LPN in Distress

[SCP8930, LPN]

I have been a LPN for 5 yrs, but only actively worked for about 2 of them. I’ve worked in LTC, public health and also as a school nurse. As you can see I haven’t had much hands on experience... I would love to go back to be a RN, and I would love to apply for a bridge program ,but I’m afraid with little experience with skills I’d most likely have to go the traditional route. I really don’t feel like much of a nurse at all?. I should have went straight to the hospital setting after getting my boards! I’m thinking of getting a skills tutor..,

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

I think you probably have more skills than you realize. LTC teaches time management, medication management, physical assessment, behavioral assessment, therapeutic communication, dementia care, skin assessment, wound care, management of chronic diseases processes. 

School nursing requires you to rapidly assess and triage students that are coming to you, you don't have back up it's all on you so you have to have good assessment skill.

See? You've got skills, every job no matter what it is will teach you something, you just have to reflect on it and use it to market yourself when you're looking for jobs. If you really feel insecure in your knowledge as an LPN then there's no shame in doing the full program. I know a couple folks wound up doing that and in the end they got the same RN that I did just at a little slower pace. 

If you are trying to get your feet wet in nursing again, either apply for a hospital job or a skilled unit in order to get your technical skills like IV's trach care, foleys, PEG tubes, etc up to par. Good luck!

[SCP8930, LPN]

oh wow, you really put things into perspective thank you!

[raebabelvn, LVN]

I often feel like that too. I work as an on-site nurse for an elementary school, and I gotta say, I love it. Moon is right. It's just you. Observation and assessment skills are huge! Plus, you have the chance to be exposed to emergency management -- epipen, 911, giving report to EMS -- and some interesting first aid situations. I've done a lot of splinting broken bones, sent kids to the ER for anaphylaxis or deep wounds, post-op care (minimal, but it's happened), medication administration and more. 

While part of me thinks going back for my RN is a good idea, the majority of me believes I'm perfect where I am as an LVN. You just need to find your niche.

[SCP8930, LPN]

6 hours ago, raekaylvn said:

I often feel like that too. I work as an on-site nurse for an elementary school, and I gotta say, I love it. Moon is right. It's just you. Observation and assessment skills are huge! Plus, you have the chance to be exposed to emergency management -- epipen, 911, giving report to EMS -- and some interesting first aid situations. I've done a lot of splinting broken bones, sent kids to the ER for anaphylaxis or deep wounds, post-op care (minimal, but it's happened), medication administration and more. 

While part of me thinks going back for my RN is a good idea, the majority of me believes I'm perfect where I am as an LVN. You just need to find your niche.

Thank you

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

First thing I don't think your nursing skills are lacking near as much as you think. LTC and school nursing are both areas that require a lot of autonomy, tons of people skills and you won't learn better time management anywhere else.  If you are satisfied with your degree and the job market is at least decent for LPN's in your area going forward to an RN degree and license is not a must do. 

That being said in most places there are more job opportunities as an RN and if you think you might want to switch specialties or move in the future that RN license might be near necessary.  Even if you love your current specialty an RN degree will allow for more upward mobility, while both LTC and school nursing do have some management positions open to LPN's they are few and far between. An RN license would allow you to expand your options considerably if at some point you want to transition away from direct patient care.

[SCP8930, LPN]

3 hours ago, kbrn2002 said:

First thing I don't think your nursing skills are lacking near as much as you think. LTC and school nursing are both areas that require a lot of autonomy, tons of people skills and you won't learn better time management anywhere else.  If you are satisfied with your degree and the job market is at least decent for LPN's in your area going forward to an RN degree and license is not a must do. 

That being said in most places there are more job opportunities as an RN and if you think you might want to switch specialties or move in the future that RN license might be near necessary.  Even if you love your current specialty an RN degree will allow for more upward mobility, while both LTC and school nursing do have some management positions open to LPN's they are few and far between. An RN license would allow you to expand your options considerably if at some point you want to transition away from direct patient care.

Thanks a bunch for your input!?

[MelodyNelson, LVN]

Come to corrections!  At least here in CA, it is safe, well paid, has good benefits and it is quite interesting.  

[SCP8930, LPN]

2 hours ago, MelodyNelson said:

Come to corrections!  At least here in CA, it is safe, well paid, has good benefits and it is quite interesting.  

I’ve definitely thought about that option 

[ccjennylee]

I've been an RN for over 13 years.  You'll do JUST FINE in an RN program.  You learn your foundation in nursing school, which you already have more of than you think.  Skills you learn on the job.  Really.  I learned how to insert a foley catheter, practiced one IV on a dummy arm, and IM injections on a dummy.  That's really all I learned in school.  If you want to learn it, you will!  Have faith in yourself!  :)