Bashed for pursuing lpn route

Moogie · Aug 29, 2009

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!!! 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!!!

In the past, it was often much quicker to go directly through a BSN program than it was to go through school incrementally: first for an LPN/LVN, then ADN, then BSN. Twenty, thirty years ago, nurses often were "wasting their time" by taking their education one step at a time because, in many schools, LPNs were not given advanced placement in RN programs and RNs were not given advanced placement in BSN programs. Students who were nurses often had to do everything over, from science and humanities to clinicals. Now, with years-long wait lists, extremely competitive admission standards, it can take a long time to get a "four-year" degree. The proliferation of bridge programs (LPN/LVN to ADN or BSN, RN to BSN or MSN) has made it much easier for nurses to move from one educational level to the next.

Your instructor probably thought he/she was complimenting you but it ended up hurting. Backhanded compliments usually do. I think you're smart to do whatever educational program is right for you---whatever makes the most sense in terms of time and money. :up:

Keep up the good work you're doing in nursing school and I wish you the very best in your career!

aphijay455 · Aug 30, 2009

Hi there. I am going back to school to be a nurse....after getting my BA and going to work in the Corporate world, I decided to make the change. I was orginally going to go to Univ of Miami to do a year of pre-regs, then their excellerated BSN program....then loans fell through and I cannot afford that route. So I came up with the decision to get my LPN, work for a year while doing a few MSN pre-regs and then bridge to RN as well....I think it's a good plan, and I don't see anything wrong with being an LPN - we need all levels of education and work ability to make the world go round. Do you look down at people that work in fast food or the mall, becuase without them you wouldn't have quick food and stores to shop in. We all have a role and there is nothing wrong in that. Too bad my mom is so NOT supportive :nono: . It's really hard hearing her tell me to reconsider because she thinks being a LPN is a mistake...how do I approach her about this? I feel like I don't know how to handle her! :confused:

pagandeva2000, LPN · Aug 30, 2009

Hi there. I am going back to school to be a nurse....after getting my BA and going to work in the Corporate world, I decided to make the change. I was orginally going to go to Univ of Miami to do a year of pre-regs, then their excellerated BSN program....then loans fell through and I cannot afford that route. So I came up with the decision to get my LPN, work for a year while doing a few MSN pre-regs and then bridge to RN as well....I think it's a good plan, and I don't see anything wrong with being an LPN - we need all levels of education and work ability to make the world go round. Do you look down at people that work in fast food or the mall, becuase without them you wouldn't have quick food and stores to shop in. We all have a role and there is nothing wrong in that. Too bad my mom is so NOT supportive . It's really hard hearing her tell me to reconsider because she thinks being a LPN is a mistake...how do I approach her about this? I feel like I don't know how to handle her!

What does your mother do for a living? Maybe you can bring her information on what LPNs do and the LPN-RN bridge programs that may be available to you at a later date. I notice many times, people who are not in the nursing field know what the differences are-and sadly, there are nurses already in the field that also view LPNs as underachievers, as the poster tried to suggest. Either way, you have to live for yourself. See what job options are available to LPNs in your area, also. If you live in an area that is supersaturated with LPN programs, for example, or if hospitals are not hiring LPNs and there are few nursing homes, home health care, corrections, etc... it may be challenging to find an immediate position.

I am an LPN that is happy with my choice. I live in a large metropolitian area that uses LPNs, although there were two major hospitals that closed down, so, there are many RNs and LPNs currently searching to work. Be sure of what options are available and choose the best for yourself.

DanainOrlando · Sep 1, 2009

I'm looking at LPN school as well and I've had a number of people ask my why I don't just go straight to RN. Here's why - because I can't afford to be out of work for two years straight, and because there are insane waiting lists at all the local RN schools!

