BeverlynBama

I work as an LPN in the largest clinic in the region where I live outside hospitals. LPNs are the supervisors where I work and when needed do patient care. I love my job and what it entails. I am older went to college after my kids were grown so LPN is good for me.

It must be related to where you are in the country. Here in the south LPNs are very high in demand. Yes, they hire MAs here but MAs cannot give out controlled substance medications. Where I work the majority are LPNs.

When I was in school the rumor was going around too. Some of our instructors said the rumor was rampant when they were in nursing school over 20 years ago. Yes hospitals don't hire as many LPNs although one of our biggest hospitals here do team nursing with the team being a RN, LPN, and a tech. I currently work in a medical clinic and love it. LPNs are charge nurses where I work.

shoes really depend on what shape foot you have....Merrells are great shoes but they do not do well on my feet...I prefer New Balance but my very favorite are Birkenstocks...they make a great nursing shoe

I found out that stethoscopes really do make a difference. At first I bought one at the college bookstore and couldn't hear anything. I thought it was my hearing until one day at clinicals our instructor asked me if I was able to auscultate bowel and lung sounds. She asked because she realized the difference a good stethoscope makes. I went that next day and bought a Littman Light and I LOVE it!

I started the 25th and we have not tested yet. We have our first clinical check off next Friday. It will be hand washing, PPE, putting on TED stockings, doing slip knots for restraints, taking our sutures and staples, applying ace bandages, and applying a dressing to a wound. Our first exam will be a midterm in health assessment which is week after next. The most difficult part for me is how to study. They keep telling us this is not like any of our the other classes we had had. I am doing the study guide book for fundamentals. They just now have our lecture recordings posted so I will spend the weekend reviewing some lectures. I think my nerves will settle down a bit after we start working in smaller groups with the instructors. Right now we are in a large lecture hall with 325 students. I know I am exhausted tired.

The A&P classes where I am college are the same for LPN and RN. They are difficult classes but doable.

They said the cut off this year was 151 points for the RN program.

Jamie, Thank you so much for information. It is a bit overwhelming at the moment. I would love to have your email addy please. I have some questions already. LOL

I hope you have started your reading. It was quite a big assignment. Not only was reading assigned but we had to register at ERI and do the coaching material for Reach for an A. With the coaching material we have to write out notes. They cannot be typed. I plan on taking the fundamentals book and the assessment book. Maybe the cyclopedia but I am not sure.

Tomorrow is the big day for me too. I am so excited, scared, and nervous. I want to take today and chill but need to do so much to organize. I want everything ready when I wake up in the morning.

The rolling backpack is wonderful. I purchased mine at Marshall's. It is a Jansport and it was under $30.

I am in the same boat but older. I a 52 and have NO medical background other than raising two kids. I plan on spending the next two weeks organizing my study area and enjoying life. I firmly believe that our age will be a great asset to us in nursing school. At orientation they talked about how crucial critical thinking skills are. Those of us that are a little older have a lot of experience to draw on in the way of critical thinking. Let's all enjoy the adventure together and pat ourself on the back for reaching out for dreams.

The Clift notes site is one I have used a lot in my A&P classes. It is a huge help in getting the whole picture in understandable terms.

Thank you for the sharing. Congrats on the test grade!