LVN first and THEN RN?

entet · May 1, 2013

Hello,

If you don't mind asking you, how hard is the job as an lpn? Because I already started my core classes but I really like ADN since I heard a lot murmuring about how hard it is.. so I have to think twice if am I going to get Lpn or Adn? Thanks!

CrazyGoonRN · May 2, 2013

Hello,
If you don't mind asking you, how hard is the job as an lpn? Because I already started my core classes but I really like ADN since I heard a lot murmuring about how hard it is.. so I have to think twice if am I going to get Lpn or Adn? Thanks!

The LPN job can be very hard or very easy. It really just depends on where you work. You are not allowed to do something's that RN's do but your job can be just as hard. Imagine passing 8am meds to 24 patients and you only have 2 hours to do it or you're considered late (1 hour before and 1 hour after). Most of the patients are on at least 10-15 medications if not more. Some are on breathing treatments that you also are expected to administer. There may be 1 or 2 with an IV medication that takes additional time to set up and administer. There may be about 10 or more patients who have trouble swallowing so you also have to crush their meds and mix in applesauce. While you are trying to go as fast as safely possible to give these meds call lights are going off continuously and you know that Ms. Doe down the hall will try to get up and probably fall if her light is not answered within the next 5 minutes and all the CNA's are in other rooms so u have to stop, lock the cart and answer her light. While you are in her room for 5-10 minutes the physical therapist comes and wheels away the patient you were about to give meds to so you have to go down stairs to the pt gym to give the meds. Maybe 1-3 of the patients have advanced dementia and you have to spend 5-7 minutes trying to give them their meds only to have them spit it back at you. You bring one patient their meds only to have them refuse after all that work of getting it ready. One patient is going out for an appointment and she needs her meds at 7am when she normally doesn't get them until almost 9am but the nurse giving report forgot to tell you so you have to rush at the last minute to get her meds. With everything going on you forget to go back and take the mask off the patient who received the breathing treatment and now the patient is laying there screaming for you to come back.

I could go on and on....so is being an LPN hard? Yeah it certainly can be.