Do you like being an LPN?

LPNer · Mar 9, 2005

HELLO EVERYONE! I'm thrilled to be here. I was accepted into this fall's LPN program at Ivy Tech. I had wanted to do RN, but will wait and do the fast track after I have my LPN license. Can someone (or everyone) please tell me what it is you dislike/like about your job? I mean, are you treated differently at work because you're not an "RN"? How different is your job than an RN? I have my orientation March 23rd to register for classes and clinicals, I can't wait. I was just curious to see what the big difference is. Thanks for the info, Jenny

I live in Ohio, love my job and work at a great hospital.

The big difference between a staff LPN and a staff RN at my hospital is RNs can give IV push meds and LPNs can not (state reg).

Of course I will never be in charge (JCAHO), so if we have an uneven number of pts I will get the extra one, but then, when that happens, I won't get the admission (if we get one) either, the charge nurse will because I already have an extra.

We split post ops, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day post ops as evenly as possible so the work load is pretty even. But that often depends on the surgeons schedules!

rebel_red · Mar 9, 2005

I work subacute and longterm care. 20 subacute residents, 10 long term care. Our staff nurses are great, no one has the attitude that "I am an RN and better than you." They have been immensely supportive of their "newbie" nurse. I absolutely love wound care, assessment and intervention, interacting with residents and families. We take everything, TPN, Vents, Trachs, and direct admits from ICU. I absolutely hate my med pass. It takes a good 3-4 hours. Its the polypharmacy that gets to me, and I have to wonder about the efficacy of the prescribed meds, not to mention if some of my residents are at inappropriate read toxic levels because of their age and their body's inability to metabolize efficiently. And of course I always wish for more time. I also still love direct basic care, which my aides love about me, because I do toilet people, change briefs (heck if I a treating a decub what I am going to leave them in a soiled brief??) and help out with call lights.

My job differs from our RN, in that even though I am a "charge nurse", I cannot be the "house" supervisor. Can't hang IV narcs, eg morphine, though I can monitor them, or hang blood, or push certain meds IV. Our admit assessments must be done by an RN, that is an in house policy, however if we have 9 admits coming in one day, I can do the assessment and have an RN co-sign. I am IV certified so can start IVs for ABT. I can reconstitute full dosage abx, but not partial doses. In our house it is more about paperwork, than practice. We are fortunate that we always have an RN supervisor in house on all shifts to do that which LPN's can't legally do.

Best thing to do is check your state BON for the legal differences in scope of practice between LPN and RN.

Good luck in school and congratulations!!!

Tres

Mandylpn · Mar 12, 2005

I am an LPN, I think the greatest difference is the PAY! :chuckle

montinurse, BSN · Mar 12, 2005

Best thing to do is check your state BON for the legal differences in scope of practice between LPN and RN.
Good luck in school and congratulations!!!
Tres

For the life of me, I can't find that on the Indiana BON site. Am I not looking in the right place? What would it be linked under?? I also want to look up if Indiana hires LPN's for L&D, just can't find it...

Jenny

ICUisLife · Mar 12, 2005

the only differces are, that: a) I can't hang blood (hospital policy, but they say soon to change), b) I can't give ativan and cardiac drugs and D50 IV push (strange, huh? ..since everything else I can give, including things like morphine, dilaudid or haldol...) I can't do the physical part of an admission assessment and I can't adjust a protonix, insulin or morphine dripp... Untill recently I couldn't give IV pushes through a central line, but that changed now.... Really can't think of any other differences... Oh, yeah... the pay :-)

Silvia

eflynnlpn · Mar 12, 2005

HELLO EVERYONE! I'm thrilled to be here. I was accepted into this fall's LPN program at Ivy Tech. I had wanted to do RN, but will wait and do the fast track after I have my LPN license. Can someone (or everyone) please tell me what it is you dislike/like about your job? I mean, are you treated differently at work because you're not an "RN"? How different is your job than an RN? I have my orientation March 23rd to register for classes and clinicals, I can't wait. I was just curious to see what the big difference is. Thanks for the info, Jenny

