Lpn programs...whats the point!!

JCLVN67 · Mar 21, 2008

Psych hospitals employ many lvns. I work at a state psych hospital as an lvn.

ktwlpn, LPN · Mar 22, 2008

Maybe others can see that HUGE chip on your shoulder and it's keeping you from interviewing well..As others have said inexperienced nurses all over the country are not finding jobs in acute care.As for LTC-I've worked in some pretty crappy facilities-but I gained valuable experience and kept looking until I found a better fit.I am proud to work where I am now....Loosing a job after more then 11 yrs takes a toll on anyone but you need to leave it behind you.I know-I've been there,too.And I had a chip on my shoulder bigger then my head-and it came across in a few interviews.Luckily an HR person talked to me about it-I learned my lesson.Good Luck

Ms.RN · Mar 22, 2008

i'm sorry you are going through this. thats why i went back to school for lpn to rn bridge program because i just hated being stuck in nursing homes. i hated that i had no other job options. the bridge program is only one more year. have you thought about going back to school?

not all nursing homes are the same. one of the nursing homes i've worked has ventilator unit and i enjoyed working there. i also worked in skillled nursing center which has converted from long term to short term rehab. i tell ya it was very difficult. we had about 15 to 20 patients and nurses did everything from starting iv to drawing blood, measuring wounds, patients with trachs so we did trach care. patients are constanly admitted and discharged. we had up to 5 new admits in my shift. without bathroom breaks and lunch break, i still could not finish my work on time.

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Mar 22, 2008

I do think you need to be careful in generalizing. Not every area and school has these attitude.
PNs are active in all areas of healthcare in my province. We are utilized to full scope of pratices. Skills wise we are very good value for the healthcare dollar.
My scope of pratice has been expanded upon constantly since my graduation at the turn of the century. We have recently been told that it will expand yet again this year.
I work in a hospital where every shift is 50/50 RN/PN. Currently there is a very narrow gap in the scope of practice. We have a two year diploma programme for PNs which is graduating PNs with higher skill sets than the RNs of 15 years ago. We come to which ever facility hires us trained and ready to hit the floor.
Do not weep, wail, and decry a profession that serves some of it's members well. We are each responsible for researching our own careers.

My bold. I completely agree with this whole post.

SillyStudent, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2008

comment deleted by me :)

Turd.Ferguson · Mar 22, 2008

Maybe others can see that HUGE chip on your shoulder and it's keeping you from interviewing well

Wow! I gotta agree with Ktwlpn on this one.

so when they look at my resume...I am sure they just laugh........

Probably so. I hope your resume was written in a more professional manner than that of your post. A quick count revealed at least 64 grammatical and/or spelling errors. A few is understandable, but there can be none in a resume.

I am a Registered Nurse. I have been working in a facility with all RNs...until recently. We hired our first LPN two months ago. She is working out fine and has a wonderful attitude. The point is, your attitude comes across and is difficult to hide.

By the way, my first job as an RN was in a Nursing Home. I didn't really care for it, but I did gain some good experience. That led to my present job, which I love.

labrador4122, RN · Mar 22, 2008

I know what you mean, as an LPN you have limited amount of choices. A lot of people encouraged me to be an LPN while waiting for RN school.

I decided just to stick it out as a CNA while I was in the waiting list for RN school. and it ended up being a best choice.

One of the girls I knew working with me as a CNA told me every day to go with her to LPN school..... I did, she did, she became LPN and then started working as an LPN in the ER

she said they worked her like crazy, all that responsibility and only $13/hr

we lost contact, and in december 06 my 8month old daughter was in the hospital, I saw her there and guess what?

she was working as a tech, and she was getting more money than an LPN at another hospital or at an LTC or ALF.

To me, honest, if you want to become an nurse in a nursing home then be an LPN

if you want to be a nurse at a hospital and anywhere else for that matter, be an RN

I just dont' like the LPN program, it's like high school, 7am-3pm monday thru friday???

that's just not me.

I went monday and friday from 9-12 and tuesday from 7-4 at the hospital site. and I became an RN and I love it!!!!!!

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2008

Actually my LVN school was worse than in high school. The students and the teachers were unprofessional and the conduct was appalling. The teachers treated us like children and worse. I assume that RN school will be different and everyone will be more mature.

My ER tech position pays $13/hr which is good around here. Two LVN's that I know started at $17 and $18/hr. RN starting pay is $27 or $28 I hear.

Perpetual Student · Mar 22, 2008

I'm not trying to slam you, but the English deficiencies in your post make me consider that the problem might be you rather than the programs or facilities. I'm an LPN and I got the first job I applied for, an awesome private duty (through an agency) position. Yeah, it's not exactly the most glamorous or best paying position, but the working conditions rock. You might look into something more along those lines, so you can follow a path similar to the one I'm stumbling down now.

