why I decided to Bridge from LPN to RN

[Evangaline]

My reason for wanting to bridge from a LPN to a RN is simple. I want to be free to give full care to my patience. For example, I completed the LPN I.V. Phlebotomy course and I have never used my I.V. skills because everywhere I have worked the policy is that LPNs do not practice IV insertion or maintenance of a IV. This means that I have to go and get a RN and wait for him/her to complete the IV and I have to make sure they sign for the IV. Same thing for narcotics. The RNs get upset sometimes and give attitude but it is not my fault it is policy. I am tired of all of this and I need my freedom to work anywhere. I am a very capable person and I can do a lot more then I am allowed to do. I went to school for two full years and I don't use half of what I was taught to do.

So far Athabasca is going well. I officially start Feb 01, 2014. I am looking forward to completing all of the courses.

[Fiona59]

I start IV's, prepare and hang my own IV meds.

I prepare and administer my own narcotics for my own patients.

I've read your other posts and you implied that your job was great. You also said you wouldn't administer morphine to a palliative patient.

Which is correct? Do you give narcs or not?

Your hospital is limiting your skills and scope of practice, not your designation of LPN.

[Evangaline]

I start IV's, prepare and hang my own IV meds. I prepare and administer my own narcotics for my own patients. I've read your other posts and you implied that your job was great. You also said you wouldn't administer morphine to a palliative patient. Which is correct? Do you give narcs or not? Your hospital is limiting your skills and scope of practice, not your designation of LPN.[/quote

The job I have right now is good but i have applied to other jobs and those are three was limitations of what a LPN can do. It all depends on were one works. I want to be able to use my full scope of practice without the limitations.

[Trishrpn80]

You have just picked the worst place. I graduated in 2008 and i have been doing everything. I hang iv meds, i given narcs, i am doing northern nursing, i work alonside my rns coworkers and you wouldnhave difficulty to figure out who was who.

I agree there are limitations to be an LPN. I am bridging as well but so i can work in places that cant have an RPN. I do remote northern nursing now but i want to work more remote, i want to go more north, i want to teach eventually and i want to be able to travel internationally and work as a nurse. I love being an LPN but it doesnt give me those opportunities.

I think you need to find a better working environment for LPN's. I have always left somewhere that wouldnt let me be the nurse i can be.

[LVN2RNMom, ASN, BSN, LVN]

My theory is if you aren't able to utilize your skills then you will lose them. Naturally, you may forget things. I am an LVN at a hospital in Southern California. I hang IV's, give PRN narcotics and do everything my RN co-workers do except handle central lines, piggy backs, they co-sign my orders & I can't get verbal orders. That's about it. I am getting my RN because that was always my dream. It was never about money cause I know what an RN makes & how hard it is.