Does this bother anyone else?!?!?!?!! GRRRR!!!!

desireepeach · Sep 1, 2011

i havent started my LVN program, but my grandma tells me this ALL THE TIME. or shes always asking me " are you almost done with school yet? "how much longer? im like UGHHHHH LADY!!!!!! i know she doesnt really know anything about it but it just irritates me lol

Lifeofanurse · Sep 18, 2011

I had a heart to heart conversation w/ one of my instructors about my educational plans last semester (just before I graduated LVN school). Her advice was "don't stop here. your going to be doing the same work for less pay". and that's just the bottom line truth. I chose to go the LVN and then bridge to RN because I'm 41. I don't have time on my side and I'm balancing school, my family and work all at the same time. I try not to take comments like that personally. I don't really care what they think I should do...I know what I need to do and what is best for me and my family.... try not to let it get to you.

suanna · Sep 18, 2011

I'm going to offend you and I'm sure I'm going to get "flamed" for this but I think you are just hearing a reaction that ANYONE would go into LPN nursing in todays market. I don't know any hospital in my area that still hires LPN/LVN nurses for acute care- most won't even hire an ADN RN. New grad RNs are having a hard time finding work and are taking LTC positions that used to be where the LPNs found much of thier employment. The concept of LPN care model may be becoming obsolete. The original influx of persons into this position (as I'm sure you know) was during a critical shortage of bedside caregivers in WWI. Again in WWII the shortage caused a bloom in the numbers of LPNs. We are looking at a time when RN nursing as a licenced, science educated career was just starting to be accepted. The skills and education required to provide bedside care were largely interchangable 40 years ago. That isn't the case today. Even LTC centers have patients that sicker than the acute care patients were when the concept of LPN was developed. I just can't think of a reason any thinking person would waste 1-2 years on an LPN licence if the chances of ever working with that licence are getting to be slim to none and the job security is that of a VCR repairman. Think of it this way - your mother is in the hospital with sepsis, pneumonia, and CHF. Although stable, she is still on O2, IV antibiotics, and has periods of arrythmias. If two nurses with equal experience and committment to quality patient care were on the floor- would you want your mother to have the good LPN or the good RN managing her care. Who gets the LPN as thier care giver in todays market? I've met many caring, professional, smart, skilled LPNs in my practice but what they are licenced to do, and educated to assess is just too limited in most acute care and semi-acute care settings. As far as home care- LPNs are expensive compaired to NA/HHAs and the qualifications to receive reimbursment from insurers involve RN level intervention. I guess it feels like you told someone you have decided to take some training in shorthand and key-punch entry because you enjoy business and hope to go back some day for your MBA.

I am sorry if I offend the LPNs out there, but I feel you were duped into a unmarketable position if you paid for your education in the last 5 years. The opportunities are getting fewer and fewer and the cost of education is stil pretty high.

alex89 · Sep 18, 2011

Congrats on graduating, but if little things like that annoy you then I don't want to imagine what else does :chair:

DreamyEyes · Sep 18, 2011

I'm also an LPN student and I hear this all the time. I do plan on eventually going for my RN, just not immediately after.

Although annoying, I can understand why people's first reaction is to ask "Why not just go for your RN?" because most people assume that all nursing students want to work in a hospital.

For me, however, I have zero desire to ever work in a hospital. The only areas I'm interested in working are geriatrics, psych, home health, and outpatient clinics which is where LPN's are frequently hired.

mzrainydayz, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2011

I don't know why people do that. If you tell them you are in the LPN program they always say why didn't you do the RN program. If you are in the RN program they say why didn't you go for your BSN. Thats like NP's people always say why didn't you go to be a DR. My theory is that people are always going to talk and compare what you are doing at the moment, instead of that's great or awesome, or proud of you. Yes that bothers me too but whatever to the haters.