ErJoe79

"...alot of Hospitals and LTC Facilities give incentives to LPNS ...To return for their RN" Isn't that the same as phasing out? You might call it whatever technical term you want, but if for whatever reason hospitals decide not to employ lpns anymore then all we're left with is home health, nursing home, staffing agency, etc. We're subject to an ever-changing environment. Specially how the economy is doing these days I ask you guys: what's better, to have a paycheck based on $15/hr as an lpn (at least where I'm currently employed) or go to school for one more year and have many more doors open to you? Let's face it, higher oportunities, as well as higher learning, are not available to lpns.

I feel as if we LVN/LPNs in florida, for that matter Miami-dade and Broward counties have the same problems. Most hospitals are or have already phased out lpns. What's left is, as someone already mentioned above, staffing (which has good pros and cons, depending on season and facility needs), home health care, nursing homes, etc. At the hospital were I work I can do almost everything an RN does except push iv meds, pull out cvps, and a few other technicalities. I've been hearing the term "Let's Play Nurse" or "Low Payed Nurse" used very frequently in my facility. And that's also another factor. At least here in south FL, and particularly my facility, I do almost everything an RN does for a fraction of the salary. Honestly? I don't think it's fair at all. Personally, it is my opinion that an aditional year of school is worth the over all upgrade you get when you became an RN. Besides, high specialty areas such ER/Trauma, Chemo, and others are not avaliable to LPNs. And if one has plans for further education, such as PA's ARNPs , or CRNAs, it's mandatory. But that's another story.

Just like many others I didn't pass my NCLEX pn exam the first time. I will be honest. I did not study at all. Second time around comes. I resend all pertinent paper work. Waiting to receive the letter. Once I have it I start studying. What worked for me was a combination of knowing the material but also how to properly and correctly answer each and every questions. All I did the second time around was focus on how to answer those questions. I can't sit for hours on end. So every day for four months, 2.5 hours a day, I studied. and passed. The key to the nclex is halp knowledge, have knowing how to answer the questions. Don't give, you can do it. :)