Can You Tell Me Your Story........

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 21, 2008

I have seen this happen for some people, but deep down, many of them really, really wished that they were able to continue into the RN program. Some of them returned at a later date; some fortunate enough to complete, others have not.

I attended school at a community college where we were the first class for the LPN program that college had. At first, many of the RN students sort of downed us, until they started Med-Surg 1. The ones that thought they were going to fail out started asking us questions about our program, and a few inquired with advisors because they wanted to transfer in (they really anticipated failing).

I am sure that it depends on the desire of the person...if they consider their glass to be half full and not empty or unfulfilled. I'd love to hear responses as well.

BearyPrivate · Apr 21, 2008

Hi.

When I started looking at nursing schools my friends told me to go to RN school and just get it over with. So, I applied. The representative explained that they only except about 30 people for each class and approx 240 people applied:(. Well, this was disheartening so I decided to apply for LPN school as well. When I got the acceptance letter from LPN school I was excited let me tell you:yeah:. I applied to RN school first but LPN school accepted me first so I decided to go take the preentrance exam for school and did great:D. After my first month of LPN classes, RN school sent my acceptance letter. I felt privileged that I actually was accepted:nurse:. My dilemma was solved easily by the class hours and curriculum of RN school the first semester. I had 3 young boys and a husband and I had to work nocs:yawn:. So, My husband and I talked it over he was understanding and told me to do what I felt I could handle. I stayed in LPN classes and never looked back:saint:. I love my job:redbeathe, I love my profession:heartbeat. :twocents:

swee2000 · Apr 21, 2008

Yes, I actually fit your description to a "T".

I originally started at a 4-yr university in Fall/1997, taking under-graduate classes while awaiting my turn on the "student waiting list". Then, in 1999 and due to personal reasons, I dropped out until I could get life under control. About 1-1/2 years later(~2000), I returned to school and the RN program, only now I was at a 2-yr technical school. During the time I was away, I continued dealing with severe fatigue, which had been present since the summer of '96, after coming down with mono. Since then, I've been battling constant, excessive/severe fatigue, which is present 24hrs/day & regardless of how much sleep I get. At the time, no doctors could figure out a cause. It was during the 2nd semester of the program, when the fatigue became so severe & intrusive, that I said "Enough was enough". I couldn't retain info, my grades were starting to slip, I was falling asleep in class & at home while trying to study, and my confidence was taking an all-time dive. While I was determined to keep going & fighting thru, I also did not want to screw up my nursing career or make some detrimental mistake. So I gave in and dropped out, again, with the intention of not coming back until SOME doctor could tell me what was wrong &/or treat me for "it".

In January, 2006, I had my health problems resolved and decided to give it another "go". Unfortunately, at the time I was registering to come back, there were no spots available in the 2nd semester of the RN program. So the school offered me a spot in the 2nd semester of the LPN program, which they said was comparable, and I accepted. In the end, I finished the program, graduated at the top of my class, & have worked as a LPN ever since(and enjoying every minute of it).

**As a side-note, I still have intentions of one-day finishing a RN program. It's just a matter of "when?", as life has stepped in the middle, again, to say "Now is not the right time for you &/or your family".

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 21, 2008

Yes, I actually fit your description to a "T".
I originally started at a 4-yr university in Fall/1997, taking under-graduate classes while awaiting my turn on the "student waiting list". Then, in 1999 and due to personal reasons, I dropped out until I could get life under control. About 1-1/2 years later(~2000), I returned to school and the RN program, only now I was at a 2-yr technical school. During the time I was away, I continued dealing with severe fatigue, which had been present since the summer of '96, after coming down with mono. Since then, I've been battling constant, excessive/severe fatigue, which is present 24hrs/day & regardless of how much sleep I get. At the time, no doctors could figure out a cause. It was during the 2nd semester of the program, when the fatigue became so severe & intrusive, that I said "Enough was enough". I couldn't retain info, my grades were starting to slip, I was falling asleep in class & at home while trying to study, and my confidence was taking an all-time dive. While I was determined to keep going & fighting thru, I also did not want to screw up my nursing career or make some detrimental mistake. So I gave in and dropped out, again, with the intention of not coming back until SOME doctor could tell me what was wrong &/or treat me for "it".
In January, 2006, I had my health problems resolved and decided to give it another "go". Unfortunately, at the time I was registering to come back, there were no spots available in the 2nd semester of the RN program. So the school offered me a spot in the 2nd semester of the LPN program, which they said was comparable, and I accepted. In the end, I finished the program, graduated at the top of my class, & have worked as a LPN ever since(and enjoying every minute of it).
**As a side-note, I still have intentions of one-day finishing a RN program. It's just a matter of "when?", as life has stepped in the middle, again, to say "Now is not the right time for you &/or your family".

Have you considered Excelsior? You can work on your own pace and take exams when you are ready. Glad to hear that you are happy, and mainly that your health problems are solved. :up:

lauralauranurse · Apr 21, 2008

this question is right up my alley!

i started out with full intention of completing a local CC RN program.

did great until i got to the actual RN coursework and promptly got a D in my nursing class.

as the semester was ending, i was told that our CC was going to start a new LPN program the next semester -- i said sign me up! 11 months later, i passed. like pagandeva2000, we were our CC's first LPN graduating class!

i figured it would be a great way to transition maybe a bit more easily into nursing and get the heck out of the house and be on my own! and it worked!

i then immediately signed up for the LPN to RN program, but with no success. i tried a few more schools .. but still did not succeed. i've come close .. but no cigar.

however, being an LPN has been a really great experience. i recommend it all the time to anyone who is struggling with RN coursework or doesn't know about the RN program wholeheartedly and just wants a taste of nursing.

sidenote:

i clearly remember two instances in LPN school that will always stay with me, in terms of my decision to go LPN vs. RN.

