I graduated from LVN school in '08. And since then, all I ever hear is "You're an LVN? Thats great! When are you going for your RN?" I won't lie, it always, always, ALWAYS makes me feel inadequate. My own family asked that question of me before I even graduated LVN school. I got to the point where I felt so ashamed to only be graduating LVN school that I didn't even walk in my ceremony.
Over the past 2 1/2 years, I've been struggling to find decent LVN work, because, lets face it, hospitals rarely utilize LVN's. And unless you're great at working in skilled nursing (which I am not), our only real saving grace is home health. On top of trying to find work, I've been struggling to rush through school so I can obtain that almighty RN title. Which is nearly impossible these days. The economic climate has put a ton of people out of work, which sends them back to school, which impacts classes I need to take, which in turn extends my time in the classroom. Not to mention the wait lists here in CA.
I was promised two things when I signed up for LVN school...
1) That there were a plethora of acute care jobs out there for my taking.
2) That bridging into an RN program would be simple and without a wait.
I have discovered that those are both lies.
The lack of respect for the LVN title has also caused me to be ashamed that I'm not an RN. I've heard that I'm not a real nurse, that I can't do anything, ect... I've had friends in BSN programs talk to me about the lowly LVN's they were stuck working with that day, and how LVN's aren't anything more than a glorified CNA. Imagine their surprise when I told them that all the nursing school advice and help they'd been getting came from one of those "lowly LVN's"... Me. I can't even count the number of times I've had to explain my title and scope of practice. People are always SHOCKED that LVN's have the scope of practice that we do. Plain and simple, us LVN's? We get no respect.
I worked my tail off in LVN school. Maintained a 3.5 GPA in all my courses. Memorized all my lab values, pharmacology, body systems and diseases. And you know what? I remember it all. I have worked with RN's that don't know as much as I do. I'm not saying I'm a better nurse, or smarter than them, but I know things. LVN school was an intense 12 months of non-stop schooling that whipped me into great shape as a nurse.
I may not be an RN, but I'm a dang good LVN. No longer am I ashamed of my title. I'm a licensed professional. I make a difference in patients lives. I've even saved a couple! I'm an LVN and proud of it!
