I just want to be an LPN...

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 22, 2007

You are really singing my song. I am approached ALL THE TIME about not if, but WHEN will I be returning for my RN, and I get really pissed off each time I hear it. In fact, I have resorted to just plain rudeness at this point. I have repeated over and over again that I have high respect for those that chose to become an RN. It is a hard course to complete, and the responsibility is tremendous once the license is obtained. I look at the pay, and while I would love their money, I can't honestly say that I want their job. It was clear in my mind before and even clearer when I started working and watching the RNs that their career is NOT for ME. Like you, I am not interested in being anybody's boss (not to say that all RNs are the boss), but I don't even want the likelyhood or being asked or expected to. I don't see where the RNs are much better off, and what I mean by that is I see most of them have second and third jobs, like I have a side gig, and they are more stressed out than I am because they have to answer to more than I do. People will make you believe that you are an underachiever if your next goal is not to be an RN and that is not true. I don't plan to live my life by measuring up to anyone elses standards or opinions. I can rant on and on about this, because while I am not concerned about what people really think, I am outraged that so many people wish to push UNSOLICITED advice...it is not like I am whining about being an LPN.

At this moment, I advise that you take it all one step at a time. Finish your course, and see how you feel afterwards. You may just want to move up, and if you do, just do it with a healthy state of mind, and no matter what, enjoy living, and enjoy the process of learning. That is really what life is all about.

kstec, LPN · Mar 22, 2007

You will find that in the nursing field there is definitely a tier of hierarchy. If your a CNA than they wonder why are you are not a nurse, if you have your LPN they wonder why don't you get your RN...it can go on up until why don't you have your nurse practicioner license. All of us play a role in healthcare from housekeeping to the CEO. We all contribute something and noone and I mean noone is better than anyone else. Those that had the opportunity go get their bachelors right out of high school or those that sacrificed everything as an adult to get their RN, good for them, but that is not everyone's opportunity or choice. I'm a LPN and maybe someday I will go back and get my ADN but maybe not. With more letters after your name comes more responsibility and I don't know if that's what I want. It would be pretty sad if all these people that complain and say that CNA's, LPN's and ADN should all get their bachelors to be considered a real nurse and earn the respect the profession deserves, but then who is going to take care of the patients? The majority of nurses that I know who have their bachelor's don't ever touch a patient....they're in management. I know that to some that is a generalization but the reality is WE ALL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE QUALITY OF CARE OUR PATIENTS RECEIVE. I to get are you going back to get your RN and my answere is if and when I want it bad enough I will, until then I'm happy where I'm at and I may only be "just" a LPN to most people, but I am a da-n good LPN at that.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 23, 2007

I'd rather "just be an LPN" than be a person with all of that responsibility and be miserable. This is not to say that those that choose to become RNs do not enjoy their positions, but I know for myself, I'd be MISERABLE. And, it is true, most of the BSN and MSN nurses are not in the trenches...they are in the office far removed from us. Plus, they have to continously kiss butt with the upper crust to stay there. Not my move.

I see most of the RNs at my job in literal tears behind the stress. One of the things I began to see is that the implementation part of the nursing process is not usually done by that particular RN when they make care plans. They have to rely on LPNs, CNAs, physicians, etc to assist in this, and unfortunately, no one really cares about what the RN is going through. I know I can count on myself, but I can't guarentee what another person will do. I had hell in my clinic today because one doctor needed an EKG (stable patient), another needed a nebulizer treatment done for a client and another needed a fingerstick. The assistants all scattered and pretended to be busy. I went to the RN and told her that I was going to do the nebulizer treatment for the airway problem, and she had to go and practically beg them to do the rest. Hey, I made sure my job was done...I prioritized...airway, breathing, circulation... the rest, unfortunately, was that RN. Don't want that headache everyday...no way.

Hoping LVN2BSN · Mar 23, 2007

People like that will never be happy. Just keep doing what you do to accomplish your goals and care for your family. Those same people tat give you a hard time, if you took their advice and quit what you were doing and failed at something else would then say "what happened to nursing?" Forget them, they have nothing better to do, literally.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2007

What you should be is what YOU want to be. And tell anyone who doesn't get it to purse his lips and plant them on your posterior.

DreamyEyes · Mar 23, 2007

I have been doing prereq's this year to prepare for nursing school and right around mid year I realized that LPN is fine. I can be just as happy doing that. I will never want to be in any form of management. I don't like to be the 'boss' of anyone and the only thing that I want to do is give meds. So I will get my certification for that.

I'm right there with ya! The RN schools are so hard to get into around here...actually everywhere...and I really just want to start working as a nurse and get experience instead of waiting 3 years just to even start nursing school. Plus, once you're an LPN, there are lot of programs that will let you bridge to RN in a year if you have all the pre-reqs done. I also don't want to be in management, so I don't think I'm going to get my Bachelor's if I do eventually go for RN...I will just get my Associates. The only reason I want to become an RN eventually is because I want to get into pediatrics...I love kids...But all the LPN's in this area work in LTC... but who knows? Maybe I'll love working in LTC. All I know is that I'm content with my decision to become an LPN...and I will get my RN license when I'M ready to.

