Bashed for pursuing lpn route

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I am so tired of people downing me for going the LPN route first instead of straight to RN. What is wrong with being an LPN first? What is the big deal? I had an old instructor say to me, "you're too smart for that; you should have just went straight through to be an RN, your wasting time". I can't take another negative comment!!!:banghead: How can anyone say that Im wasting time when I'll be an LPN within the next year. I was wait listed for the RN program. I'd be wasting my time if I continue to WAIT on the list doing nothing. What's wrong with people's view of the LPN role!!!

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

The LPN designation is truly fabulous because a person can carve a wonderful career out of being an LPN, or it can be used as a stepping stone to become an RN or some other type of healthcare provider.

I'm fortunate to say that I have a flexible job with a certain degree of autonomy, a few supervisory duties over the CNAs, and decent income earned over the course of working only 2 long days per week. I earn a full-time income, and I get to have 5 days off per week. Many people wish they had as much unstructured free time as me!

Masses of people in this terrible economy only dream of being an LPN. I'm actually faring much better right now than many college graduates who earned masters degrees in liberal arts majors such as humanities, English, art appreciation, sculpture, or history. I'd much rather have a stable job as an LPN than to be unemployed, broke, penniless, undesirable in the job market, and losing a house or apartment to foreclosure or eviction.

If you believe you've got it bad, there's someone out there who's got it far worse. The naysayers who bash LPNs really need to become more informed, or shut their mouths altogether. If you're tired of people who bash your choice of becoming an LPN, it's time to put them in their place.

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Specializes in ER, Pulmonary.

i am an lpn in the er. that doesn't happen around my area, but this hospital does utilize lpn's. i am so happy i became an lpn first. the knowledge base i have obtained in the past two years is unreal. i feel ready to bridge and start class this fall. i worked with a dr. that called me a jr. nurse and before i could say anything the rn was up out of her chair giving her hell. she told that dr. she would rather work with me than most rn's because she trusts me and doesn't have to worry about me doing my job. that has been the third time a rn has stood up for me and i am a very forward person. it's not the initials after your name, it's the confidence that you exude. i have great respect for my rn's because i see the paperwork load on them and the other crap they get stuck with. they have been my mentors and study partners. they have made me for whom i am today and i can't thank them enough. they don't look at your initials, they look at what type of nurse you are. you follow what is right for you. get experience under your belt and go from there. you will be a nurse period. most people that aren't nurses i find are jealous that you have taken that extra step to better yourself. to hell with them, get your lpn, you won't be disappointed. have a strong backbone and you will go far. nursing isn't for the weak, emotionally or physically. do your job, do it well and stand proud. you will be fine.

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I've experienced the samething, and I've even heard a RN tell a LVN "oh so you're finally a nurse" as she got her RN, and I told the RN "She's been a nurse for 10 years, and now she has her RN". That just chapped my hide, she's been a nurse longer than the RN.

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Specializes in Home Health Care, Aids, Geriatrics,rehab.

I am going through some thing similar. I have a RN for a charge nurse. Simply stated. All she does is put down LPN's. She is the RN and the only one that can do this and that! Very frustrating. Mind you i am a new LPN with a lot of yrs in the health field so i do know a little something, I can maage sitting with our MD, doing the med pass, and taking care of the TX's on the otherhand our big RN doesn't feel as if she should be handing out medications and none of the MD's want to sit with her and she can't do a med pass with a million complaints. I find it very hard to control my tounge.Let me tell ya i am bitting on it very hard lol! I am an LPN and darn proud of it !!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Personally I could give a rip what people think. I was in a far better spot when I went to RN school than my fellow second year RN classmates that flunked out with only their CNA to show for their years of hard work. If I didn't pass I was still a nurse! I was working on the unit of my choice as a LPN before I passed NCLEX so the transition was very smooth.

