LPN student w/ ?s for an LPN

chuck1234 · May 8, 2007

I don't think I will answer all the questions...But one....Question# 10....The answer is....Keep on learning....Work harder....Don't put yourself in the center....Be a team player....Ready to give your helping hands to anyone....

By the way, I also want to say "hello" to you from inside a house which is only 10 feet away from the spectacular Atlantic Ocean...

I can't wait to see the summer is around the corner....Life is short....Try to enjoy it as much as possible...

Good luck!

HeartJulz · May 8, 2007

Honestly, above all ... the best advice I have to give is; find a career that suits your personality. Nursing works for me becaue every single aspect of it fits me to a T. Overall nurses need to be energetic, reliable, honest, meticulous, organized, hard workers, and have leadership abilities. I wish I knew this long ago .. but it took a lot of roads to go down until I finally found exactly what I am meant to do .. had I know this advice I would have only chosen careers that fit me, instead of a career that just sounds "interesting."

jill48, ASN, RN · May 8, 2007

Hello.
Is there an LPN out there willing to answer a few questions? It's for a school project and I'd like to know what an experienced LPN has to say.
1. What made you decide to be a nurse and how long have you been one?
2. Would you be happy retiring as an LPN or do you feel its important to go on to become an RN?
3. What are the biggest challenges today, for LPNs?
4. Do you think LPNs are used to their full potential?
5. Are LPNs respected by other medical staff (RNs, doctors, etc)?
6. Where do you think most job opportunities for LPNs are today?
7. What was your proudest moment as an LPN?
8. Are you ever asked to practice beyond your scope? Do you see it happen?
9. If you could change 1 thing about being an LPN, what would it be?
10. What is your best advice to a new LPN?
If anyone can respond, thankyou! I appreciate the info.

1. I decided to be a nurse when I was 16 years old and pregnant; had to figure out what I wanted to do with my life and nursing made sense because I wanted to help people. I have been an LPN for almost 12 years; mostly in med/surg and geriatrics, though I just accepted a new job in home health.

2. I personally would not be happy retiring as an LPN only because I really enjoy school and want to keep earning my degrees for as long as I can; especially now that my kids are getting older (16 and 8) and don't need me around half as much as they used to. But I would be comfortable financially if I decided to remain an LPN.

3. I think the biggest challenge today for LPN's is that we constantly have to prove that we ARE nurses. Non-medical people do not understand the differences between CNA's, LPN's, and RN's. Many LPN's are asked "When are you going to finish nursing school?" (umm...who said I wasn't finished?) or "Why didn't you become a real nurse?" It hurts when people say these things, but usually it is just because they are ignorant of the facts.

4. Yes. I do think LPN's are used to their potential.

5. Most of the time I do think that LPN's are respected by other medical staff. I said MOST of the time.

6. I think most job opportunities for LPN's today are in nursing homes. Though in my state we still use LPN's in hospitals quite often.

7. My proudest moment as an LPN..... hmm......I don't think there is really one moment. I am very proud of the fact that with all my experience I supervise and train both LPN's and RN's. Most RN's are surprised that it is an LPN who is their boss or training them. I was also offered a Director of Nursing position. I'm not saying I am bossy, but if I am good enough to supervise and train an RN, then I must be pretty good; at least that is how it makes me feel.

8. No. I have never been asked to practice beyond my scope. For instance, if I have a patient who needs a blood transfusion, it is me who draws the labs (peripherally, of course), calls the abnormal results to the physician, takes the order for the Type and Crossmatch, takes the order for however many units of blood (or fresh frozen plasma) the physician wants, orders the blood, gets the consent from the patient or family, starts the IV of NS, and goes to the blood bank to get the blood. From there I need an RN to check the blood with me, then an RN to spike it, then it's up to me again to take it from there, getting the vitals, watching for reactions, etc. So I know my place and my scope and I am quite aware of what I can and cannot do. The only other thing I cannot do in my state, besides spike the blood, is an IV push. I need an RN to do that for me. I have never been asked to go beyond my scope; not by a doctor, supervisor, or other nurses.

