Why LPN??

Q. · Mar 15, 2003

Originally posted by night owl
Why do you even question someone's choice in the first place? I feel that if it's MY choice, it's just that... my choice.

I guess I question someone's choice because, stupidly, I felt that's how we learn. :rolleyes:

Brownms46 · Mar 15, 2003

I'm very sorry Hellllllo Nurse for being too lazy to type those l's :), but yes I totally was refering to you in my post. As I respect the fact that you had a goal, and you pursued it until you reached it! I admired people who are driven, and go after what they want in life. And you're very welcome indeed:cool:

angel 4 · Mar 15, 2003

Maybe in your area, LPN's are laid off but not in my area. I think we should be concerned about giving the best care to patients. I am an LPN student and the reason why I am in the LPN program because of financial reasons and to have some experiences so that I can continue my education as a nurse. I would never ask someone why LPN. Nursing school is hard period whether it is LPN or RN. I've been to both programs and I felt that I've learned more from the LPN program than the RN but that was because of the school I attended. However, that is my opinion and experience. I think you should choose a route that is comfortable for you. LPN's and RN's are all nurses. All my instructors were LPN's before they became RN's and they never regret it because it prepared them to continue their education and become RN's. I hope this help you to be more open-minded Suzy K and C. Lo.

night owl · Mar 15, 2003

And what have we learned so far? That whenever you ask someone why LPN, you'll get a different answer...no two answers are ever the same.

night owl · Mar 15, 2003

Susy,

And what have we learned so far? That whenever you ask someone why LPN, you'll get a different answer...no two answers are ever the same.

Q. · Mar 15, 2003

Ok I am getting annoyed.

It's one thing to do a search and look at old threads or topics and read them, but it's another to do that and comment to the OP as if they just wrote the thread yesterday.

#1. I wrote the original post nearly three years ago. At the time, LPNs were eliminated from most specialty areas in my hospital - namely, CCU, ICU, L&D and ER. I'm sure things are drastically different now, as one would expect. So please keep the date of the post in mind when responding.

#2. If you are offended at being asked why you became a nurse, and why you chose the LPN route, then my advice to you is not to respond. Children/teens/those considering a career change very much so ask people why they chose their particular field. I have never been offended by people asking me and have never encountered people IRL who were offended either. Frankly, I have no clue why anyone would be. It's not an offensive question. It is if you make it so.

#3. The catalyst for my asking this question three years ago was because an LPN I had worked with had lamented several times how she wished she could work L&D, but couldn't because she was an LPN. I wanted to ask her if she wanted to work in L&D so much, why did she choose the LPN route - but I never got the chance as she was laid off before I could.

#4. To the poster who said I should be open-minded, why yes, thanks for making my case for me. That's the reason I ask questions ya know...to um, be open-minded and not make assumptions.

#5. Night owl, yes we have learned very different answers to the question. Which is why there should be a question in the first place. Much to learn about people, isn't there?

Ok I am done with my rant. Please people, read the posts and realize the date and don't respond to me as if I just posted this entire thread yesterday. K?

RNonsense · Mar 15, 2003

Wow...this ressurrected thread needs to be beaten back to death...

NsgTiger · Mar 15, 2003

Call me stupid but...what are the limitations of a LPN? I've heard they can't do IV push meds but what else? I can not tell the difference on the floor.

baseline · Mar 16, 2003

Susy my friend, I answered you question, and actually have been following this reborn thread. It has been interesting to see how people came to where they are now. And why. But if it starts getting back to the whiney stuff.....Im outta here!! Come on guys. This really has been an interesting thread.

Q. · Mar 16, 2003

Originally posted by baseline
But if it starts getting back to the whiney stuff.....Im outta here!! Come on guys. This really has been an interesting thread.

Ahhh my lovey. :kiss

You and me both, hon.

RNConnieF · Mar 16, 2003

I just found this thread. I even read most of the posts (OK as soon as it gets nasty I skip to the next post). I started my career as an LPN. I knew that with my last child starting school in 2 years I needed to have something to look forward to. I went to nursing school because people kept telling me I would make a good nurse. I went to LPN school because they had a part time nights and weekend program. Oddly enough, the folks who told me I would make a good nurse where right, I am a good nurse. As time went on I decided to go to RN school for no other reason than to expand my knowledge within my now, chosen profession. I went into the ADN program because there where very few diploma programs left around here. I have just started the BSN program for the same reason I started the RN program, there is still so much I want to learn about ALL aspects of nursing. Some of us need to go slowly, succeed, and then advance. While I was working as an LPN in PA I was unable to do INITIAL assessments, hang blood, push IV meds, or take verbal orders. I also had to have my assessments and notes countersigned by the RN who was covering me; in PA LPN's have dependent licenses, RN's have independent ones. One of the LPNs I work with now has the most professional way of involving me when I cover her patients that I have ever seen; she gives me a copy of her working care cardex noted, in writing, with anything that I have to do i.e. if blood is ordered. She also gives me a cover sheet that includes the pt's VS, IVF, access, current labs and all the information I need to know about the pt. to cover her. I wish all the RN's I work with did this before signing off to me for lunch or meetings. Nursing is not a matter of individual tasks, nursing is all about competent pt. care. We all do the same THINGS, I clean poop and so does the LPN. It's time we accept each other (and NAs) as the pt. care professionals we all are.

ThirdWorldGirl · Mar 16, 2003

Originally posted by NsgTiger
Call me stupid but...what are the limitations of a LPN? I've heard they can't do IV push meds but what else? I can not tell the difference on the floor.

I'm an LVN of almost 13 years now and we can do IV push meds, I think it might be either a state thing or hospital policies that dictate that LVN's can't. There are numerous things that I can't do as an LVN that RN's do but to be honest I don't want to do them without the proper training and education for them. To answer why I became an LVN, well hell I don't know, I was stupid and listened to my dictating husband (ex now) who told me I needed to, and I was young and dumb and didn't know any better. But I am happy with it (for the time being anyway) I do plan to get my RN but the financial aspect is what's holding me back right now. But yeah I'll admit it "I like the being under an RN, in the responsibility factor". I don't do anything I repeat I don't do anything out of my scope of education and give my charge nurses full respect for not only the title they hold, but more for the type of person they are. Secondly I have not found LVN's to be a dwindling species in this area, the hospital I'm employeed by basically got rid of their cna's and replaced them with LVN's, yeah I'm doing the dirty work but I'm getting $20/hour for that and if they want me to scrub toilets I'll do it. Everybody wants the LVN vs. RN feuds to stop but they won't let's be honest it's like families (or so I would hope) we can say anything we want about each other and it's ok but let somebody from the outside do it and the preverbial poop hits the fan........