LPN at a Crossroads

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I've been an LPN for five years. I have worked LTC, psych, home care, private duty, assisted living you name it!!! I've never really found my niche in nursing but for the past two years I've been working in clinics first a Primary care office and currently a vascular arterial speciality clinic. I left the primary care office because the workplace was toxic, they were always short staffed and I grew tired of not being valued and disrespected I guess that's why they lost their entire lpn staff (it was four of us) in one month. I took a job within the same hospital system to vascular thinking it would be well, more interesting, more learning.. but OMG what a letdown. I am bored out of my mind, I'm not allowed to do anything procedure wise, all I do is room patients, and do vitals, and some wound care . I am stagnant not learning anything new and getting low pay which to mention I got a .35 cent raise. LOLLLL Anyway I've looked into LPN-RN bridge programs in my area but the only ones with evening classes are 1-2 hour drives away. In order for me to attend My local community college I would have to quit my current job because it only offers LPN-RN during the day. I am frustrated, Sometimes I think I should leave nursing all together. I've worked in so many different areas, would getting my RN really make a difference at this point. I guess I'm looking for unbiased opinions. Sorry for the long rant.

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I just finished my LPN to RN bridge program a few months ago after being an LPN for 15 years. My only regret is that I waited so long to do it. Are there nursing positions that you think you would enjoy that only hire RNs? This was my motivating factor. You mentioned that you have worked in just about anything regarding LPN background. Would it be possible to get something that didn't require you to work daytime office hours? A lot of the people that I went to school with also worked in LTC or home health where their schedule was modified to give them the hours that they needed while working with their school schedule. This would obviously need to be a pre-hire agreement but I've never had an employer not work with my school schedule (since most of them would benefit by having another RN after I would finished). It's just a suggestion, especially since you aren't really happy with what you are doing now.

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I've always been interested in women's health (especially obstetrics) and I do like the outpatient setting, but the hospital system I work for only hires bsn nurses. Its getting harder and harder to get a job with an adn here. It would literally take me four years to get a dollar raise at the rate I'm going. I think also I have gotten confortable with the daytime hours no weekends and no holidays. But I am tired but you are right I may have to give up all of this for a work situation where I can better myself I can't imagine doing this for another four years . Ugggg

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I've looked into LPN-RN bridge programs in my area but the only ones with evening classes are 1-2 hour drives away.
The LPN-to-RN bridge program that I attended was located 3+ hours away across state lines. I worked 32 hours per week on the weekends while attending school three days a week. It was the best decision I could have made educationally.
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Wow that's amazing! I guess it all comes down to how bad do you want it. My current job is definitely becoming a detriment to me furthering my education. They won't budge on my hours, there is no leeway. In my area hospitals no longer hire LPN's we are only able to find work in LTC or homecare or clinics if you get lucky like me. I can't go back to LTC it was a horrific experience!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Wow that's amazing! I guess it all comes down to how bad do you want it. My current job is definitely becoming a detriment to me furthering my education. They won't budge on my hours, there is no leeway. In my area hospitals no longer hire LPN's we are only able to find work in LTC or homecare or clinics if you get lucky like me. I can't go back to LTC it was a horrific experience!

My LPN-RN bridge program was online. Where there's a will, there's a way.

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Specializes in Primary Care.

I suppose you can say I'm on the same boat. I enjoy my clinical setting position (I've never in my 10+ years of my medical career have I had a normal M-F 9-5), but I'm the lowest of the totem pole. My LVN super will do triage's, though the Drs tell me she's not supposed to, and my RN is always so stressed cause, besides my clinic manager, she's the only one to check dr's inboxes and triage. I'd like to work up my ladder here as my super and manager are closing in on retirement (5-10 years). I've looked into University of Phoenix, but for pre-requisites, they charge $410 per credit/unit and at 3-4 units per class, that's a buttload of money just for prerequisites. I just may do it for the science courses, and when the time comes to do the actual LVN-BSN program, bite the bullet and drive the 2-3 hours away for the in person classes.

I supposed I've veered, but anyone else try the UOPhoenix approach? I'm in the Bay Area.

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Specializes in BSN RN.

Look into excelsior college online

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