9. If I could change one thing about being an LPN it would just be that I wish I was respected more. If I never heard the phrase "just an LPN' again it would be too soon.

10. My best advice.... Remain within your scope, stand tall and don't let people disrespect you for being an LPN, good organization skills are most important, when team leading delegate well, keep an open relationship with your CNA's, leave for the next shift only what you have to and be sure to prioritize well so you are leaving things like dressing changes and not IVPB's, always be on time, always help others on your team, remember that you ARE a nurse and not "just an LPN", and this is my personal motto to myself: IF YOU DIDN'T CHART IT, YOU DIDN'T DO IT! :nono:

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 8, 2007

It seems as though many students are either coming from the same school, or that suddenly there are many assignments that are similar, LOL!! Please check within the passage that is quoted, and see the answers I gave (I am at work, and my computer will not allow me to cut and paste here). Hope it helps and best of luck to you!!!

Hello.
Is there an LPN out there willing to answer a few questions? It's for a school project and I'd like to know what an experienced LPN has to say.
1. What made you decide to be a nurse and how long have you been one?
I have been an LPN since June 2006, and have always wanted to be a nurse since childhood, but didn't think it would ever be possible.
2. Would you be happy retiring as an LPN or do you feel its important to go on to become an RN?
I would be happy to retire as an LPN, because I don't care for the additional responsibilities that RNs have. It is only important to go on if you believe that you have done all that you can do within the LPN scope of practice and wish to serve in a different direction. On a personal level, it would never be important for me to go further because there is more to life than title and nursing for me.
3. What are the biggest challenges today, for LPNs?
The biggest challenge for LPNs is the volume of people they are responsibile for with limited resources. Also, burn out can be an issue as well.
4. Do you think LPNs are used to their full potential?
It depends on where you work. In my geographical area (NYC), most are, from what I see. Other times, there are small stipulations, such as an RN has to screen influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations before LPNs can administer them, and where I work in particular, the LPNs that work on the floors primarily administer medications, but do not have to chart nursing notes. Quite frankly, they did me a favor. But, once meds are administered, we can and do assist with dressings, tube feedings, placing in foleys and such.
5. Are LPNs respected by other medical staff (RNs, doctors, etc)?
I don't think that nurses, period have been respected by other nurses or physicians, so, I don't really see much difference in the respect as a title. There are RNs that will state we are not real nurses, but those that feel that way will not get me to work my best for them...I will do what policy and procedure states and not a drop more for that particular person.
6. Where do you think most job opportunities for LPNs are today?
Home care, long term care, prisions, assisted living clinics, and I do suspect that if the shortage of RNs continues, the upsurge of LPNs to the hospital bedside will rise again. In my area, we still have plenty of LPNs working in the community hospitals and some still in the private sector (but I am hearing not as many).
7. What was your proudest moment as an LPN?
When I got my license. I didn't attend my graduation because it was not earned as far as I was concerned until NCLEX-PN was achieved. In fact, I spent that day beginning to organize my study for the boards. Also, I am proud when some of the BSN students are assigned to work with me during clinicals and do not know until I tell them that I am an LPN. The shock is priceless. Just today, a physician asked me to teach him how to administer a PPD. And, when patients thank me for taking the time to teach them.
8. Are you ever asked to practice beyond your scope? Do you see it happen?
I see people practice out of their scope of practice everyday. I have also been asked to many times.
9. If you could change 1 thing about being an LPN, what would it be?
It would be the pay. And, there should be clearer guidelines that effectively described the duties of the LPN, because they are quite vague, no matter what they tell you.
10. What is your best advice to a new LPN?
Be proud of what you have accomplished. Let no one ever tell you that you are 'not nurse enough'. There is a place for everyone in health care and everyone can positively contribute to the care of clients.
If anyone can respond, thankyou! I appreciate the info.