My LPN program was pretty upfront about the fact that hospital opportunities are limited in this area, but they are out there if you have relevant experience or sell yourself well. It absolutely sucks that some programs are not upfront about the lack of LPN jobs in acute care. I really want to work in hospitals and was aware of the lack of acute care LPN openings when I started the LPN program, but it was a lot quicker to get into than an RN program. It also allowed me to gain valuable job experience (certainly better than being a salesman or something) and to make some pretty decent money.

Hopefully, I'll get into an LPN to RN program starting this fall and I'll be an RN in about a year and a few months. If I do, I will have a guaranteed job with the agency that I'm already working for, which I will definitely keep until I secure what I consider to be a good acute care position (which I realize may take a little bit of time as a new grad, but having some nursing experience as an LPN will give me a leg up over some other new grads). Even then I'll probably still do a shift or so per week just for fun and extra money. Then it'll be time to do a BSN online, and eventually a MSN.

I definitely did NOT want to work in a nursing home. I got licensed at 21 and being responsible for a bunch of CNAs and a score or two of residents did not appeal to me. I'm not trying to knock you LTC nurses, as I actually respect those of you that do a good job immensely. I've talked to too many folks about the deplorable working conditions and poor staffing in many facilities to want to inject myself into such an environment.

Or you could just win the lotto and invest wisely.

ktwlpn, LPN · Mar 23, 2008

Actually my LVN school was worse than in high school. The students and the teachers were unprofessional and the conduct was appalling. The teachers treated us like children and worse. I assume that RN school will be different and everyone will be more mature.
.

Please do let us know if this is true-I suspect you may be disappointed.We have a few brand new RN's that are unbelievable. Catty,rude,un-professional and ill mannered twits.One chica has some critical care experince.What that entails,I just don't know because she fell apart when she discovered a resident with an apparent new onset seizure and had to call 911 recently (couldn't find that "11" on the phone,ya know?" I think you'll find a mix of both in most programs,don't you?

labrador4122, RN · Mar 23, 2008

Actually my LVN school was worse than in high school. The students and the teachers were unprofessional and the conduct was appalling. The teachers treated us like children and worse. I assume that RN school will be different and everyone will be more mature.
My ER tech position pays $13/hr which is good around here. Two LVN's that I know started at $17 and $18/hr. RN starting pay is $27 or $28 I hear.

WOW! That pay is really good!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish I lived in California! OH man! wishfull thinking!!!

I am a new RN and get paid $22.53/hr. and of course a 1/1 apartment costs $281K .... well the nice one that I want at least, that is close to the mall, close to the metro rail & buses, & close to my job.

and with my degree in my hand, and a "good" job... I still cant' even afford an apartment .

*sigh* if only I were single with no kids.... I would move somewhere else where they pay was the same, but the houses were affordable...... wishful thinkink *sigh*

anxious · Mar 26, 2008

:crying2:So what is the point of having LPN programs???? Its like being stuck inbetween a RN and a NA..??? If you dont have experience ..no one will hire you....I have been looking for a job..and I have had NO LUCK!!..But if I was a RN....those jobs are everywhere.......I graduated in Dec....and passed Nclex in Feb......I have applied at Dr offices....lots of them....applied on line ....for a lpn position at a hospital...got turned down........office positions are few and far between...I understand that....and I have appllied at an assisted living facility...did drug test..etc...last week....but nothing so far....and NO I have not applied at any LTC....!!! I had clinicals...at those places....and I DO NOT AGREE with the way they are run!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....SO...I guess that leaves me with the decision to look into another type of career. And I had not even got started in this one......I went to a job fair....and the lady told me to go back to school????????? WELL I CANT!!.....BUT IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW.....I WOULD NOT HAVE WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TO BECOME AN LPN!!!!! I ADMIRER ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE BECOME RNS...MY MOM IS ONE.....BUT I FEEL BELITTLED BY THIS WHOLE THING....I have worked hard all my life.....I worked at a company for 11 1/1 years...it closed down........it had nothing to do with the medical field...anyway.....I went to school....but I feel like I really should have done it differently now.
I cant help to feel like the LPN program is just a joke..............and again...I do admirer all RNs....it took you alot to get where you are.......but I have no desire to become one.......but I do love helping people...etc........but I cant find a job....so whats the point...no one will hire you without experience....so when they look at my resume...I am sure they just laugh........

oh i understand exactly what u mean, our situations are identical and its very frustrating to me....so im not gonna sit here and encourage LTC because I feel the same way u do. I took a job at this terrible nursing home and as soon as I put that on my resume I started getting call backs....I stayed at the nursing home 4 weeks. Yes those were longest 4 weeks of my life but now I'm at an assisted living facility. Yes its less money but I don't dred going to work and I come home with my sanity everyday. Had I known that LPN's are forced to work in LTC in my area I may not be one, so I will be going back for my RN just to gain more options because the ones I have right now really SUCK!