LPN outlook

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I know this question may have been asked several times but how does everyone feel on becoming an LPN. I am about 3/4 through the program and I am so tired of hearing "why didn't you just go for your RN". This is something I will eventually do but at the time being LPN is what is best for me. I currently live in CT and work for a big hospital which I was hoping to work as an LPN but all I hear is they don't hire LPN's. Due to nursing shortage does anyone think his will turn around? The LPN program I am in is pretty intense and we do a lot, I'm confused on why some people think LPN's are not real nurses (yea I also get that alot). All the negativity I get is very discouraging, I would love to hear some positive information from all nurses out there. Thanks!!! :nurse:

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Specializes in ER.

I'm an LVN/LPN currently working in the ER of a hospital in California. For me becoming an LVN was merely a stepping stone on my way to being an RN. Do I think that the nursing shortage will create more spots for LVNs? No I don't. In the hospital where I work the ER is the only department currently using LVNs. A nearby hospital just recently laid off 9 LVNs that had all worked there for 10+years. In this area at least the push is for all RNs and even BSNs. Around here you have to be willing to work in the SNFs to be an LVN because the acute care jobs are difficult to come by. I could be wrong but that's what I see here.

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Specializes in Home Health CM.

Loved84

Like dixeechicken mentioned, LPN or LVN is a stepping stone for becoming an RN, IMHO. I am a brand new RN (just graduated in Dec). I am on my second week of orientation. I worked as an intern for a while so I could become familiar with the duties of nurses and the hospital environment. To get to my point, while I don't regret becoming an RN, I do sometimes wish I would have had the opportunity to become an LPN first.

The hospital that I work for has a lot of LPNs, at least 1/3 of the nurses are LPNs. And yes ~ they are REAL nurses. :) There are jobs out there for LPNs, at least in my state.

I may be wrong, but it seems to me that LPN gets so much more clinical time and more hands on training. I wish I would have had that experience. I think your time you have invested in training as an LPN will prove to be invaluable. As you mentioned, your training has been intensive. It will help you to become a better RN if and when you decide to pursue your career further. Good luck and don't give up, it sounds like you have came so far. It wil pay off.

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Specializes in Trauma & Emergency.

Do not let anyone make you feel badly about the decisions that you make for your own life. YOU get to decide, YOU get to make your own choices and YOU should be so proud of yourself for accomplishing everything that you are.

I too, am an LPN. I heard the sameeee stuff all through school.."why don't you just become an RN?" "Why are you wasting your time?" I also got frustrated and fed up with the comments that made me feel so little. I mean, I felt TINY. Eventually I started telling people that it is what was right for my life at the time. I also never fail to throw in there that LPNs are perfectly capable nurses and take care of people very well every single day.

One of the biggest advantages of being an LPN first in my opinion is that I am getting to gain experience while I'm in RN school. I love being able to go to work and see something in a chart and say "oh, hey I was just learning about that". Because having the ability to relate things from the text to clinical situations is wonderful and often times you do not get the chance to do that in nursing school because your so overwhelmed by other things. I also love being able to experience all of my roles and having the ability to ask questions and learn from coworkers. These people are absolutely wonderful resources.

As for the nursing shortage turning hiring around in hospitals..I don't know about in your area, but in NY LPN's in the hospital are far and few between. Any that I had clinical contact with had been with the hospital for years and some were basically being told that if they didn't go back to school, they had to leave. I don't think this is because LPN's are considered less competent nurses I think it has more to do with the scope of practice in NY because LPNs cannot do IV push and things like that. Also we do not have the ability to perform an initial assessment which is essential in a hospital setting.

So I look at it this way, I work rehab..I learn my way around all of my skills. Learn time management juggling 30 patients. Learn how to accurately chart. Be comfortable passing meds. And by the time I graduate I will be so comfortable even as a brand new RN. Of course I will have to learn all of my new roles but at least I will have my groundwork.

Don't let anyone get you down. You are at a wonderful place in your life and you should be so proud. Keep your head up, believe in yourself and you will achieve all of your goals on your timetable, not anyone elses.