Moogie · Sep 1, 2009

Hi there. I am going back to school to be a nurse....after getting my BA and going to work in the Corporate world, I decided to make the change. I was orginally going to go to Univ of Miami to do a year of pre-regs, then their excellerated BSN program....then loans fell through and I cannot afford that route. So I came up with the decision to get my LPN, work for a year while doing a few MSN pre-regs and then bridge to RN as well....I think it's a good plan, and I don't see anything wrong with being an LPN - we need all levels of education and work ability to make the world go round. Do you look down at people that work in fast food or the mall, becuase without them you wouldn't have quick food and stores to shop in. We all have a role and there is nothing wrong in that. Too bad my mom is so NOT supportive . It's really hard hearing her tell me to reconsider because she thinks being a LPN is a mistake...how do I approach her about this? I feel like I don't know how to handle her!

Unless your mom is willing to pay for you to go through the Accelerated BSN program, I don't think she has any right to criticize you for choosing a more financially feasible route to becoming a nurse.

My mother pushed so hard for me to become a nurse that, when I was in high school, nursing was about the LAST career option that I would consider. For years after I became a nurse, I wondered if I chose nursing because I wanted it or because my mother wanted it. Eventually, after some time away from nursing, I realized that it had been my decision, the RIGHT decision all along and that I really wanted to be a nurse---for my own reasons, not to please my mother. Returning to nursing after taking time off to raise my kids was completely my decision---and the right decision for me. Although I enjoyed being a SAHM and a short career as a free-lance writer, I missed nursing tremendously.

Ironically, I tried to get my mom to attend an LPN program when I was finishing up my AD program. Her excuse was that she was "too old". At the time, she was 46. Now I see people who are well into their fifties starting careers in nursing and I am sad for my mom that she talked herself out of what was clearly her dream.

DanainOrlando · Sep 1, 2009

Ha! I'm in my mid-40s. LPN program takes one year! I think it is a GREAT mid life career change option.

And for all those people who look down on being an LPN - it's not necessarily the end of the road, is it? It's basically like the first year of nursing school. Plenty of LPNs have gone on to become RNs or to pursue other health related professions.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 2, 2009

Ha! I'm in my mid-40s. LPN program takes one year! I think it is a GREAT mid life career change option.
And for all those people who look down on being an LPN - it's not necessarily the end of the road, is it? It's basically like the first year of nursing school. Plenty of LPNs have gone on to become RNs or to pursue other health related professions.

Its actually way more than the first year of RN school, imo! We had an extra semester under our belts as well as far more clinical experience at that point. :) That is one of the reasons I get so annoyed with some of the RN bridge programs that require a working period as a LPN.

Nursinginmyfuture · Sep 2, 2009

I think the speech you just gave should be enough your exactly right about there are all levels of service she should be happy that you want to make a career out of helping people being an humanitarian is the best job in the world and if that is something that you want to do she should be supportive and loving

jenawade25, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2009

Don't worry about people who put you down for becoming a LPN. I'm in a Bsn program and I'm thinking about taking the nclex-pn. I say this because my school is below the passing rate for the nclex for the second year in a row and they could get shut down because of it. If they close the school I'll be a LPN making a nice salary. Think about it like this, when you're taking care of patients they're not going to worry about whether you're a professonal or paraprofessional, they're just going to say "are you my nurse".

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Sep 9, 2009

Where I work there are no RNS. Even the DON is a LPN. I love this because we are all nurses and the patients, residents, and aides sees us as just that... NURSES.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Sep 9, 2009

Where I work there are no RNS. Even the DON is a LPN. I love this because we are all nurses and the patients, residents, and aides sees us as just that... NURSES.

WOW...where is this and what sort of place (meaning is it nursing home, ALF, etc) is this oasis?

mearrepiento · Sep 9, 2009

I'm taking Anatomy and Physiology. Hopefully, I can be accepted into LVN program in my college. I first chose Radiologic Technology then I heard many negative comments about that field, even for experienced workers. I think that Vocational Nursing is a right choice for me. I believe that no matter how technology changes, patient care needs physicians and nurses. Nurses cannot be dispensible for machines like radiographers.

By the way, the college I attend for LVN is Merritt college in Oakland, CA. Is there any body who used to be nursing students there?

My another concern is when I should start preparing for NCLEX-PN. Unlike RN program, LVN program in my college doesn't have NCLEX-PN review, at least I have yet heard about it. Can someone give me some insights? THank you!