Question for LPNs/LVNs

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I have a question for the LPNs out there:

As an RN, I have a hard time understanding why someone would become an LPN. Don't get me wrong, you're a valuable member of the team! But I'm curious as to why you chose practical nursing as opposed to professional. Why go into a branch of nursing that holds less authority, resposibility, and receives less pay?

Please enlighten me!

:( hey guys, i did not mean to generalize RNs..as a matter of fact I said that it did not pertain to all RNs, but where I live it is the case for the most part....we all work as a team no matter what and that is whats important!

Behind every good RN there is a good LPN and behind both is a GREAT CNA because they are our eyes and ears alot of times...especially in LTC.:)

This may be just my ignorance as a student talking but.....

Shanners, if your school states they have a 100% pass rate for the NCLEX I have to say that your dropout rate must also be very high.

That is a great rate, but i wouldnt want the extra stress of wondering if I was going to be the one person to destroy that record.:) I have enough stress wondering if i am going to get an A on my next test. Speaking of which, gotta go study.

Traci:D

Well now, someone in this world has to be satisfied and contented with their station in life.Enter this L.P.N. I don't plan to debate the issue of L.P.N.vs. R.N. because it is rediculous. AS you said we are a valuable part of the team. It is rewarding to me and that is all that is necessary. I completed half the courses for R.N. until i realized i was not doing it for myself, but because people kept harrasing me about it. Frankly, in some instances the only difference i see in nurses is a couple bucks, mind you i said in some instances. Too much headache for a few bucks. Having said this, I went for L.P.N. because I WANTED TO.!!!!!!!!!!! VISIT MY WEBSITE

I think what it comes down to ( here i go thinking again, scary huh ) is that we all have different reason's for going into whatever level we happen to be in.. and i think from what i have read that we have a lot of great nurses that care a great deal not only for thier patients/residents, but also about improving themselves in the area's they have chose to work in and improving that area for those about to enter into it. Cap's off to all of ya!!:)

As a married mother of 2 elementary scool kids, I went back to school and got an A.A. in general education, but what to do with it, in 1982? For electives, I took Business classes and Science (including Micro and A&P) classes. I wanted to be a nurse, but had been out of school for a long time, and wasn't sure I could cut the science stuff. My grades were very good, so I applied for, and was accepted into the LPN program. The reason was my kids. If working the schedules required for nursing didn't work with my kids, I would've only invested a year of my time, instead of 2 years. I have never regretted it. My instructors were superb, and I got the best clinical preparation you can imagine. My first job was on a telemetry/ICU stepdown unit, and I loved it. 4 years later I graduated from a bridge program as an ADN. I feel that I received a much more "well-rounded" education because of having had the LPN first.:)

nur 20 --- couldn't have said it better myself. i love what i do and am happy to stay an L.P.N.

Hi everyone....

I am and have been an LPN for about 2 years... I personally love it... I'd take it over RN any day of the week...

When I started school, I didnt have much choice of RN/LPN, as the program that I was enrolled in was only LPN. My nursing classes started when I was very young, just the basic fundimentals and anatomy classes for a year.... then, to fully enter the program, a test was taken.... It was harder than my SAT's (which at that point I had not taken yet) when I found that I passed I felt it was a miracle.... when I found that I passed well.... well gee, I would have to say that I was amazed....And then the real schooling began.... clinicals 5days/week q other week... that non clinical week was the nursing classes... (basically, it was run like a pseudo co-op program, without payment) for 3 years....

And then..... graduation from high school.... woo hoo, I thought... then another 2 1/2months of school for nursing... then was the pinning.... on a sweltering august afternoon... I was so proud.... I had done something 'adult' and made something of myself....

I took my boards 2 weeks later, and passed...

Next, I got a job.... took a few months, but, I got one in LTC... some autonomy at that time... worked under an RN on a very heavy floor passing meds and doing treatments.... not too shabby... 2 months later, I got promoted to charge of the psych unit downstairs... loved every minute of it... enough autonomy to get what had to be done accomplished without someone staring over my shoulder every 2 minutes.... 6 months later, I accepted a position on the Rehab unit in the hospital here... I really enjoy this now... I dont work below the other staff RN's... I work alongside them... we all work under a manager or asst manager....

