any RN's down as I very much love my nurses that I work with and respect what they do. I just get so tired of the assumption that I am "going for my RN after LPN" and that being an LPN isn't a career, and all the "you should just go straight to the RN program!!!" No thanks!

Can anyone else relate???

Right here! I love being an LPN, and could not picture doing anything else. You can make as much or more as an RN too if you get enough home health patients, work a specialty JOB like wound care, Trach care, vents.

1 Votes

I have been a LPN for 8 years. 3 years ago I caved and went back for my RN. I didn’t do it because I really wanted to, but because I was tired of everyone saying “ you are just a LPN” or “you have to go back and get your RN”. I quit my 3rd semester. I had an A the first 2 semesters and was passing my 3rd when I quit. I hated it! I finally sat down with my husband and told him I didn’t want to be a RN. I was fine with being “just a LPN”. He was behind me 100%. I haven’t regretted that decision except for knowing I quit something. I am happy as a LPN.

2 Votes

When I first graduated with my LPN, I had zero intention to ever go back for my RN and thought I could live comfortably without the extra education...however after working as an LPN for over two years at a specialty clinic and getting paid about the same as a fast food or retail high end retail employee, I realized I don’t really have much of a choice but to go back to school now. Of course that’s not my only reason I want to go back as there’s other things about being an LPN that bugs the crap out of me (can’t “educate” even on something basic like taking a stool softener if you’re constipated), can’t use certain skills that only an RN can do now even though an LPN is still quite capable of it (at the place I work LPNs get to do less and less by the year and are confined to basically secretary work). Also I feel like management always gives the RN’s more respect and special treatment. I’m kind over the limitations of an LPN and not being given the pay and respect as we should because we work just as hard as any other of the health professions. But then again I’m sure most of this has to do with location and employer.

1 Votes
On 7/8/2019 at 3:46 PM, Kristi Garner Blakely said:

I have been a LPN for 8 years. 3 years ago I caved and went back for my RN. I didn’t do it because I really wanted to, but because I was tired of everyone saying “ you are just a LPN” or “you have to go back and get your RN”. I quit my 3rd semester. I had an A the first 2 semesters and was passing my 3rd when I quit. I hated it! I finally sat down with my husband and told him I didn’t want to be a RN. I was fine with being “just a LPN”. He was behind me 100%. I haven’t regretted that decision except for knowing I quit something. I am happy as a LPN.

What did you hate about learning to think like and RN? How did the RN education differ from your LVN education.

46 minutes ago, Queen Tiye said:

What did you hate about learning to think like and RN? How did the RN education differ from your LVN education.

For me it was more about focusing on hospital vs nursing home. I know nursing homes employ RNs, but where I live they focus more on the hospital setting and it just wasn’t for me. I have lots of friends that graduated from LPN school with me that are now RNs. It just wasn’t for me and I am proud to be a LPN.

1 Votes

I'm content as being LVN as well. I've work at the nursing home before, I got burned & stressed out. It is not for me! I also dont want to work in the hospital because of the stress & liability with it. As long as you are content & happy & live w/in your means. You will be ok!

Specializes in Lpn.

I been an LPN 13 years. Wished i would've gotten my rn because I've always wanted to work ICU that's why I became a nurse. I'm 33 now

I was an LPN.,retired now, I put my license on the inactive list, and I haven't worked in about 7 years now. I was never interested in going on for RN, I enjoyed the LPN level. The pay for my area was pretty good for LPN, so I didn't have any complaints. I worked on that job long enough to get a retirement so that combined with my social security disability is not too bad.

My advice in staying LPN is to at least get a job that offers retirement and stay there long enough to get yourself a retirement check. The years pass by quicker than you think and one day you will be looking at not working at all.

1 Votes
Specializes in Skilled/long term/hemodialysis.

Great advice thanks for the comment. I have decided to go for my RN only so i can explore more areas in The medical field. I will always respect the position of an LPN i cant see things in the medical field functioning well without dedicated LPNs.

1 Votes
Specializes in School LVN, Peds HH.

I love being a LVN. I used to want to get my RN, but I honestly love what I do. I am going for a degree in Community Health Education. I work in a school and believe that'll be very beneficial for everyone. As a school nurse, I get to do a lot. Wouldn't change my job for anything.

I have been an LPN for over 30 yrs. Never had the desire to become an RN. Some people are better in support positions. Have been Charge Nurse in Nursing Home Setting with RN a phone call away. As I get nearer to ending my career as a Nurse I have no regrets.

Specializes in Skilled/long term/hemodialysis.

That is wonderful i totally understand where your coming from! Very true some people are better in support positions.

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