1. when i told my RN instructor that i wanted to switch programs, she was like 'are you SURE?!' and i said yes. and she sighed and said 'ooooohhhh kkkaaay.' as to insinuate i was making a bad decision. such a bummer. funny part is .. she was the one who was the first to email me and told me that i passed the program with a million exclamation points .. weird.

2. an RN student i was in a class with failed and i suggested the LPN program and he was like 'NO WAY! NO! I MUST GET MY RN.' as if to say going lower on the totem pole was just so below him and there was no way he would dare go there. needless to say .. i'm pretty sure he never passed the RN program.

i don't know what's in the future for me, honestly. i've been trying for that RN forever and am trying to be at peace with my LPN .. it's more psychological than anything. rather annoying, really.

RN 2 B · Apr 21, 2008

I'm in a RN program and I'm having a difficult time with med-surg. A friend of mine started in the program dropped and went to LPN school because she was having a difficult time with med-surg. Know she is doing great in the LPN program. I was advised that if I wanted to be an RN stay in the program, not go backwards to become an LPN, then try to get in a bridge program. It's difficult. I don't know what to do. I been at this for awhile now.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 23, 2008

I'm in a RN program and I'm having a difficult time with med-surg. A friend of mine started in the program dropped and went to LPN school because she was having a difficult time with med-surg. Know she is doing great in the LPN program. I was advised that if I wanted to be an RN stay in the program, not go backwards to become an LPN, then try to get in a bridge program. It's difficult. I don't know what to do. I been at this for awhile now.

I notice that most RN students have difficulty in med-surg. I am a bit confused, though...you were advised to continue the RN and then try a bridge program, or was it to go into an LPN program and then use a bridge to get into an RN program?

I think you need to do what is best for you. I would ask your friend in the LPN program how it was to compare information. Also, how are your grades? Are you failing out? How immediate do you wish to become an RN? If you can wait, maybe getting the LPN license and transferring to a bridge program is better suited for your needs (for now). If you are not failing, then, try to complete the program, so that you can say you have no regrets and got what you originally started out for.

swee2000 · Apr 29, 2008

Have you considered Excelsior? You can work on your own pace and take exams when you are ready. Glad to hear that you are happy, and mainly that your health problems are solved.

Thank you for your response.

Honestly, until I found allnurses.com, I don't think I had ever heard of Excelsior, let alone looked into it. Is it accepted by every state board of nursing? How does it impact job opportunities?

One day, I would love to finish school and become an RN. As much as I enjoy being an LPN, it isn/t, wasn't, and never will be, my dream. And I'm not the type of person who likes having to settle for "second best", so-to-speak. Plus, I don't think my co-workers will let me put-off school too much longer, seeing as they constantly make comments about what a good RN I'd make/be, that I have more than what it takes, what am I waiting for, etc, etc. It's very comforting & reassuring to have such positive support from the people I work with every day.

midcom · May 1, 2008

I didn't actually start an RN program but that was my intention when I graduated from HS back in 1969. However, we didn't have the money to send me & I absolutely refused to go to school to be an LPN because, in my opinion at the time, LPNs weren't "real" nurses. How stupid that was !!!! :uhoh3: :uhoh3:

Fast forward 38 years and I finally got a chance to go to nursing school. I never even considered RN training. I wanted to be an LPN & I did it, graduating with honors, at 57 years old & thrilled to finally be doing what I was meant to do. I have no interest in bridging to RN. In th eclinic I work, the RNs & LPNs do the same thing. The only way I know who is what is by asking. I know the RNs are paid more but they have earned it.

There was one gal in my class who had started in a BSN program but failed a class & was asked to leave the program. Personally, I suspect that because she had a disability contributed to it. I don't think the staff wanted to deal with her disability. Anyway, she came to our program & did beautifully.

It took me a very long time to realize that being an LPN was just as important as being an RN.

Dixie

TJ920 · May 1, 2008

When I started CC for "nursing" you didn't pick LPN or RN. It was one continuum program unless you elected to drop at the LPN level after the first year of classes. You went through Funds 1 and on to your bridge courses for the 2nd year.

Well toward the end of that first year my husband and I were having problems, :argue: I suspect because of working nights as a CNA, going to school, and dealing with two small children ... anyway, I elected to take the diploma rather than the associate's degree and work as an LPN for a while. It actually worked awesome. I got a little bit of a pay raise, slowed down the schedule a bit... al beit still went through a divorce, ended up being happier in the long run. Now I'm itching to get back and finish what I started. It really bums me out to think I had one more year left... 6 total classes and I would be an RN for 10 years by now. :cry:

However, on the up side to this, I've gained TONS of knowledge and experience that is priceless. I almost feel like I'll have a wing up when it comes to going back... I hope. I did get awesome grades t/o LPN school, so we'll see! :nurse: