Having Trouble telling people I'm an LPN

Nurses General Nursing

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so i'm an lpn. when people ask me what i do, i say i'm a nurse to avoid having to give a long explanation! then they ask me what i'm going to school for and i say nursing, so they're like huh??:confused: so then i really have to explain what i do, i try my hardest to but people still dont understand what lpn's are :smackingf. most people have a notion that lpn's: dont give meds, are not ''certified'', cant give injections, the list goes on. and then people really dont think i'm a real nurse because of 1)my age, then 2)the fact that i became a nurse through my hs. my question is how can i explain to people what lpn's are while showing them that yes, we are ''real'' nurses!!???:uhoh3:

Specializes in LTC/hospital, home health (VNA).

I've been an LPN since 1999 and recently a RN. I can tell you that ...1. I couldn't function as an RN without LPNs to help me out 2. The foundations of nursing are the same no matter what your "title" as a nurse 3. I knew more and was better prepared as an LPN than many of the BSNs that I know. Always remember that you are a nurse and that more education will just enhance what you already do! Good luck!

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I was an LPN for 23 years. In the beginning of my career there was a huge difference between LPN's and RN's. We really were more like glorified CNA's. We were not allowed to touch an IV. LPN's have really come a long way. I've been an RN for 9 years now and see very little difference except that RN's have far more opportunities available to them.

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I'm glad I came across this thread because I have these same exact problems, especially when I was in nursing school at 16. (Whole life story time lol) I left highschool at the age of 16 because I felt It was a waste of time I wasn't being challenged and the courses wern't the least bit stimulating. At that point I was unsure of what exactly I wanted to do and with no highschool diploma there wasnt much I could no anyway. I recieved my GED about 3 months after leaving highschool. When considering career options I did some research on well paying jobs and cross referenced them that with some of my interests. Nursing seemed to be a sure winner, so I began LPN school in April of 07' my original graduation date was Mar 08' but because of serious internal staff changes at the private college I attend I missed out on an entire quarter of school which set my graduation date to Aug 08'. I was devastated at first because I was looking forward to registering for my NCLEX the day I turned 18 in April, but now I would have to wait even longer than what already seemed like a forever and then some goal. During the quarter there was no school I decided to take courses to become a real estate agent which I also can't test out for until April of this year, but real estate has always been an interest of mine, but it just was more like a cushion to not feel like the time I was out of school was wasted time. When I finish in Aug I plan to going right back and attending the school's LPN-ADN bridge program Jan 09' right away before they change the requirements to 1yr experience as an LPN effective for all students accepted after Jan 09'. My ultimate goal is to become a CRNA and with the mind set of success and the daughter(15months) I have to take care of I know the goal is within reach.

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Why go through all of this?

"I'm an LPN. I'm going to school to become an RN."

Well put.Are you ashamed of being a LPN?While most people don't know what LPN's do, they will recognize the name.Do RN's have to explain what they do?? They simply say "im a RN."
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GT sometimes you just have to stop explaining things to thick headed people Lol.

The average 19 year old is going to school and maybe making a few bucks doing a PT job somewhere.

You are an LPN in NYC and we have the potential to make a very decent living in this part of the country. People are raising families off of LPN money and you at only 19 with no baggage are probably doing very well for yourself.

So tell your friends, loved ones, and other nosy people who don't get it after the first explanation:

"I'm an LPN, A NURSE, I make good money and that's more than the average 19 year old can say."

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Specializes in Addiction & Recovery, Community Health.

Hey Falon, You're good!!!

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Specializes in ER.

None of this will be a problem anymore once you become an RN.

Oh if only that were true:lol2:. I am working on my RN-to-BSN, but I still get "so when will you been done with your nursing degree?" They seem so confused when I explain that I am an RN now! It is even more confusing to them that my job description will not change once I obtain my BSN.

I should point out that I have NEVER had another nurse ask me if I was going to get my BSN after finishing my ADN.

It is irritating when you feel like others may be challenging your education and hard work, but I always try to picture them trying to do the same thing, and it just makes me laugh!

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I agree with the replie to just say, I'm an LPN going for my RN". Enough said. Even when you're an RN (which I am) people will still not get what you do. Yep, I've had many people think all nurses just give meds and "wipe butts". You'll always have that pt that thinks doctor is the only one they should be concerned with. Its okay to explain your education but don't feel you have to justify it.

:nurse:

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.
gt sometimes you just have to stop explaining things to thick headed people lol.

the average 19 year old is going to school and maybe making a few bucks doing a pt job somewhere.

you are an lpn in nyc and we have the potential to make a very decent living in this part of the country. people are raising families off of lpn money and you at only 19 with no baggage are probably doing very well for yourself.

so tell your friends, loved ones, and other nosy people who don't get it after the first explanation:

"i'm an lpn, a nurse, i make good money and that's more than the average 19 year old can say."

thanks, falon!! this may be alittle cocky of me to say:icon_roll but thanks anyway, i'll give it a try!:up:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I agree. Don't work about what others think. Correct misconceptions if you feel you must. And it will be years before the age thing gets better. I recently had a patient refuse to have me as a nurse becuase a 12 yr old could in no way be a good nurse. Patients ask me all the time if I am really old enough to be a nurse.

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Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.

I had a gentleman in a 4 bed ward one night who used all of those same questions on me and then wanted to know if I was nurse, where my cap was? I told him to watch me throughout the evening (3-11) and then let me know at the end of the shift if he thought that I was a nurse or not. He was convinced, and said that until he watched me work he didn't know that an LPN "could be a real nurse." That was on a cardiac/ICU stepdown unit in 1984.

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I was an LPN for many years, and now am an RN.

When people asked me my job, I said I was a nurse. When they asked me what I was going to school for, I'd say I was advancing my nursing degree. If they wanted specifics, I'd tell them, but some people just get lost in the LPN-ADN-RN-BSN-etc shuffle.

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