OMG I can so relate to you! I became a LPN in Oct. 07. I'll be 38 on Sunday. I primarily became a nurse after watching my Dad slowly die from liver disease (He passed 2/23/08) I went through the same things you are contemplating now. I even turned down LPN school the year before when I applied for RN and all the openings were taken. I thought, if I cant be a RN, Im not doing it! I finally decided at my age, and with two younger kids and a difficult husband, I should start whereever the good Lord leads me, hence LPN school. My class worked mostly in a nursing home for clinicals, and I told myself, "I'll never work in a nursing home! Its too depressing, not enough experience, etc, etc, etc" Well, when I got my license, it just so happens our local hospital was not hiring LPN's at the time, so I had no choice but to work at a nursing home. Believe it or not, it has been a tremendous blessing to me! I get paid $4 more than the hospital, and lately our nursing home is being blessed with alot of acute care patients. Most of the 'old-time' nurses (those who have been nurses a long time) c/o all the IV's, g-tubes, irrigations, mental health, dressing changes, etc. that we have all the sudden, but for me it's a dream. My biggest fear of working in a nursing home was losing what I learned in school d/t lack of everyday experience. I learn something new everyday. Aside from that, Im also learning how to deal with death (in a nursing home you tend to get attached to people more) and because the staff is mostly made up of LPN's, you are the CHARGE NURSE:yeah: I know I dont have any other job to compare my experience to, but Im so thankful I became a LPN first. I might not have the title or experience (not to downgrade my RN's sisters ), but I have confidence and faith that I'm serving a purpose to those whose look forward to seeing me and trust in my care every day. I hope to go on as an RN someday as well. Good luck to you and your decision:bow:
Dixiee
