Is LPN school hard?

ibmissy · Sep 11, 2003

Ok..I will let you know for sure when I start on Monday..BUT we had orientation last night at the school, where we meet the teachers and get our books. There were people for electrical and people for LPN. The electrical people got ONE book and a pair of safety goggles..Should have seen there face when we walked by with NINE books, I kid you not..The things must have weighed 50 lbs. Me and some co-workers(yes three of us) were like, "WOW this must be for the whole 15 months we are here." Nope, this was for ONE semester. At least our $952 in books paid off. Here are the books we got for the first semester. Maybe it will give you an idea, maybe not.

Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2004

Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary

Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology

Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology student workbook

Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgement

Medical Terminology Made Incredibly Easy!

Nutrition and Diet Therapy

Fundamental Concepts and Skills For Nursing

Srudent Learning Guide for Fundamental Concepts and Skills For Nursing

Not to mention we already purchased a book for homework due on the first day. "Math For Nurses". We have to do pages 3-85. Also at orientation the English teacher gave us homework. LOL. We are expected to do 4-5 hours of homework a night. The director told me that the first 5-6 weeks should be easy for me and my co-workers, since we are CNA's and thats what they would be covering. I don't see any CNA things in that A&P book...It's a little scary actually..Will probably be easy for you though, since you have been in college a while. The good thing about our program is 75% of our credits will be able to be used if we decide to go on to be an RN.(Provided its done within 3 years of diploma.)

Ok I am rambling.(I do that often. ) I think the LPN program will be a challenge, but not anything that's impossible. Good luck with whatever you pursue.

---Missy

Originally posted by Godswill

Please give your opinions!!:)

Brownms46 · Sep 11, 2003

I must say that I didn't find it difficult, but that is just me. I will say that we started out with so many students, that we had to sit two at a desk., and there were some standing! Can't remember how many there were, as it was 24yrs ago. But by the time we finished, there were about 20 or less.

Some people were excellent on the floor, but couldn't deal with the freq tests, or were great at tests, but had performance anxiety. We were tested daily in several difference subjects, and the tests started the first week. So you had to read and study daily, and having homework turned in ontime, was just as important as the tests.

Some didn't make it because they had family commitments, that got in the way. We also had a strict attendance policy. Two lates equaled 1/2 day's absence, and 3 days absence meant you were dropped from the program.

The program was 6hrs a day, 5 days a week for 15 months, with no breaks except legal holidays. And we did only hospital clinicals, and the hospitals was almost an hour away from the school. While we were in clinicals, we had our classroom time in the hospitals. So those who chose to go to that particular program, because their jobs were close to it, found it difficult sometimes to get to clinicals on time.

You had to make at least 77% on exams, and if you made 76.4, you were out! So I guess it all boils down to....what kind of program you go into, and how it will affect you.:)

Godswill · Sep 11, 2003

Thank u all for your comments, i know the clincals we are suppose to have will be in nursing home, hospital and psych hospital out here. We have to score 80% average, i dunno if its per test. I will have 45 hours of iv theraphy which i think they say will make us iv certified, i think i am more concern about doing that,lol, but i will stay focus and do this, i feel this is a start of a good future for me

Undecided7 · Jan 9, 2006

I am really not trying to be rude or negative, but you might want to brush up on your spelling and grammer first. :twocents:

Ebony_RN · Jan 9, 2006

I am really not trying to be rude or negative, but you might want to brush up on your spelling and grammer first.

I love how people state this yet spell GRAMMAR wrong :chuckle

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2006

I am really not trying to be rude or negative, but you might want to brush up on your spelling and grammer first.

The original poster is a sociology major; therefore, she has taken and passed many college-level English classes. Criticizing another person's grammar on an online message board is quite petty because people tend to type quickly and are less wary of punctuation in informal settings such as this forum.

LPN school is a challenge. You should expect harder grading scales, endless busy work, copious amounts of reading, and unsupportive attitudes.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2006

I love how people state this yet spell GRAMMAR wrong :chuckle

:roll :lol_hitti

You're so very correct.

luvmy2angels · Jan 9, 2006

Well, I will be graduating in Feb with a straight A average!! Never would have thought I could do that, I was a C student in high school. Not because i wasn't smart I just didn't give high school the effort I should have! Anyways...i have worked as a CNA for 18 years so I think that helped me a lot escpecially in the clinical areas. Our LPN program during the day is 12 months, actually becuase of breaks in between levels and Christmas it comes out to only 10 and a half months. The evening program (which is the one I am in) is 18 months. I must honeslty say that there is NO way I could have done this in 12 months. There is SOOOO much to learn. Sometimes I think it is TOOOO much, but somehow I have managed to take it all in. As long as you realize it will be a lot of hard work and you make a serious commitment I think you would be fine!! Good Luck!! We need more great nurses!!

Undecided7 · Jan 9, 2006

I'm sorry, but please get over yourself. :uhoh3:

I never said anyone had to perfect. I make my share of spelling errors and I'm not an English student or even close. In fact, nurses don't usually even write in sentences. I was just suggesting that the poster may want to brush up before nursing school because I know there is a lot of writing. If he or she only writes that way online, then it doesn't matter, does it? As I said at first, I wasn't trying to be mean, put the poster down, or even discourage him or her from nursing- it was just a freeking suggestion that may help, if that was actually a problem area. Only the poster would know that. You all made the ASSumption that I was being judgemental and you were even worse. I have to use "spell check" all the time myself and my husband is severely dyslexic. It's got nothing to do with IQ or ability. I got a BA in psych and BS in nursing and I can't say how every LPN school is but I had to write 1000% more papers and essay tests in nursing than psychology and the nursing instructors were A LOT more anal with stuff like that. The poster doesn't have to take or even read my advice but the rest of you need to lighten up IMHO. :biere:

Zari.SVN · Jan 9, 2006

ok , i really need help i really want to go in to school witha knowledge of what to excpect. i am currently a senior in college(sociology), i have decided i don't want to do that right now, but may finish later. well i was sitting talking to one of my friends and she was like lpn school can't be that hard u done been in college for years,( first of all she made it seem like lpn school was breeze, i so doubt that!!!)that kinda burn me up , but back to point she's right yes i have but i have never taken a lot of science, only one course in biology and 2 in geology, i have load of inenglish, sociology, history etc, as i said i am a senior in college.
so i guess my question is lpn school really hard, i know some say it like the first year of adn school, and i see some say that the test are hard that first year of a adn program. keep in mind my schooling is 18 months and once i finish i will only have to do 1 year in the adn program it just so darn hard to get in the program, but i heared it easier if u have some type of medical back ground. and u do good on pre req, i think i have about all of those done , but may need a couple of sciences.
please give your opinions!!:)

hi there i am presently in lvn school as we call it here in texas (same as lpn) i think the hardest part in the a&p classes. other than that everything is basically common sense and how to train yourself to think like a nurse. also the clinicals are challenging. you netter have a strong stomach for cleaning out ng tubes and disimpacting a pt.'s bowel. other than that just have patience and a caring attitute. i am enjoying my experiences at my school. i hope this helps and i hope you make the right decision.

Zari.SVN · Jan 9, 2006

[color=#00ffff]hi there i am presently in lvn school as we call it here in texas (same as lpn) i think the hardest part is the a&p classes. other than that everything is basically common sense and how to train yourself to think like a nurse. also the clinicals are challenging. you have to have a strong stomach for cleaning out ng tubes and disimpacting a pt.'s bowel. other than that just have patience and a caring attitute. i am enjoying my experiences at my school. i hope this helps and i hope you make the right decision.