I feel, although I am a 'technical' worker, because I worked my backside off for years, and recieved training just like many of the RN's, and hold some certifications, and do many of the same work as the RN's, perhaps, I shall continue to assist the aide assigned to me, instead of assuming all her duties, plus my own, and forcing her/him out of her job...

So, in conclusion,

I am an LPN... its not a glamour job.... but, it is mine... and I love every minute that I am doing what I am doing.... why? because, I earned it... And I do a damned good job of what I do.

--Barbara

As always, this is a heated topic, and it is easy to step on others toes.

I do hear "your smart enough, why didnt you go to medschool?" Honestly, I think about it. I know atleast 8 doctors that are also RNs. They are fantastic because they can see the patient from both aspects. I really look up to them, and who knows... I might end up in med school some day :)

I have a professor (who is getting his PhD in nursing) who doesnt even recognize LPNs are nurses. I dont feel this way, and have lost respect for him since he stated that LPNs should be classified as Advanced Nurses Aids.

Personally, and just in my own dream world, I would love to see the minimum requirements for becoming an RN to be a bachelors degree in nursing. I think that it would add a much more professional outlook to Nursing if every single new nurse had a 4-year college degree. I also believe that it would make registered nurses a much more cohesive group. No ADN vs BSN arguments, no who is better than who. Everyone would be accepted as equal. Not everyone agrees with this, and I realize that. But IMHO it just seems logical. As for RNs who dont have a BSN, we cant and shouldnt take it away from them. They should continue to practice, receive financial assistance if they choose to go for the BSN, but not be chastised for choosing to stay where they are. But, like I said, in my dream world every new nurse would have a BSN. Having a 4-year degree would make it impossible for anyone to say that we dont qualify as professionals. No matter what we have going on in our lives, we all sacrifice to achieve our goals. Rather we are 18 years old, or on the older side when we start, rather we are married, or not, kids, no kids, we all sacrifice. I didnt have any assistance from my parents in financing my education. Not because they didnt want to, its just that they couldnt. 36,000 dollars in debt now, I will be spending the next 10 years of my life paying 543 dollars a month to repay my staffords. I thank God that I qualified for them, otherwise I am not sure where I would be today.

Everyone has a place in nursing. I dont expect my "dream world" to ever become a reality. It would be rather naive to assume that this will ever happen. I would like to see nursing in general, and at all levels change. I do not think that LPNs are utilized to their full potential, nor do I think that RNs are utilized as well as they might be. I would like to see one level of education for LPNs, one level for RNs. LPNs do 2 years, RNs do 4 years. It may not ever happen, and probably wont, but that doesnt mean that I can't still hope.

I love hearing than an LPN has gone on to the RN. I am even happier when they have gone BSN, because I see it as being a little closer to my "dream world". But regardless, everyone who can touch the life of a patient has value. No matter what level, and anyone who has knowledge that they can share with me, to make me better at what I do has my respect. Can I still hope for my "dream world"? YOU BET! We all can, regardless of what our own dream worlds would be. I cant change the way things are, and I cant change how others treat non-BSN RNs or LPNs, but I can affect how "I" react. It hurts me to know that some out there have such a closed mind, and cant see past the end of their own noses. I can't change them, but I can pity them... as all they accomplish is painting themselves into a corner. Its a lonely world if we cant accept diversity. All levels have value.

BrandyBSN

hey all

I became an LPN because...

I was a Sr; a double major in bio/psyc, minors in chem/art therapy, well on my way to being a pediatric shrink. We had a project to seek out and question people working in the area we wanted to specialize in. I talked with the 3 art therapists I could find in the midwest. Two out ofr the three focused mainly on the high $$$ they pulled down, the other spoke of her role and effect. I had a huge melt down (at this time in my life $$=evil, I was way grunge/alternative) I QUIT:eek: school and started waiting tables due to the guilt of almost being an evil money hound, taking advantage of persons with an illness by charging over $180 a session to help them. My Mom pushed me to be a nurse, she and my aunt are OB nurses(ret). I thought it would be perfect, get to help people:) and not have all that evil money for diong it. I became a CNA to test the waters and loved it. Then got my LPN, again loved it. I planned to go on but never got to it. Then I ran into the nurse ego wars (LPN-vs-ADN-vs-BSN). I was a "undereducated, glorified CNA that had no business calling myself a nurse" This from a nurse I was training, a BSN, who could not maintain a sterile field to save her life, take a T.O. with all the order on it or manage to mix insulin correctly. This really Pissed me off, and I went back to school.