Good luck to you.

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yeah, lpn is meant to be a stepping stone to rn for so many that become a lpn, but life happens and some lpn's don't become a rn. on the other hand, there are some that go the lpn route and that's all they want to do. either way, lpn is a decent job.

in my area lpn's are used mostly in ltc and home health, not so much in hospitals.

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Specializes in ER.

I totally agree with those that have said not to let others get you down because you are an LPN/LVN. I have a bad habit of saying "I know I'm just and LVN" and the RNs I work with get upset with me because I'm not JUST and LVN. I'm a part of the team, sure I can't push IV medications but I'm just as valuable as they are when it comes to patient care. I am just as capable of taking good, appropriate care of my patients. There's nothing wrong with being an LVN, but if you want to be an RN some day then go for it!

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Thank you for everyone's support!!!! I do believe that LPN is a great stepping stone for RN and yes we get tons of hands on experience! Even if I may have to wait a few years to continue my education I will try to stay positive and not let others get me down!!

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Specializes in Peds and Psych.

I have been an LPN for 18 years and am just starting my RN at PMI in Tucson, AZ in March. LPN/LVN's are absolutely invaluable to the RN's here in AZ, at least by my experience, I am well respected in the medical community. Even though most hospitals don't hire LPN's because they want to be magnet, the Veteran's Administration does, although it is difficult to get in to, it is worth the try. Don't give up. I only chose to go onto RN because I want to have the opportunity to move up in my career, as an RN you have much more opportunities.

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Specializes in Emergency, CCU, SNF.

I've been an LPN for several years, I wanted the experience while attending school. I'm going back for my RN (hopefully, soon). The schools here are packed. My pre-reqs are done, tuition for an out of state resident is sky-high! I'm still considered "out of state" because I've lived here less than a year and a day. Until I can get into a bridge program, I'll be taking anthropology!

Many places still hire lpns, hospitals less and less though. I've heard it all from "Low Paid Nurse" to "Little Peon Nurse"....also "practicing until I become a real nurse"...this from a new grad that when her patient coded, she freaked and the house doc actually kicked her out of the room. (personally, I loved that! She was just rude).

I was recently hired by the VA, one of the few places here that will hire LPNs. It was a long process, I put my app in months ago. My experience helped me get that job. I've worked in e.d. and ccu, I've had some great learning experiences as an LPN, which I believe will make me a better student and also help me to be the kind of RN I want to be.

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I was a LPN for five years. During those five years I able to go to school and get my RN. I'm glad I went that route. And yes I also got the "why didn't you just go for your RN?". Some don't realize how long it takes to get through RN school and how long the waiting lists are. I preferred to get some experience first and had to get back in the workforce.

Many are happy to stay LPNs and some want to move on. You can learn alot and be very valuble as a LPN. Right now the economy is bad and many nurses have returned to the field. But when the economy picks up you will see just how valuble LPNs are when the nursing shortage hits again.

Good luck!

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I know exactly how you feel! I've recently decided to go into an LPN program over RN just because the waiting list to get into the program is insanely long. I really just want to get the ball rolling already. I do plan to go back into an RN program after a few years of experience working as an LPN. However, I too am concerned with the nursing shortage. I've also heard discouraging remarks as LPN's aren't "real" nurses and blah blah blah. But my decision I am making is what is BEST FOR ME at the current time. That is all that matters! I know where ever I start I will be the best that I can in whatever I do.. whether LPN or RN and I won't let anybody make me feel bad about that.

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Specializes in AA&I, research,peds, radiation oncology.

I've been a LVN for 8 years. I was offered my first job-LTC- 1 week prior to graduating form LVN school!! I've worked mostly in clinical positions-Neurology, Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 1 year of pediatric home health,I've worked as a research nurse at a medical school, a few months in a pediatric clinic and am currently working in radiation oncology.....can't NOBODY tell me I'm not a nurse!! :no:

And am working on my prereq's for an ADN program I've been accepted to. Proud to be an LVN/LPN...and you will too!!:rckn:

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