LPNs and LPN students, be PROUD!

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

yesterday i was talking to a young lady at her clinical site. i asked where does she go to school and what program is she in. she told me she was in the lpn program and started to ramble off her reasoning of doing the lpn route first. she started to hold her head down and look away. i told her to hold her head up high and trust that she is doing the best thing for her at this time. she stated that she is so use to people's negativity about lpns so she constantly feels that she have to defend her decision. i told her that becoming a lpn is a great thing and that lpns are nurses and a valuable member of the health care team.

i'm personally sick and tired of hearing that my lpn schooling was a waste of time and money. this is not true. i worked hard to become a lpn and i love being a nurse. i would never tell someone that their hard earned education is a waste of time and money. number one its' rude and number two who in the heck am i to decide that? everyone knows that there are more opportunities for rns, however some people like me have to take baby steps to get there.

next week i complete my rn degree requirements and if god forbid i failed this program or did not pass my boards i'm so darn grateful that i have my lpn license to fall back on.

so i say this to lpns and lpn students: hold your head up high and be proud of your accomplishments. this goes for cnas too.;)

i say this to rns: please think before you speak or type about someones lpn certification being a waste of time. this is hurtful and disrespectful. how would you like it if someone said your adn or bsn was a waste.

this is my rant for the today. hope everyone has a blessed day. :)

You all have no idea how much help you all have been to me today. Ever heard the saying "If you smile at a person, you may just have brighten their day?" I am 20 y/o and i have finished my prereqs for Pre-Nursing but with the circumstances of my life Im constantly being discouraged. Ive always been the person to do whatever I feel is best for me, but for some odd reason I cant seem to make the decision of my educational plans. It will take me longer to achieve my goal of becoming a BSN RN, but LPN is the ideal route for me. I know the type of learner that I am and it is only best that I take everything a step at a time.

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I am an LPN and I am PROUD!

However...it wasn't always this way. While training, a LPN who has been with the facility for years kept telling me I should not have become a LPN, I won't find a job, they're phasing us out, blah, blah blah...I think she has her own insecurities to adress!

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.
You all have no idea how much help you all have been to me today. Ever heard the saying "If you smile at a person, you may just have brighten their day?" I am 20 y/o and i have finished my prereqs for Pre-Nursing but with the circumstances of my life Im constantly being discouraged. Ive always been the person to do whatever I feel is best for me, but for some odd reason I cant seem to make the decision of my educational plans. It will take me longer to achieve my goal of becoming a BSN RN, but LPN is the ideal route for me. I know the type of learner that I am and it is only best that I take everything a step at a time.

Good for you for knowing what is best for your situation and having the courage to do it even though you've probably heard a million opinions.

From my personal experience: There are worst jobs to have while working your way through RN than being an LPN/LVN and also if something happens like it did to me where you get sick and you have to take a break from school for a little bit well your still a LPN/LVN.

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I started out as a PCT then became an LVN which was a lot of work by the way. I graduated from the RN program this last May and I must say that having been an LVN first has really helped me with my confidence. I am in an ER residency program in a very large hospital and am so grateful for the prior experience. I was always so proud of my LVN status. During the RN program I had so many of the nursing students who were going straight through tell me they wished they had done LVN first. Keep you chin up and don't let anyone tell you that being an LVN isn't worth it. I will never regret my decision and neither should you:)

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The other day my friend was talking to me about someone she knows who is going to school to become a nurse. I asked her what kind of nurse? My friend says, "The lower one."

That about sums up some peoples understanding of the differences in licenses.

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Specializes in Physician practice.

well I have to say I just got licensed today and I am PROUD to be an LPN, this was the better option for me at this point in time in my life. And it was not an easy road.

I will never forget when we were in clinicals on the floor and there were both RN & LPN students there and one of the RN STUDENTs came out and told us to go change the Patients brief!! LOL.. We said umm we will help you if you need help.

Lastly, I was in my last set of clinicals and my nurse was a new RN and she was working in the nursing home cuz hospitals around here won't hire anyone without 1 year experience. Well she didn't have good delegating skills and the patient needed to be changed and couldnt get the CNA to do it, so I a STUDENT LPN had to show her how to change a breif and bed at the same time... she told me that she was never shown how to change a bed or a brief at school.

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Struggling LPN, the "lower" one now is not just the LPN, but the ADN and increasingly the BSN, LOL> its just becoming a big game we are all playing now to get higher degrees for lower pay and the same exact job. In part of the country, all the hospitals want BSN. Im way too old to make it worth my while to go that route. At this point, my plan is to be the best LPN I can be.

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Specializes in CNA/LPN.

thank you for this, brought tears to my eyes because i also feel like i've been conditioned to defend my route immediately after i say i'm an lpn student. i automatically start going into saying "but i'm going for my bsn afterwards" along with all the other explanations i feel i have to say. it's not right, but it seems it will not cease. i am beginning to feel very proud though and getting tired of explaining myself. i'm doing what i am doing for me and my future, not anyone else...so why do they care enough to make remarks on having an lpn license...it baffles me, but humans will be humans! i'll hold my head high the entire way through!

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Well said to begin with and I must say that it is very true that there is a benefit of being a LPN, CNA or Patient tech prior to obtaining an RN. I learnt it the hard way because with no experience at all I went into the RN program and failed it twice and now I'm considering going in via the LPN route to obtain some much needed experience and then bridge over. As a matter of fact, the LPN's I've met during clinical rotations are more skilled and knowledgeable than the RN's and I think this is a huge boost to the other staff members who I see using the LPN's as reference for certain skills.

EDUCATION is NEVER a waste of time and money, and who so ever makes a mockery of someone else when it relates to education, is simply making a mockery of their own ignorance!!

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I just finished my EMT-B course, passed state boards, and just recently got accepted into nursing(LPN) school. I have no shame and care what people have to say. I am 19 years old and am doing what is best for my future. I eventually plan on going back to get my RN at the same school since i have all the pre-reqs done for the RN with the exception of two classes. I also say be proud of what you are in school for. You are still contributing something positive to society and are bettering yourself at the same time.

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As a canine lover, I am frequently an LPN next to a dog..in fact, I woke up this morning adjacent to one. I get your point, though. There is a perception problem for nurses in general and LPNs in particular. Although I am proud of my accomplishments, I can relate to the student who hung her head. People's reaction when I tell them I'm an LPN is always, "when are you going to get your RN?". I'm happy with where I am for now, love being a nurse and will go back to school when that fits into my otherwise hectic life.

Life is a progression, and we must change with it and grow as we are ready. Thanks for your post, I appreciate your opinion.

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Thank you and your family for your service! It is a testiment to your will and dedication that you were able to undergo such a rigorous program as nursing school while fulfilling such ambitious roles as caregiver and for practical purposes, single mom. Congratulations on the decision to continue your education.

As for the stigma of LPN, I don't understand what problem people have with those who hold a good-paying, responsible job that requires dedication, intelligence and caring; as well as a very rigorous year or two of education.

My story is somewhat similar to yours: I was caregiver to my grandmother who had AD and helper of my elderly grandpa while doing my prerequisites and PN program. It was exhausting, but we made it work. You're right, we should all take it as a challenge to work together, and be encouragers of fellow humans, rather than judgmental. Thanks for posting!

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