Until nurses recognize themselves and each other as nurses, and not fighting over which role is better or more important can we really get down to the main reason most of us are nurses, to provide physical, mental and emotional care to others in need.

Does it really matter what my initials are to do this? Is it really more important to plan the care, or to provide it?:confused:

In my opinion no role is more important than the other, just different. Each role geared to a different nursing function. Think about it. How many BSNs would like to spend four years getting a degree to perform direct care 8hrs a day, no planning, no meds just ADLs? How many LPNs would feel comfortable after 12 months of education administering blood or directing the care of medically fragile ICU patients?

I am getting my RN because I want more responsibility, and a larger scope. I, myself, not for any other reason feel I need to expand, to coninue to grow as a nurse. The egos I run into along the way are just catalysts.

I urge all nursing staff in my facility to think about the other roles before they open thier mouth to poopoo some one in it. To think about with thier education if they want to trade places and perform those job duties daily. I have had no takers yet, either "up" or "down" the CNA, LPN, ADN, BSN nursing ladder.

I guess i kinda ran off the mouth with this one, sorry.

I'll shut up now. I am really not usually this jaded

:rolleyes:

peter

The reason why I became an LPN.........first of all..... as so many of you have reiterrated.........there are alot of addition classes that I felt @ the time that I didn't need....also I wanted the experience to determine if this (nursing) was the correct path for me. However, now that I have worked in this field for 4+ years, I've worked in different facilities:LTC, Mental Health, currently an Urgent Care Clinic, I have desire to persue my RN, not only for monitary purposes, but to increase my scope of practice......there are so may things that I would like to do and also so learn how to do, for me obtaining my RN is the next logical step. Having my LPN licensure has allowed me to arrive at this conclusion. I believe this will make me a more well rounded RN.

On another note.... I agree with the previous post by lpnandloveit1 states, "When the BB gets quiet topics like these ALWAYS gets people rawled up. :)

OH HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE ON YOUR HANDS!!!!!!!!!!! THE DEAD HORSE IS BEING KICKED AGAIN :( THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY? PROBABLY ALOT OF THE SAME REASONS WHY SOME RNS HAVENT CONT FOR THEIR MASTERS OR DR.

I MYSELF AM BACK IN SCHOOL FOR MY BSN. BUT I WILL REMEMBER WHERE MY ROOTS CAME FROM. I AM NOT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO BE AN ( RN) . WHERE I WORK I AM TREATED NO DIFF. IN THE ER. I DO EVERYTHING THE RNS DO EXCEPT HANG BLOOD. SO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY ??WHY?? I WANT A VOICE IN MY PROFESION!!! PLAIN AND SIMPLE.. NOTHING ELSE WILL CHANGE FOR ME.. I WORK ER THATS WHERE I WANT TO BE, EVERYONE IS GREAT TO ME AND I HAVE ALL THE SKILLS AS AN RN ANYWAY... IT DOESNT TAKE A BRAIN SURGEON YA KNOW!!!! :( OH YA THE MONEY WONT BE BAD EITHER. MY REASONS WONT MAKE ME A BAD RN, JUST A VOCAL ONE!HAHA

RNPD GET OVER YOURSELF IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.:) MANY PLACES HAVE TRIED TO GET RID OF LPNS, SOME HAVE BEEN SUCC. BUT MOST COME TO THIS CONCLUSION THAT LPNS ARE NEEDED AND BRING THEM BACK.. I HAVE TO SAY THAT LPNS ARE HERE TO STAY!!!AND THE ANA WELL I WONT GO THERE. THATS A DEAD HORSE ALSO. MY OPINION ! LATER

ALICIA:D

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Alicia baby!

Where ya been??

Notice I am not commenting on this topic?

Dejavu, perhaps?

;)

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