For those of you in LPN school there is too much going on in your life to waste one second on this kind of negativity. As with anything there are good and bad people at all levels. On my unit two of the sharpest nurses are LPNs they run circle around most of the RNs. Finish school, learn all you can about your job and do your part to make LPNs look like the skilled professionals that they are. :)

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I totally agree that a LVN/LPN is a professional. But I learned in school that anybody with an associates or less is considered a para-professional. You're considered a professional if you have a Bachelors and above. I don't agree with that philosophy, but that's what was told to me. I think whether you're a LVN/RN (ADN) you're a professional regardless.

A Paraprofessional is a job title given to persons in various occupational fields, such as education, healthcare, engineering and law, who are trained to assist professionals but are not themselves licensed at a professional level.

I consider myself a paraprofessional because I've worked in various fields such as land real estate, logistics, engineering, and IT. I have many skills that are transferable, but I am not licensed in any one field. Just CPR BLS certified.

I earned my Bachelors in Business/Marketing - and currently finishing my pre-reqs at the CC for RN. If I don't get into the RN program, I will do the LPN program just because I want to start somewhere. Everyone's journey is different, I just hope everyone (including me) end up where they want to and deserve to be.

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

Don't waste your time with people who try and demean you, it is not worth it. Put them in their place and move on. One of the things I love to do is give those sorts of RNs their job...I mean, if you think you are superwoman and can do it without the help of us peon CNAs, LPNs, etc, then, please, don't let little ol' me get in your way. I usually find when I let them do ALL of it, I am usually approached later on with no witnesses to 'make a deal' because it is too much for many of them.

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Thank you all for your comments. I feel much more confident about my decision of pursing an LPN education first. I just had orientation and my first class starts this week. I know that I will be a much better RN when I later further my education. I wish I would have done this a few years ago!

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

Please have confidence in what you do, and believe in your heart that what you do as an LPN does matter. What you may see as you ascend the ladder is that even amongest themselves, physicians, pharmacists, RNs, etc, STILL do not always respect each other. Then, it becomes: where did you go to school, are you an ADN or BSN, are you an ER or ICU nurse? Oh, because psych and clinic nurses are not really nurses either, you know...or home care nurses, etc...

If there are no CNAs to provide routine ADLs and turn patient q2h, then, who ultimately gets the blame? The nurse in charge. If the care plan is not adhered to, who takes the heat? RN. Even though there are many wild cards that work below her, she take the blame. So, does it benefit us when we demean a person? Not really, correct?

I sincerely hope that you find the nursing career rewarding and can elevate as far as you wish to. But, if it doesn't, do you plan to beat yourself upside the head? Feel less than a person? You shouldn't. Work for today, make every moment count, because tomorrow is not promised, and even if it is, you STILL won't please anyone, so start today by doing what is right for you, and ultimately, what is right for you IS right for the patient you care for in your daily work.

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Well thank goodness the hospital isn't the only place a nurse can work.

I became an LVN 3 years ago after attempting to get into an RN program at a community college. I do not regret my decision. I actually wished I had done the LVN route first instead of becoming a CNA and spending almost 2 years on prerequisites only to be denied because I did not have 4.0 GPA! Do I wish to become an RN? Yes I would love to continue my education, expand my opportunities and increase my pay. In my opinion, some people just get way too hung up on titles. An LPN is a professional and in many workplaces it is very hard to differeniate between LPN and RN roles. I feel forunate that with my vocational diploma I have great job security and income compared to the many new college graduates out there who cannot find jobs with their degrees.

Well said. An LVN or LPN at least has a chance at gainful employment in healthcare. Someone who has spent three years taking prerequisites without becoming a CNA has nothing to show for their effort when they are rejected for RN programs. Then, they have to decide whether they will go back and get an LPN license or wait some more. Either way, time is wasted when they could have been a practicing nurse.

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Specializes in LTC.

I went through the same thing while in nursing school and also started a thread about it. Well now I'm proud to say that I'm a LPN. Yes I'm going back for RN but right now I'm still a nurse !

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I am in a very similar boat! except I can't afford to do the RN program because I would have to move and it is 4 years!! (Canada) So i'm opting to do the LPN route instead, its only 2 years and I can do it right here in my community. It just makes more sense for me right now, as your reasons do for you. I actually started a similar post today. It is frustrating but, try not to let it get to you :)

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