Cherry2 · Mar 23, 2007

Well, I live in Canada- so my only choices are a 2 year diploma (LPN) or a 4 year degree. Even the (few) bridging programs I have looked into are three years long, so in the end I will actually be ADDING a year to get my RN.

For me there are many reasons for LPN over RN though. I am 26, with a 2 1/2 year old. I want another baby within 4 years and so obviously you don't want to try and do that right in the middle of getting a degree.

Also the money side of it- I just want to be working! But most of all, I am just very certain I will never enjoy that much stress and responsibility.

I do know that I can still work in L&D here (maybe not in Ontario, but I know I can in other places in Canada) and I am also interested in working with people who have eating disorders.

My only concern is that "only" having an LPN will stop me from one of those things somehow. If it does though, then I guess I just have to decide if it is worth going after the RN for...

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 23, 2007

The municipal hospitals in my area do have LPNs in labor and delivery, even in the ICU...they primarily give meds, though and observe. If things do happen out of the norm, they are supposed to call the RN. I am sure that in many cases, the LPN may do more than what the title calls for. However, it depends...if I trust the RN, I will bend over backwards.

I don't blame anyone for wanting to be where they want to be, and to push towards that goal. If being an RN will open the doors that you want, then, I surely say to do it. I just don't like when people attempt to make you feel like an underachiever when you openly choose not to. I had one idiot tell me "You can do ANYTHING you want to". My response to her was "That is true...I just happen not to wish to become an RN".

I think that what annoys the RN is the limited scope of practice that we have (depending on where you live). They have to stop and do things for us, and maybe they feel that they might as well do certain things themselves. I can understand that, but this is the lot they chose. I know my lot will be that they may not think well of LPNs, that we may not get the respect we deserve, but I refuse to do something out of peer pressure and not my own personal desire.

Here is one situation where I know that the RN was extremely frustrated; a patient from my clinic had to go to the ER. We are told that patients who are about to crash cannot be escorted to the ER by an LPN. The RN asked me to go and I told her that I cannot, as an LPN. I know she was busy and stressed out, but again, that is her job, sorry to say. If policy dictated differently, I have happily gone. But, everything is okay until something happens. If that patient had coded on the elevator, MY license would have been at risk. I felt for her, but, again, policy and my scope of practice rules over that.

allantiques4me · Mar 23, 2007

You will find that in the nursing field there is definitely a tier of hierarchy. If your a CNA than they wonder why are you are not a nurse, if you have your LPN they wonder why don't you get your RN...it can go on up until why don't you have your nurse practicioner license. All of us play a role in healthcare from housekeeping to the CEO. We all contribute something and noone and I mean noone is better than anyone else. Those that had the opportunity go get their bachelors right out of high school or those that sacrificed everything as an adult to get their RN, good for them, but that is not everyone's opportunity or choice. I'm a LPN and maybe someday I will go back and get my ADN but maybe not. With more letters after your name comes more responsibility and I don't know if that's what I want. It would be pretty sad if all these people that complain and say that CNA's, LPN's and ADN should all get their bachelors to be considered a real nurse and earn the respect the profession deserves, but then who is going to take care of the patients? The majority of nurses that I know who have their bachelor's don't ever touch a patient....they're in management. I know that to some that is a generalization but the reality is WE ALL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE QUALITY OF CARE OUR PATIENTS RECEIVE. I to get are you going back to get your RN and my answere is if and when I want it bad enough I will, until then I'm happy where I'm at and I may only be "just" a LPN to most people, but I am a da-n good LPN at that.

Very well said!!!

ihollie · Mar 23, 2007

I feel your pain!!! All the RN programs are 2 years or more impacted, with 18 months or more of prereq. I don't have time for that, I have two children to take care of.

When I decided a LVN program was better option for me right now, I got the samething. It does get old.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 23, 2007

I feel your pain!!! All the RN programs are 2 years or more impacted, with 18 months or more of prereq. I don't have time for that, I have two children to take care of.
When I decided a LVN program was better option for me right now, I got the samething. It does get old.

Yes, it becomes VERY OLD and TIRED:trout: . I have people saying "don't take too long..." and it is annoying. Who says that everyone has to become an RN to be acknowledged as a person making an honest living??? And, the thought of taking ridiculous classes that may not really be utilized in my personal career is silly...I have not heard of an RN yet, who has utilized chemistry in their career, unless they are nurse practitioners. I don't think that a patient cares that you have read Shakesphere in Eng 102, either. I had to take most of those pre-requisites because my community college initiated their first LPN program (which I was in the first class), and they created a bridge program, where the pre-requisites for the LPN were virtually the same as for the RN...college level anatomy and physiology, etc...the only things we didn't have to take is ENG 102, chemistry and microbiology (I did take micro, though...wonderful class, as well as Eng 102). I gained nothing out of those classes but headaches. Since then, I had purchased used textbooks that basically got to the main points in anatomy, etc that I needed to function in nursing and that was it. I was fortunate enough to had been granted a leave with pay for two years from my job to enter into this program, and I greatly appreciated that opportunity. I learned more about myself than I ever dreamed and I woke up with the realization that the college scene is not for me. I never had any intention of becoming an RN, and the more I see, the more I know it is not for me.