Considering CNA to LPN, advise needed

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I apologize if this is already a covered topic, I did scroll through but didn't find anything relevant to my dilemma.

I am currently training to be a CNA for a long term palliative care center and decided to look into getting my LPN in the near future. I have been advised by my instructor (an RN at the facility) that if I want to go for a nursing degree to just go for RN. She explained :

a) LPN's are most bullied and unappreciated of all the nurses in the field...not only by the RN's above them, but also the MA's and CNA's under them.

b) They are also the most overworked of all nurses, and underpaid. A common joke for the abbreviation is "low paid nurse".

c) They are seen by most other medical professionals as a "glorified and overpaid CNA", and are being phased out in many facilities and replaced by RN's and/or CNA's. Despite the job outlook for LPN's on the government website saying that it is a fast growing field, she says finding a job is actually quite difficult - especially if you're new.

Do I need further advise? Is she accurate? I'm not sure I want to be an RN. My medical background is basically administrative (I have a degree in health care management but recently decided to go to the clinical side), and I have worked with many RN's but I am not comfortable taking on that much education and scope of practice at this time. I thought that maybe working as an LPN first would be wise but after her lecture, I'm not so sure now??

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I'm currently an LPN and previously a CNA for 8 years. I started out going to school to get my BSN but because of things that happen in life I ended up transferring to a tech college to become an LPN. I too was told that they would be phasing them out, and that I should have continued to go for my bachelor's. I've been an LPN for 2 and a half years and I enjoy where I work. I continued working long term care for 6 months after getting my license, and then accepted a position at a clinic. I've personally never felt downed by any of the doctors, or my MA/CMA coworkers. If anything the doctors respect that I am a nurse and have a nursing license.There are also quite a few job oppotunities available for LPN's. They typically aren't hired at hospitals, but definitely isn't hard coming across great oppotunities. I recommend going for to become an LPN especially if you don't feel you want to take on the work load of getting your BSN. I'm currently going back to finish the degree I started because I promised myself I would, and I feel I have a little but of am advantage because I'm already a nurse and have experience. Good luck to you in what you decide to do! :)

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Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.

Some people are horrible to others regardless of their job title. Personally on my floor, the lpns are treated and respected as any other colleague. Also I don't know where the generalization that lpns work the hardest came from. I'm not saying they don't work hard, we all do. All nurses work hard. They get the same amount of patients that I do, in fact due to their smaller scope of practice, I have to help them get and push certain medications and initiate their care plans and education. I get paid more and it's always good to help out fellow co workers so no big deal to me.

On a side note though, you really should be getting your rn bsn if nursing is what you want to do. It makes so much easier to get a job and you are compensated more. If time is an issue then you can get your associates degree and sit for the nclex rn then go back for the bsn later. But honestly in today's job market, nursing positions are really looking for that bsn.

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My advice: become a medical technologist / assistant. They work in many clinical settings, have no problem getting a job, and don't have the stigma of "not being an RN" so much as LPN's. The schooling is shorter, and you do many of the same clinical duties - as well as make similar money.. THEN if you decide nursing is in fact something to pursue - get your BSN and don't waste your time with LPN.

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

"a) LPN's are most bullied and unappreciated of all the nurses in the field...not only by the RN's above them, but also the MA's and CNA's under them.

b) They are also the most overworked of all nurses, and underpaid. A common joke for the abbreviation is "low paid nurse".

c) They are seen by most other medical professionals as a "glorified and overpaid CNA", and are being phased out in many facilities and replaced by RN's and/or CNA's. Despite the job outlook for LPN's on the government website saying that it is a fast growing field, she says finding a job is actually quite difficult - especially if you're new."

Sad to say but this seems to be the attitude of some RN's. In my area, the LPN's are very appreciated. My experience as an LPN is nothing but good, but then, I work LTC. I am also charge on my shift. I am the nurse over three aids and the doctors usually do not know what our licensure is when we call them. We are not glorified aids as aids can not administer meds, assess, take physician orders etc. In my state the only things that I can not do that an RN can do is IV administration and Admission assessments. When people ask me what I do, I tell them that I am a nurse as I am one. If you decide to become one of us, shake off what this one nurse has said and go for it.

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I'm in LPN school right now and I wish that I would have gone straight to RN; but it seems like you don't have the desire to be an RN, so I think that becoming an LPN would work well for you. I agree with dealwithit on going straight to BSN if you ever decide to become an RN. Best of luck to you in your decision.

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Before I went to LVN school, I was a secretary and I heard the same thing all the time. When I finished school I started working at a nursing home and I loved it. I was never bullied or treated with disrespect. I felt just like you....I just wanted to go to school for a year before I made that longer commitment. A lot of people discouraged me. But I have NO regrets. There are always jobs out here. Now I am an RN with an Associates Degree and I hear the same rhetoric. "You better get a BSN or you won't have a job in 5 years...." If you work in a healthy work environment you will be treated with respect whatever your credentials are. I say go for it.

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