LPN to ADN

[suturethis, LPN]

I have been an LPN for a little over 2 years now. I have been slowly working on general education courses required for the ADN program. I am expected to start the program in Winter or Summer 2022. The past month I have been doubting this path. In the past I was so excited about nursing, and truly felt this was my calling. Lately I feel so discouraged, and doubting if I am truly capable of becoming a competent RN. I also fear I am already losing my passion for nursing. I love the variety of patients I get to help care for in the sub acute rehab unit I work in, but I find all the documentation and passing so so many medications dreadful. I also feel so discouraged how politics seems to have wormed its way into our field, and I don't want to get into that. However, It feels more divided than ever. I also find it so discouraging with Covid 19 how much it has affected our patients and how many inconsistent policies have been put in place. I don't feel excited about this career path anymore. But this was huge goal of mine, and I also do not want to be disappointed for not accomplishing this goal. Maybe I just need a change of setting. This is the only setting I have worked in as an LPN. I am finding that I dread going to work everyday. 

 

Do you guys think this is a sign that I should switch paths? I honestly don't even know what else I would do. 

[northernbelle_nurse, CNA, LPN]

Well on one hand, becoming an RN will open up more case management type positions. You can do so many things in nursing, some places will hire LPNs, but a lot of the out of the norm positions for nurses are only open to RNs. I think in any position in nursing, your heart must be in the right place. Nurses in all disciplines take the brunt of everyone’s frustrations, from other staff members, patients and families. If dietary doesn’t get the trays there on time, the patient complains to the nurse, if the doc doesn’t round on the patient when they think they should, the nurse hears about it, if the patient doesn’t have access to care, a lot of times social work is requesting the help of the nurse, that is if there is even social workers in that care setting. I can understand being burned out of floor nursing, but you will still need a caring heart no matter what you do in your career as a nurse. 

[Mikefc19, ADN, LPN, RN]

Hi, 

I personally experienced what you have written. It’s completely normal during times of our career. I sort of took a step back and remembered why I became a nurse. Sometimes we get into the busyness of life and forgot why we chosen this field. As with school I was on and off the past 5 years wanting to compete my RN. I knew deep down that if decided to stay an LPN, one would I regret not going back to further my education. Ultimately I went back in 2020 and obtained my ADN.  This experience had given me an greater understanding of nursing and most importantly more opportunities.  I would say go with your heart and most importantly never forget why you became that great nurse. 

[Lynker, LPN]

I'm in the same exact boat....working in LTC, covid hit and I just failed my second semester of RN school. I would say it's still worth it...we'll get over this hard bump in the road. Covid will end eventually. Sparks will come back. Just hold on for the ride.

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

On my journey from LPN to RN I got discouraged a lot as well, I think most people do, you just have to hang in there and stick with it. With nursing I find that I have times where I'm very passionate about it and love it and I have times where I've wanted to abandon the profession altogether. I think that happens in most professions but especially in ours where we deal with human suffering every single day on the job and so much is expected of us from everyone that sometimes you just don't have anything left to give. That's why it's so important not to rely on your job to provide you happiness but to find things outside of work that make you happy. Doing so will give you fulfillment and more than likely your job won't seem so bad.

I had a lot of good opportunities as an LPN but becoming and RN has really opened even more doors and expanded my income greatly. COVID has wrought chaos in all healthcare settings so don't feel like you're alone in your frustration. This pandemic will end eventually and if you can survive now in the chaos then I think you'll be a very good RN.