I am (or I should say was) excited because on June 17th I got the call I had been waiting for....I got into the LPN program at Charity School of Nursing in New Orleans!
My happiness what short lived because as news starting spreading, I began to get these awful vibes from people. Here are some of the things that have been said to me:
1. LPN is actually a "nursing" program?
2. Please tell me you are planning on moving on the RN program
3. Why would you go the route where there is no money?
4. Why would you do such a dumb thing?
5. Oh, thats nice.......
6. You will Ace everything in the LPN program because it is such a "huge" drop from the RN program...way too easy.
7. You might as well just go for your CNA certificate....less expensive and you will do the same thing.
8. Do you know how little they make an hour?
9. Are you going into the LPN program because you couldn't get into the RN program?
10. So you are going to become a Little Pretend Nurse......
11. That's stupid
Okay, so from the things you have just read, you can see that I am so disappointed and upset. I can't believe why everyone feels that LPN's are not nurses. To so many people, RN rule the nursing community.
How could people say such things?!!!
When I tell people that I am going to be an LPN, you can see their enthusiasm just drop to the floor.
when I got my first paycheck as a LPN let me just say that becoming a LPN was not a waste of time at all. I had never seen a paycheck that was over a $1000 dollars after taxes......The nurse practioner I work for told me when i would say i am just an LPN she would fuss and tell me no sweetie u a nurse and a great one at that and don't you forget it........Go to school and enjoy the time and study hard.......It' not a cake walk....but you will get through it.....Congrats...sweetie
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Im glad you started this thread because I just applied to the LPN program yesterday.
Is it okay for me to say I applied to the "nursing" program. Or is that deceptive?
Because everyone assumes the RN program. I have been telling everybody the LPN
program and it is a bit underwhelming. I have worked so hard to get here, I should be
proud. Instead Im feeling like an underachiever. Even the people I know who dont
make the RN program dont want anything to do with the LPN program. I figure that if
I can finish knocking out the pre-reqs for the transitional program after Im done with
the LPN and have a job.
Both, RNs and LPNs are licensed nurses, so, it is NOT deceptive to say that you will be, are, or have attended nursing school. And, I'd be curious to know of those that did not make the cut in an RN program failed the LPN program as well, and didn't say anything. Each person deals with these sorts of feelings in their own way, but the only way you will continue to be treated like an underachiever is if you allow them to. There is no reason to apologize for your career choices. And, whether you believe it or not, many physicians, nurse practitioners and RNs may feel the same way, but you may not see it, either.
The nurse practitioners in my facility are treated like crap because they take a bulk of the weight of the attendings. In my clinic, they dump most of the patients on them, and because the physician is, in fact, in charge of the midlevels (meaning nurse practitioners, physician assistants, interns and residents), they have to take it-just like we do. Interns get yelled at...believe me, no one is missed.
What I keep in my head is that I was trained and had to take an NCLEX exam for a reason, I was hired for a reason. It doesn't matter what they think, really. I do admit that when someone says something that is particularly callous, I call them on it quick and keep it moving. If you conduct yourself efficiently, it will be noticed by someone. You never know who you will get acknowledgement from.
I know that I am late to this conversation. I am applying to LPN school as well. My LNA instructor(who was an LPN for years and is now an RN) said it best: While others are waiting years(and,yes, I have seen many qualified candidates wait years to get into an RN program) to become an RN, you can wait while being classified as a NURSE..which is what an LPN is!
tell them I can't wait to go to school to be an LPN!! hey the cup is half FULL ....not half empty, I make 25 $ an hour, I get FREE awesome insurance, I get awesome bennifits, I have a great retirement plan, I love me job, ...and a lot of "4 year degreers" can't say that. follow your heart, and don't look back!! I invested ( in 88) around 5 grand, and have been paid back a millions time for that one year of school. tell them that!!-- and good luck!!
Well I have started the LPN program! Started last week an so far so good. For the first 8 weeks I will be going only Mondays (8:30-4pm) and Fridays (8:30-12pm). After that its Mon, Wed, and Friday till 4pm. Then it will be Monday thru Friday till 4pm.
I am glad this first semester will be easy to let us adjust to the program and nursing school!
I have noticed that there are a lot of my classmates who all they talk about is moving on to the RN program once they finish the LPN program. They are not even thinking about being an LPN....just focusing on the RN program. Seems like they don't even want to be there.
I work as a PCA on Satruday nights at a local hospital and I take my notes and/or book to study when my patients are asleep (work 7pm-7am). One of the nurses (who graduated 1 year ago from RN) asked me why I decided to go into the LPN program. She didn't even let me respond when she said that RN's made around $10 and hour more than I would make. She said that "RN's are overpaid drug pushers". She ended her uninvited conversation with "But you do what you have to do"
I was surprised at how her attitude changed when she found out I was going for LPN and not RN.
I have to admit at first I felt crushed about every comment people were throwing my way but now im starting to just let them slide off.
I enjoy helping patients as a PCA...I can't imagine how much more rewarding it will feel once I can call myself a "NURSE"!
I'm excited and can't wait till next year in December when I graduate!
Good for you!! LPN program is still a valuable program, I have heard for over 20 years now "the LPN program will become obsolete" So far, that has not happened. I only wanted to be an LPN, due to the fact that i went back to school at age 35. Happy with my choice. Best of luck to you, and good luck with your future classes!!
Nothing wrong with LPN! I've been one for 6 years. I will be done with RN after this semester (yay!) but I waited a few years to go back to school. I liked being an LPN, at my LTC facility we do almost all of the bedside nursing, while the RNs do a lot of supervising and paperwork.
I did have a lot of people who would say "Oh congratulations on getting licensed! Now when are you starting RN school?" Don't let it get you down. I found either they are jealous, or want you to "do better" but they don't really know much about healthcare. Congrats and good luck!!
Specializes in drug seekers and the incurably insane..
To Crushed Future LPN: tell the nay-sayers to go to Hades!! When I was going through my LPN program a few years ago I had
others say the same to me. I noticed that the ones who said that hadn't accomplished much of anything in their lives and perhaps want to make you feel bad for taking a step in the right direction. My own MIL doesn't consider me a real nurse because I don't work at the local hospital, but she'd crap a brick if she saw my nursing home paychecks. I make more than double what she makes.....she works at some kind of clothing factory!!! An LPN is a great way to learn how to take care of patients, critically think, dealing with other care providers, and the pay isn't too bad compared to stocking shelves, taking hamburger orders, cashiering, etc.. Don't let others get you down. Good luck
I got the same reaction. I was taken my psyhical for school, and the doctor was like "oh u going for nursing? RN?" I said no LVN, she was like "you should have done RN. Why are u doing LVN? I hope u go back. I got my BSN too, but I wasnt satisfied so I became a doctor, but Im still not satisfied" Ok so by this time I was like she has her own issues. I asked her whats the problem now? "She said I perfer nursing cause u do your 8 hours and ur done, but when u a doctor u see patients from 8-5, then u have to check labs, voicemails and other do paperwork on your free time. I get no break" She was really mad
I had a friend tell me as a Medical Assistant I get 17.88 a hour and why would I waste time and money to become a LVN and get a dollar raise??
I believe this is best for me. I am independent and I support myself on a MA salary. I am going for LVN Nnow, and I am PROUD of that. I have so many directions I want into being a LVN. One main reason is I want to work in a Jail or Prison. Mainly Vaca Valley Prison. I also want LTC expeience because I plan to open a Board in Care, but I want to do do one like its never been done before.
I also want to become a RN later and go for my NP. I have goals. I want to open my own Clinic. I am happy with my decision despite whatever anybody has to say. Its my life
yeah, I got the whole "dont RNs make more?" thing as a response to my applying to LPN school . (just had this conversation this morning) My husband is very underwhelmed. I have worked so hard to get here with no help from him and I offered that I could do the RN if I got the financial support I needed, hint, hint.
Ill just keep plugging ahead doing my own thing, I have to admit I feel a bit hurt that I have gotten no acknowlegment for my 4.0 or trying to get a career after being a sahm for 19 years, but Im not going to get all depressed and let it wreck me.
MMMMMHHH, my LVN license has bought me a truck and a house. I like being an LVn. In LTC, Alz/Dem you will be a charge nurse who will write orders (and I mean literally most of the time you are calling MD and YOU tell him what you need) You do a lot more of hands on (and therefore actually know your pt) and you will pretty much do the same as an RN. The RN is held accountable for what you do. Lvn's will usually get offered overtime at a LTC over an RN. You also have so many different areas you can specialize in. As for little pretend nurse, PFFFT! We work just as hard and usually know just as much as an RN. Bet them people saying those things don't have anything after their name.
Nurse Fee Fee
39 Posts
when I got my first paycheck as a LPN let me just say that becoming a LPN was not a waste of time at all. I had never seen a paycheck that was over a $1000 dollars after taxes......The nurse practioner I work for told me when i would say i am just an LPN she would fuss and tell me no sweetie u a nurse and a great one at that and don't you forget it........Go to school and enjoy the time and study hard.......It' not a cake walk....but you will get through it.....Congrats...sweetie