Is this what I'm always going to deal with?

Fiat40 · Jul 10, 2012

Well as a mom in with 5 children who has been in and out of the hospital with illnesses a few times, do not let those snooty RN's who have made their career choice simply for the money that walk into your room and do not make eye contact, look at your child or call either of you by name, take the vitals, draw the blood like a working robot and leave without acting like you are a human being-make you feel any less for being an LPN! I have much admiration for most of the LPNs I know. When I get out of nursing school if I am half the nurse that they are, I will be proud. Nurses are supposed to be compassionate and caring! Unfortunately in my experience with sick children and my own illnesses, it is not always the case!

Chanel Lesa · Jul 10, 2012

I guess I just need to vent. I was at a party this past weekend and there were a few people from HS there. We have all been out 20 years now, so we were catching up. I was asked what I'm doing now and told them that I have been a stay at home mom for 9 years now and I'm really excited and ready to start the next part of my life in September. Nursing School!
"Oh that's great! Are you going for your RN?" asked a girl who I later found out was an RN and the other girl with her was also in the medical field, but I can't remember what it was she said she did. We had a couple drinks lol.
So I reply "No, I'm going for my LPN. Two year program, I'll be going at night so I can be with my kids during the day. I'm so excited!"
pretty much sums up their reaction. I heard things like "OMG why? Why not just get your BSN?" "You're not going to make good money." (considering I make nothing now as a SAHM, anything is an improvement at this point) "I still think you're making a mistake, you'll want to be an RN." "It's not too late to switch." etc.,
No, I really do want to be a LPN. Is that so unbelieveable? I was pretty much made to feel like I said my goal was to clean toilets in a prison. So anyway, I guess I just need to toughen up when I hear remarks like that. Is that normal? Will I always have to explain myself? And most of all, will it be like this when I'm looking for work? And if/when I do find a job, will I always be made to feel that way from other nurses, etc.,
I'm really looking forward to the huge challenge I'm about to face. And I'm scared to death. I hope that's normal. Anyway, thank you for listening.

Lynne sorry to hear about the reaction you received. I work at a major hospital in Orlando and I'm pursuing nursing school as well (BSN). No matter what you do be happy with YOUR choices no one else's. From experience I do know that a lot of hospitals are hiring only RNs with a BSN degree as new hires. In Florida each hospital is going for what they call a Magnet Status which require nursing to have at least a BSN. We have very few LPNs on staff and that's because they were told to go back to school. I will agree with the RN who spoke to you that you definitely will make more money as an RN but not only that if you could have a higher degree and nursing level in the same amount of time as the LPN I would go for it. I have my first degree in Health Service Administration and in order to be a top administrator i need at least a BSN. No matter what you decide just make sure you do your research and talk to a few LPNs at nursing homes and hospitals and get their advice. Hope this helps and Good Luck to your new life in nursing school.

Chanel Lesa

pgotm · Jul 10, 2012

Be happy doing what ever you want. Just be sure to research your local healthcare market. Where I live in Vegas, most hospitals don't have LPNs. Not sure about outside of hospitals, also the job market is tough for new grad RN's. Some out of school for a couple years with no jobs. But congrats on going back to school! I stayed home with my daughter for 6 months, and wish I could of afforded to stay home longer. :)

Melissa0181 · Jul 10, 2012

i'm not sure about the job outlook for lpnsin my area but i do know i was made to feel a similar way when i announced iwas in an adn rn program, not a bsn program. i got so fed up i told a couplepeople that i would gladly apply to a bsn program if they agreed to cover thecost of the tuition for me. it seems like everyone has an opinion despite thefact you may not want to hear it. you have your own set of reasons andcircumstances that make the lpn option attractive to you - and good for you!just do some research on what jobs are available to you in your area was a futurelpn. good luck.

mom_coach_nurse, LPN · Jul 10, 2012

The biggest insult is when a friend of mine who is becoming a medical assistant told me her instructor told the class "Don't go to LPN school, it is a waste of time. You can do everything an LPN does as a MA." Oh my gosh I started LOL. Really??? Do people actually believe that crap? I don't care what anyone says anymore, I am proud to be going to school to become a licensed NURSE and one day hope to bridge to RN. But, until then LPN is just fine with me...