I absolutely love my job!!! The only difference, I've been told by RN's, Ia they make more money, and they can hang blood, and push Iv meds. Where I work, they don't hire RN's to work. The DON is a RN, but she is always interested in hearing how we, LPN's feel about med changes, dressings etc. I plan on going back to school one day, but right now is not the right time for me. The only reason I would, is difference in pay.

my2bitz · Mar 18, 2005

the difference is not in the title but the knowledge,tact, and professionalism you bring

to your job. once you've completed the program and start practicing you'll learn that

people deal with life and others according to their own understanding.

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!

LPNer · Mar 18, 2005

For the life of me, I can't find that on the Indiana BON site. Am I not looking in the right place? What would it be linked under?? I also want to look up if Indiana hires LPN's for L&D, just can't find it...
Jenny

http://www.state.in.us/hpb/boards/isbn/

mhull · Mar 18, 2005

HELLO EVERYONE! I'm thrilled to be here. I was accepted into this fall's LPN program at Ivy Tech.

Congrats!!!!
I had wanted to do RN, but will wait and do the fast track after I have my LPN license. Can someone (or everyone) please tell me what it is you dislike/like about your job

I also wanted to be an RN. I did LPN first for my own reasons. I am currently in the 2nd semester of 5 in the LPN to RN program. I go one night a week to class and 4 weekends a semester for clinicals. So I don't think 5 semesters is alot. I absolutlely love my job. I am a Staff nurse in a emergency room. There is only a few things I can't do currently (example..triage, charge,etc.) I do trauma, code, peds. IV's etc.
I mean, are you treated differently at work because you're not an "RN"?

I work with a great bunch of people and they all treat me the same. I think I have great skills and a vast amount of knowledge. I am also a hard worker. So no I am not treated any different. Even though I know of instances where people where treated different because of their title (not only LPNs, but CNA, PCT, etc.)
How different is your job than an RN?

OOOps, I have already wrote that, see above.

I have my orientation March 23rd to register for classes and clinicals, I can't wait. I was just curious to see what the big difference is. Thanks for the info, Jenny

Best of luck. I wouldn't change anything. I continue to learn everyday day in school and work. You will love it.
Michelle, LPN
future RN

NurseGreenEyes RN · Mar 19, 2005

Hey all LVN's and LPN's.

I do and I don't love being an LVN. At the beginning when I first started, I loved it.:heartbeat

Now that I have 6 years of experience, I'm started to hate it at times! :banghead: Why?

Well, dam...........we do practically the same things RN do. On somethings. We can assess and pass meds.

The only thing that holds me up when taking care of my pt's is when my pt needs IV pain med or IVPB. And I have to wait for that. If I were an RN (which pretty soon I'll be!!) I would give it on demand!

The one thing I love is, depending what floor I'm floated to, I don't have to admit patients! :yeah: HA-HA! I can have a 5 pt load on Med/Surg post op and have a fantastic day. My patients are well, and pain free. There happy, I'm happy. So nothing to do and I sit nearby reading my Nursing book. :doh: While the RN is running up and down admitting.!!!

AHhhh, so nice to be an LVN for now!!!! Pretty soon, I'll be in that position!

But it's ok for now!! :smokin:

I will enjoy it as much as I can!

ICUisLife · Mar 19, 2005

Hey all LVN's and LPN's.
I do and I don't love being an LVN. At the beginning when I first started, I loved it.:heartbeat

Wow! I dont know wich state you live in, but I'm a hospital nurse in WA and I never have days when I am not running my a$$ off. And I wouldn't want to either. Reading a book on the job?? Out of question. Here I can give IV pain meds and of course hang IVPB. You can"t even do THAT??? Gosh I'm so glad I'm in WA! Oh yeah, and I admit patients all the time (except I have to ask the resource RN to do the first physical assessment.) ...And when I happen to have a slow day, there are plenty of colleagues that can use my help.... :cool: