Does anyone else feel pressure to get your RN?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I enjoy being an LPN. I work in LTC and just love my residents, but so many people ask me when am I getting my RN. I don't know if I really want to get my RN it just seems like alot more paper work and I have plenty now. So should I just suck it up and get my RN or work as an LPN and enjoy what I do.

I made plenty of money as a LPN a couple of years ago. However, money.is not everything. I am limited to a small area when it comes to getting promoted or specialty areas. I have also heard things like. Are you a real nurse or a LPN? Or, what are you going to do when you become a real nurse. I must admit, I definitely had to bite my tongue. My point is this, I have 1 more semester to go then I will graduate ( LORDS WILL) and I am completing this for me. Not for pressure. If you do not want to go for your RN at this time then continue on being the best NURSE. You can be.

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Never pressure but my own decision as to whether to continue my education in nursing.

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Specializes in NICU.

I found that the whole RN vs RPN thing was all in my head. I thought that everyone would look down on me and that I would be "lesser" but it really isn't like that. All my clinicals so far both RNs and RPNs have worked together as a team with not one word about "who is who." here in Ontario RPNs have a very large scope and there isnt much we can't do...I just want to get my BSCN because I love critical care and thats where I want to work. But all of the negativity was just in my head!

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I found that the whole RN vs RPN thing was all in my head. I thought that everyone would look down on me and that I would be "lesser" but it really isn't like that. All my clinicals so far both RNs and RPNs have worked together as a team with not one word about "who is who." here in Ontario RPNs have a very large scope and there isnt much we can't do...I just want to get my BSCN because I love critical care and thats where I want to work. But all of the negativity was just in my head!

This is a legitimate question, why didn't you just go straight into a degree programme then?

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Specializes in NICU.

This is a legitimate question, why didn't you just go straight into a degree programme then?

Because I didn't get into the program. I also wanted to get my foot into the door of nursing and didn't realize until i was half way through the program that I'm really interested in critical care.

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Specializes in Step-Down.

I've been an LPN for 2 1/2years and recently recieved my RN licesne ASN. I was not "pressured" to persue my RN but instead constantly bombarded by "when you getting your RN", "what's an LPN","So your in school right" all the time this was said to me. Now that I'm an RN everyone I know is like; "when are you getting your BSN?" "You know you need your BSN" BLAH BLAH BLAH!! When will it end lol!!

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I've been an LPN for 2 1/2years and recently recieved my RN licesne ASN. I was not "pressured" to persue my RN but instead constantly bombarded by "when you getting your RN", "what's an LPN","So your in school right" all the time this was said to me. Now that I'm an RN everyone I know is like; "when are you getting your BSN?" "You know you need your BSN" BLAH BLAH BLAH!! When will it end lol!!

I don't know, it seems like RN BSN is the mark everyone wants us to strive for. However, for many in my class the goal seemed to be CRNA or NP.

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I definitely can relate to feeling the pressure to get my RN. I am a military spouse and have been stationed in an area where there are not many options for college. I really wanted to get my RN but with the waiting list in my area it would have been impossible. I ended up getting my LPN as a start. My husband's family act like I am a CNA. I'm proud of what I have accomplished and think all LPNs should be as well. Life happens. I know someday I will be able to follow my dream of becoming an RN. If being an LPN makes you happy and fulfilled then stay an LPN. If not, the sky is the limit!!

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Yes, but honestly I shouldn't feel that pressure yet because I am still in LPN school. Everyone is constantly talking about how they won't be an LPN long and are already making plans for their ASN and finding bridge programs etc. I feel all this pressure like even inexperienced students somehow look down on being an LPN. I know a lot of LPNs who love their job, one of whom is even DON of a facility now. She loved being an LPN and worked her way up there. So, on one hand, I feel pressure from family and classmates to be already planning on getting an RN, while another part of me says "hey, relax, maybe you will be really happy as an LPN and not desire anymore school" (I have 2 graduate degrees in *very* different fields), so nursing is new to me, and I want to give being an LPN a fair shake before I invest more time, energy and money in school.

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I'm not even half-way through school and I'm pressured by parents to go further. So much negativity out of my mom towards LPNs and I'm not even sure she can explain what's different beyond the length of their programs.

But still I plan to go back to school after 2-4 years of working (pre-reqs expire in 10). If I come to prefer the LPN role I'll stick with it regardless of what anyone else wants. It is my life and I'll live it however I wish. :rolleyes:

OMG! I feel this way exactly. No one in my family even knows the difference between being an LPN and an RN, yet somehow the pressure is already on to be making immediate plans for an ASN or BSN.

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