SDALPN · May 8, 2007

Hello.
Is there an LPN out there willing to answer a few questions? It's for a school project and I'd like to know what an experienced LPN has to say.
1. What made you decide to be a nurse and how long have you been one?
2. Would you be happy retiring as an LPN or do you feel its important to go on to become an RN?
3. What are the biggest challenges today, for LPNs?
4. Do you think LPNs are used to their full potential?
5. Are LPNs respected by other medical staff (RNs, doctors, etc)?
6. Where do you think most job opportunities for LPNs are today?
7. What was your proudest moment as an LPN?
8. Are you ever asked to practice beyond your scope? Do you see it happen?
9. If you could change 1 thing about being an LPN, what would it be?
10. What is your best advice to a new LPN?
If anyone can respond, thankyou! I appreciate the info.

1. It was a 2nd choice actually. Radiography didn't work out for health reasons so I chose nursing. I started as a CNA 1 then CNA 2 then LPN. both CNA 1 and CNA 2 were for a year each. Been an LPN for 1.5 years

2. I think it depends on the person and their goals. I want to slowly work my way up to some advanced practice nursing field. I want to be able to experience all levels of nursing on the way up. I feel doing that will make me a more experienced nurse.

3. The biggest challenge for me has been finding employment as an LPN outside of LTC. Hospitals seem to only hire RN's in my area.

4. In some states I believe we are. In my home state we can do almost anything an RN can do and we are trained well for that. In the state I'm working in, LPN's are very limited compared to my home state.

5. In my experience, yes. I feel you have to earn respect no matter what your title is.

6. Most seem to be in LTC, Home Health, and dr. offices.

7. I've caught a few med errors (made by dr.'s) that could have harmed my patient. Seeing a patient get well after caring for them for months/year.

8. No. I haven't seen it happen.

9. I wouldn't really change the LPN too much but I would love to change schools to make it easier to bridge to RN.

10. Ask questions, never assume anything. Go home and research that new diagnosis, med or procedure (just like school). Document everything, you may need it to CYA one day. I'm sure its not like this everywhere but...protect your license, nobody else will. That higher paying job may be paying more for a reason

Good luck with school!

HisHands, ASN, RN · May 9, 2007

hello.
is there an lpn out there willing to answer a few questions? it's for a school project and i'd like to know what an experienced lpn has to say.
1. what made you decide to be a nurse and how long have you been one?
i've been an lpn for 2 years. i went to a major university for 5 years. finally, in year number 3 i decided i wanted to be a nurse, but i felt the pressing desire to have that sense of completion. plus my financial aid wouldn't pay for another 4 years of school.
2. would you be happy retiring as an lpn or do you feel its important to go on to become an rn?
i am pretty young. i was 21 when i graduated with my lpn, so i feel like i could complete my rn young and still have a lot of years of good rn experience. there was a lady in our class who was 54 who has no desire to go on for her rn. for me, it's important, though.
3. what are the biggest challenges today, for lpns?
not being treated like a "real" nurse and constantly needing to prove myself.
4. do you think lpns are used to their full potential?
not even close.
5. are lpns respected by other medical staff (rns, doctors, etc)?
it depends. some rns and mds don't deserve a lick of respect. some lpns run circles around rns.
6. where do you think most job opportunities for lpns are today?
in my area, i think this is about the breakdown:
35% - ltc
35% - home health
10% - md office
10% - prisons
5% - hospitals
5% - other
7. what was your proudest moment as an lpn?
official answer - finding out that i passed my nclex while on lunch break at work, and returning from lunch, and putting a piece of tape over that spot that said "gpn" and replacing it with "lpn".
unofficial answer - asking my don to do my iv push lasix because i'm not an rn. when she drew up the drug and went in the pt room i looked at the bottle and realized she had given the wrong amount. i got to correct her.
8. are you ever asked to practice beyond your scope? do you see it happen?
my facility is doing otj training for us for some areas outside our scope so we are more proficient practitioners.
9. if you could change 1 thing about being an lpn, what would it be?
more opportunities in the hospitals.
10. what is your best advice to a new lpn?
work hard, play hard and realize that no matter what, you are forever ruined. how many teachers do you know go to work all day, then come home and read teaching journals, then go online to their teaching forum and post til the wee hours of the morning, only to wake up and start it again? how about lawyers? housekeepers? it kindof takes over your life. i guess my advise is: warn your family in advance to get on the bandwagon!
if anyone can respond, thankyou! i appreciate the info.

hope this helps darlin

blessings,

crystal