Does this happen to you, too?

[granolatrees]

Anytime I tell someone I'm going for the LPN, their instant reaction is: WHY?!?!::snaggletooth:: THERE BE NO JOBS!!!-(!!!

I've honestly lost my patience to deal with this.

Because I want to. That's why.

I half-snapped on a classmate last week because of this conversation.

Later we talked about it, where I spent 10 minutes explaining my career path trajectory and she realized LPN made perfect sense.

But I don't always have 10 minutes (or the desire) to explain it to people.

And honestly, RN positions aren't all that more numerous than LPN anymore, at least around here. The market is pretty saturated.

There's too much hype revolving around decreasing number of LPN jobs... Especially by the schools pushing their BSN programs...

[Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN]

Usually, the people that says negative things about LPNS arent nurses themselves and or, dont know the opportunities they have. To be honest, depending where you work, an rn doesnt make much more than an lpn and make the same at some places. Lpns are nurses, can still make a decent living, bridge over to rn programs, and I even know some lpns that put rns to shame.

Everyone cant go straight for rn/bsn due to prereqs, time, some people got declined to programs and took the lpn route, etc. Dont pay people any mind :) and good luck

[BiohazardBetty]

The hospital I work at is phasing out LPNs very quickly, but that doesn't mean your area is doing the same... I'm an RN and I could tell you next to nothing about what an LPN does or their job security in other settings. Please don't feel obligated to defend yourself & your career choices to anyone!! When I was in nursing school I had tons of ppl (never nurses) say that, for whatever reason, I'd be silly to not try to pursue NP or nurse anesthetist & they were appalled when I said I just had no desire to go down those paths, so don't feel like it's just you being forced to deal with this. Our society is kind if inclined to offer our opinions on every little thing, no matter how little/much authority we have on the matter, so you will constantly be having this conversation. By their logic, we should all skip nursing & go straight to med school! I started saying things along the lines of "I'm really satisfied with what I've chosen to do." If they wouldn't give up I would sometimes make a reference to their job (petty & mean, I know) & say something like "kind of like how you chose to be a secretary/clerk/lawyer & not the boss/manager/judge- we choose the position that suits us best." Although I'd feel bad after I said it, it usually ended the conversation.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I was a LPN before becoming a RN. I was able to work in Rehab, Pediatric Home Health, Clinics, LTC. As a LPN you can work in Wound care in addition of the other examples I worked in, as well as chart reviews for insurance companies, Nurse assistant instructor, etc. LPNs continue to have a variety of settings as much as a RN.

The only reason why I had focused on returning to school is I could be certified in the specialties I worked in, and I wanted to be. Otherwise, if I could've been able to be certified, I most likely would've stayed an LPN...for a while longer, lol. I still had my own plan, which worked out for me.

OP, you are doing what's best for you. I still believe the nursing profession has much flexibility and opportunity that you will succeed in your decision. I have, and if anything, it has made me a better nurse. Good Luck!