New LVN and already TIRED of it!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I am not tired of the work or the job, but more the restrictions on me as a nurse. Ok I understand there is a scope and I adhere to it. Well I am just off orientation and when I had my preceptor there with me I got spoiled! Always someone there to do pushes or hang piggy backs, now, if I am lucky the charge on the floor that day is good and does my IV stuff. But I am already tired of having to track an RN down. I feel bad like I am imposing on her. Also I have had 2 people in the 4 days I have been off orientation think I am not a "full fledged nurse" The one patient was Monday and he said "So when will you be a ful fledged nurse?" The second was today, a family member. She happened to be an employee at the hospital too. My charge was starting a new IV for me because the patient was getting blood and his other IV was going bad. This patient needed pain meds and it was IV push (I AM iv certified, she just started the IV since she was going to push dilaudid) Well I forget what was said, but this persons daughter said "Oh no dad, she's just the LVN, the other lady is the nurse" I turned around and said "Oh I AM his nurse, I am a Licesned Vocational Nurse, she is the CHARGE nurse" She apologized, but I still felt like crap! I feel like all the time I put into school was a waste. Believe me this is the drive and determination I need to get through the RN program. I WILL go on, but I am just frustrated! Sure I cannot do as much as an RN can do in her scope, but I do work just as hard.

Ok Vent over :-(

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I am so sorry you have been experiencing this. My mom had the exact same problem. When I told her I was going to nursing school she told me, "Don't fool around with LVN get your RN right away." I hate that you feel like you wasted your education, but remember there is no such thing as wasted education. Just try not to let it get to you, and remember this is not the end of the road for you. You will be an RN one day and that may not even be the end of the road for you. You may decide to go on and get your masters. Take it one stepping stone at a time and try not to slip on the moss.

Good luck.

P.S.

I hope you get treated with a little more respect, but that is just our uneducated public.

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Use these experiences as the motivation to start the prereqs for an RN program. And don't let it get you down. I will tell you the same thing I was told when I was obviously going into terminal burnout: Get a life. Find something outside of your job that gives you a little bit of satisfaction. And I do mean something besides finishing nursing school prereqs, one by one. Good luck to you.

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Please don't lose hope, I'm just a CRT working on my RRT and as you know, we all have to crawl before we walk, walk before we run, soon, you'll be, oh yeah, you already are running your a$$ off....hehe, sorry, but you know what I mean, you're there for patient care and to learn, may the learning never stop..You'll have the glory one day and one day, you'll be a precepter to "just an LVN" and you'll have this very experience to guide that LVN...

We ALL are important in the work that we do! and you worked Long and Hard for the education, Please, Please be proud of that!!!

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Good topic. NEVER lose hope! The everyday people have NO CLUE what it is to do nursing school... LPN/LVN or RN and beyond. This is the hardest thing I have ever done other than give 2 natural births within 1 3/4 years of each other and I am so proud of all the peole whjo have taken the time to do this. This career is one of the hardest to do during and after school is over. Just know no matter what anyone says, you are THE ****!!! LOL.. be good and take care... who cares what people say, do your job to the best of your ability and within your scope and go hom. When they physically pay your bills, then you can worry LOL... G'nite

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I think I can relate to how you must feel. My first year was as an LPN on an acute care unit. I adhered to my scope of practice, which wasn't always easy, because it meant that I had to rely on my RN colleagues to do things for me that were outside my scope.

As far as the patients are concerned, I think you handled it just right. Something that might help ease the feelings that you might be overburdening the RNs is a little "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours". If you need an RN to do a piggyback or IVP, offer to do something for them that is in your scope.

For me, being an LPN was a stepping stone on my way to becoming an RN. But for many nurses, LPN is as far as it goes. Because of that, I conducted myself in a dignified, professional manner, as someone worthy of the respect that LPNs are worthy of. There is no such thing as "Just an LPN".

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Specializes in Forensic Psychiatric Nursing.

If you don't like the limitations of your scope, go back to school and get whatever cert you want. Medicine is a meritocracy. Go to school, do well, pass your test, and step up another rung.

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Specializes in tele, oncology.

I trade with the other nurses..."Hey, Jane, will you push some Dilaudid for me while I help the tech clean up your patient?"

I thank my lucky stars that I'm on the floor I'm at...all the RNs are very supportive and have no problem doing my pushes for me. I also hate the fact that I have to depend on others to do stuff for me. However, in the words of one of my absolutely favorite charge nurses of all time..."I'd rather have a LPN I know I can depend on that I have to do pushes for every once in a while than a nurse, RN or LPN, that I can't trust to care for the patients appropiately."

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