Constant complaints about LPNs

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Specializes in Hospice and LTC.

I'll be done with my 18 months LPN program in March 2010.. I should be so excited for my accomplishments. I received great grades all while working 40 hours a week and having a 2 year old who I miss so much but yet I have this feeling of bitterness. I've been with my job going on 6 years and they told me they can't hire full time lpns so i dont have a job when i'm finished. I'm sick of people looking at me weird when I say I am going for LPN and not RN. It makes me feel like I cannot even be proud of what I accomplished the past year and a half of my life... I have been looking for jobs and nothing looks very promising. I would like to go back for RN asap but I can only go part time and I have to take all my pre reqs so it is going to take FOREVER! blah blah blah Yes I'm PMSING and feeling like negative nancy today haha.. I'm usually an eternal optimist but the negativity about LPNS is really depressing me.... I need some positive words from my fellow students... Please anything will help...

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Hello, I am in a LPN program as well, I graduate in April 2010. Don't get discouraged, people ask me why I am not just going straight for the RN. My situation is different, my plan was to get my RN first but in Michigan its so hard to get into an RN program, I just took the back door route, LPN then bridge over to an RN (pre-reqs done). Our economy is tough out here and I see hospitals having a hiring freeze for RN's right now. Check some of the other nursing homes and home health care agencies in your area. I know you have been with your facility for 6 years, but maybe a fresh start somewhere else would be good. Worst case scenerio you will have to have two part time jobs. I plan on going through Excelsior for my RN after I graduate in April. At least with them, you can work and study at your own pace. Don't worry it will all work out, just keep faith in it.

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Specializes in Student VN | Critical Care.

I am in a similar situation. But I am glad I am taking it the way I am.

I am able to support me and my wife while working as a CNA full time. and go to school 2 days a week.

The nurses at work usually ask why I dont just get my RN.. but they don't understand the situation.. It may take longer to get my LVN then RN but at least i can work as a LVN while getting ready to get my RN. better than making $11/hr for 4 years lol.

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Specializes in Hospice and LTC.

VERY TRUE!! Thanks for your responses!

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Some people out there are just misinformed about the situation regarding LVN/LPN. LVN/LPNs are a valuable asset to the health care team. There are many things that the LVN/LPNs can do that the CNA can't do for the RN. There are some LVN/LPNs that are more knoledgable than the RN and it has to do with experience. Some people are just happy being a LVN/LPN and have no plans to continue with the RN, and that's fine. I personally want to continue to get my RN but I'm not going to redicule someone because they're perfectly happy being LVN/LPNs, I work with some very sharp LVNs in my place of employment and when I'm a RN I will go to these LVNs if I have any questions because I know they're just as competent as the RN if not even more.

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I am also decided to go for my lpn and am always surprised when people question why I am going that route. obviously for me that is what works best right now, I wouldn't just make a descion without looking into it. I graduated hs in 2004, recived my associates in 2007 and transferred to SUNY Potsdam to start working on my BA in psychology. Well after working towards my major and thinking I was graduating this upcoming may come to find out that a toooon of my classes didn't transfer (although all the credits did) and really I was not into getting my masters in psychology although an education is never a waste a job is what pays the bills, I have always wanted to be a nurse and wished I had chosen to do that program through BOCES in hs! SUNY Potsdam is also suffering from a major deficit right now and is debating cutting 75 teaching positions which means that classes will not be offered every semester and fewer in total will be offered. SUNY Canton is another college in the area that offers lpn, ADN, and BSN programs. I decided to to the lpn program because its right for me right now. When I graduate in May of 2011 it will coincide with my so's graduation from his program (computer science major, already has offers from GE and IBM, yay!) and we will make the move downstate to the Poughkeepsie ny area. Living 20 mins from Canada for the past 2 1/2 yrs and originally being from LI I need to be closer to, well everything lol I have already contacted community colleges in the areas that we are moving to so I can continue on to my rn and contacted SUNY Delhi which has a BSN program that I will be able to complete in roughly two semesters (33 creds) because I have so many of the classes already completed. I don't understand why people feel the need to put me down or question why I want to be an LPN. I am so excited to start and finally feel as if I have found something I want to do and will be good at. I mean, I'm educated. I might not have my RN but I do have an associates degree plus 56 credits of upper division course work all completed with at least the minimum 2.5 that is required. Its funny because when I told my college friends I was starting nursing school they all questioned why on earth I would ever want to be "just" a nurse and that I was so much better than that. It's disheartening so think that anyone would think they were better based solely off the title they have. I will always respect someone who has more experience and who warrants that respect. Of course the courses for becoming an RN are more in-depth, furthering your education is always about taking that next step up and diving in a little deeper but it doesn't mean that you are better than me. Sorry for my rant, my friend and I had this conversatione earlier and I got tired of her question why on earth I would ever want to be a lowly nurse. I'm hoping I don't get to much from the RN's since my newly graduated LPN cousin said she is constantly made to feel inferior. And for my college counterparts or my college advisor who tried to talk me out of it, there was no distinction between LPN and RN, "nursing school is for people who were to stupid to go to college for a 4 yr degree or for single mothers who got tired of working dead end jobs", thanks dave! Not looking forward to the stigma that I guess is out there for all nurses, but very excited to start my new career! I don't let them get me down, there will always be people smarter, richer and thinner than me, but there will never be another me!

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I couldn't do my job without the skilled, smart, excellent LP NURSES who back me up.

Hold your head up and ignore the ignorant. You will find a spot, frankly, most likely in LTC, and become a valuable part of a team. And you are needed and wanted, at least, in my facility.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I am an LPN & I heard the whole "why not RN" comments as well. I always had plans to get my RN but wanted to do my LPN first so I could work as a nurse while earning my RN...and that's exactly what I am doing now! Just remember at the end of the day the only person that you have to satisfy is yourself. Everyone chooses their own paths for their own reasons...someone else's path may not be right for you even in they think their path is right for everyone. If what you are doing is making you happy then you are doing the right thing!

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