oh man, my friend and I would have gotten into an arguement after that lol. And good luck to you as well!!

mom_coach_nurse, LPN · Jul 10, 2012

I recently became an RN after working as an LPN for a year (I also went back to school 20 years after high school). I loved working as an LPN!!! But I know what you mean about the remarks - I worked in an Urgent Care, and one day I had a young patient that was about 9 years old, and she looked at the letters "LPN" on my name tag and said, "Oh, you are and LPN - that means LOW PAID NURSE!" I was in shear horror that a child would say something like that!!! Turns out her mother is an RN, so gee, I wonder where she got it from. I think some RN's are just going to be that way - and if they are, they aren't worth wasting your energy on. Where I live there are LOTS of jobs for LPN's - Urgent Care's, clinics, doctor offices, long term care, and even the hospitals around me hire LPN's. The hospital I work at now does - and the one LPN that I know well says that she loves what she does and would NEVER want to be an RN. Don't let what people say get you down - you are making a great decision and congrats to you! Good Luck!!!

Ok, my eyes literally bugged out of my head reading what that child said. And thanks so much for the support!

mom_coach_nurse, LPN · Jul 10, 2012

Welcome to the world of nursing. No one can make you feel degraded unless you let them. No one can understand your life and choices, only you. I can assure you that you are choosing a wonderful career. There is no one with a big book somewhere asking for your name and checking what you have decided to become. The next time someone mades a stupid comment like that,ask them what they do. Then tell them well I am going to be a nurse, and I'll check back with you in 2 years and see what you have accomplished! You are going to be a nurse, a Realnurse!

Love it, thank you!

mom_coach_nurse, LPN · Jul 10, 2012

Well as a mom in with 5 children who has been in and out of the hospital with illnesses a few times, do not let those snooty RN's who have made their career choice simply for the money that walk into your room and do not make eye contact, look at your child or call either of you by name, take the vitals, draw the blood like a working robot and leave without acting like you are a human being-make you feel any less for being an LPN! I have much admiration for most of the LPNs I know. When I get out of nursing school if I am half the nurse that they are, I will be proud. Nurses are supposed to be compassionate and caring! Unfortunately in my experience with sick children and my own illnesses, it is not always the case!

I'm sorry for your experiences. I know these nurses exist, and I'm sure I'll encounter them. The funny thing is I want to be a nurse because of the wonderful nurses I had contact with.

mom_coach_nurse, LPN · Jul 10, 2012

Lynne sorry to hear about the reaction you received. I work at a major hospital in Orlando and I'm pursuing nursing school as well (BSN). No matter what you do be happy with YOUR choices no one else's. From experience I do know that a lot of hospitals are hiring only RNs with a BSN degree as new hires. In Florida each hospital is going for what they call a Magnet Status which require nursing to have at least a BSN. We have very few LPNs on staff and that's because they were told to go back to school. I will agree with the RN who spoke to you that you definitely will make more money as an RN but not only that if you could have a higher degree and nursing level in the same amount of time as the LPN I would go for it. I have my first degree in Health Service Administration and in order to be a top administrator i need at least a BSN. No matter what you decide just make sure you do your research and talk to a few LPNs at nursing homes and hospitals and get their advice. Hope this helps and Good Luck to your new life in nursing school.
Chanel Lesa

Thanks! At this point, hospitals aren't on my radar. I really really would love to work in my own doctors office, and they do hire LPN's. I'm not really wanting to be the boss either lol. I'm prefectly ok having an RN tell me what to do, versus the other way around

Thanks again!!

Stephalump · Jul 10, 2012

oh man, my friend and I would have gotten into an arguement after that lol. And good luck to you as well!!

My best friend is in medical assistant training to get health care experience for PA school and they say the same thing - and when you're talking about doctor's offices, I kind of get where they're coming from Physicians will train an MA to do anything just to save a few bucks, I swear. That whole system needs an overhaul.

But she's going to school for a year...you can become an LVN in a year, have a wider LEGAL scope of practice, and have more opportunities if you want to move on. I think MAs are an important part of the health care field, but they aren't interchangeable and it drives me crazy when people think they are.