Is this right?

A lot of nurses do leave their first jobs in the first 2 years -- but that doesn't mean they leave the profession entirely. Many just switch jobs. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries before you feel comfortable in a job and want to stay a while.

Yes, some people who think they would like a career in nursing find out they really don't like it as much as they thought they would. However, there is so much difference between being an LPN and some types of RN careers that I don't think liking/not-liking one would indicate mush about how you would feel about the other. There are some jobs in nursing that I would absolutely hate and can't imagine having to do for a living. There are other jobs in nursing that suit me just fine.

If the types of jobs that appeal to you are the jobs that LPN's have, then by all means, become an LPN to see how you would like it. But if those LPN jobs don't appeal to you and you are only attracted to jobs that require an RN (or an even more advanced level of eduction), then trying out the LPN role won't tell you what you want to know. In fact, it may turn you off to nursing altogether when, some RN jobs might work quite well for you.

The answers are not as simple as your friend made it seem. You need to figure out the type of career you want and then decide whether or not you are willing to do what it takes to be successful and happy in that career. Nursing can be highly demanding and stressful -- but many of us have been satisfied with our careers. But most of us are satisfied because we were willing to do what it took to succeed and make ourselves happy. Happiness did not always come easy.