I had very poor LVN/LPN training. Anyone else?

[I love my cat!]

I ran into a woman who is taking the same LVN course that I took before I got my RN. So, I asked her a few questions.

Seems as though they are teaching the same old useless stuff. I say "useless" because I personally felt so unprepared and under-trained when I started my first LVN job in LTC.

Looking back, I can see how so much of my training was wasted on completely useless "skills". Not that the skills are not important, please don't get me wrong, but when I see the skills that I really should have been taught in order to function on the job in the real world, I would say that the College had their priorities messed up.

For example, we spent days on how to make beds and miter the sheets, how to read a Mercury thermometer :uhoh21:. How to brush a patients teeth and feed them. How to introduce ourselves, etc.....

Minimal time was spent on Pharmacology. No time was spent on how to start IVs or troubleshooting problems with IVs. No training on how to draw blood. We weren't even taught how to do a finger stick, draw up insulin and calibrate the monitors! We were assigned 1 patient for one week during clinicals. That didn't give me any idea how to adequately handle 30 patients when I started my first job. I also could have used some training on how to deal with difficult patients, bossy co-workers, intimidating doctors and controlling families. Maybe some role playing? So, when these situations actually happened, I wasn't standing there looking like an idiot with my jaw dropped open or taking something personally and getting upset. I know some people have a quick response to ANY situation, but I would say that most people in my class of 35 did not.

I felt so incompetent when I first started working. I actually felt that I could have just skipped my year of training and just started working. That is how little I actually learned in the program. I really feel that I could have had all my training on the job as a new LVN....would have saved me time wasted in class and the $$$$ for tuition.

I know there are some excellent LVN/LPN programs out there, but mine was definitely not one of them

I definitely envy those that had great instructors and thorough training!!!!

[AnnieMae*]

So I have a question(s) for everyone...

I am currently in LPN school. I have my doubts about the program I am in. My hunch is that we are strong in some areas and very weak and outdated in others. I am an avid self studier.

If you went to a decent program, what things are you glad they covered?

If you went to a shaky/lacking program what things do you wish they covered in more detail?

And to those of you who work with new lpn's, what skills and knowledge areas do they tend to be lacking in?

I am still in the midst of reading this thread and taking some notes. Any information you guys have would be helpful and greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. :flowersfo

[meluhn]

My LPN program was a very reputable one with a 100% passing rate. I still came out of there not knowing much, It was just too easy. It may have been my immaturity at the time but I was not a very serious or focused student and I had no problem passing with little to no studying. The clinical time is where I learned most pharmacology thanks to good old med cards. I dont think we had an actual class on it. I'm sure I could have learned more if I would have applied myself but I was content to skate by with a C average. Most people who took it seriously thought it was very challenging. The RN program was where I really learned alot. I was more intent on learning as opposed to just getting by. I think any program is what you make it. You can be a BSN who goofs off all through school and passes and you will come out knowing less than an LPN who really applies herself.

[take2dskye]

I'd say my lpn schooling was a mix of good and bad. a mix of good and just ok instructors and a very expensive program at that. As bad as it was, we started out at 16 students and only 5 graduated (2 of which were returning students who didn't make it from last year's batch) which means technically only 3 of us in the original class, graduated. I'm doing my RN schooling now and I'l be done next year.