SarahCeleste

Thanks, SCRN. It's nice to have someone understand... :)

I may get in some hot water for this, but I'm not known for my meek demeanor. I am an LVN and I appreciate and respect RNs. In fact, I'll be one someday, so what's the point in bashing? I think a lot of this "RN bashing" is the fact that as an LVN, we do ALMOST (*note: I did say almost) as much as an RN, have a lot of the same knowledge bases...but get paid A LOT less. This, of course, causes a lot of frustration and those of us who are not advantaged enough to go straight RN or BSN and work our way up from CNA to LVN to RN and so on do get a little off center at our lesser pay and respect. I, for one, cannot afford to continue my education at present and it is frustrating and I would like to be an RN today, but will achieve that when I can. I almost want to use the word 'jealous' of the pay scale, but I don't think that would be prudent. :chuckle You get what I'm saying. Anyway, don't want to cause a backlash of hateful comments, that's just my take on the situation. P.S. I continually get asked "Oh, you're a nurse? What, RN or are you JUST an LVN?" Makes me wanna scream!

I am graduating in 8 days and will start working at a larger hospital than where I've done my clinicals and all of this advice is GREATLY appreciated. I'm going to make a list and print it out to keep it in plain view. Thanks to everyone!

I am also a student nurse and will be graduating in less than a month as an LVN, of which our main job is to give meds. I am thankful to you all for being brave enough to tell us your mistakes so that we may learn from them. I have yet to make a big mistake (once missed a vitamin supplement in the nursing home---but, it's still a mistake, though not life threatening) because of the constant supervision and checks that are integral with school. I am frightened that I will make a mistake when I graduate when I don't have an instructor holding my hand. I will be moving to a considerably larger town than where I have done my clinicals and will be working for a hospital that does massive amounts of student teaching with the university in town (Texas Tech). I'm nervous that this larger atmostphere will cause me to have to "hurry" myself to keep up with the workload, but as someone said previously, never let your guard down. It really is mindboggling how we really can hold the pt life in our hands. Cheers to you all who stood your ground, those of you who admitted and learned from your mistakes and all of you who were willing to let us in on your horror and fright so that we may learn from them. This thread has really been an eye-opener for me! Thanks :)

*Just a warning, I am pro-life, so if you are pro-choice and believe this reply may offend you, please scroll away now.* I am sick and tired of the abortion advocates to be the one with the louder voice. In 4 out of 5 conversations about abortions I've experienced, it is always the pro-choicer to be more vocal while the pro-life person is too worried about offending someone. Well, I'm not. I find the initial post hideously upsetting and I think it is disgusting the way abortion is so widely accepted and commonplace. On this anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I would like to take the time and reflect on all the wonderful people we have missed out in this world due to a bad decision. As nurses, we are taught that the age of viability is 20 weeks---even at that late of stage what gives these people the right to abort their children?! I mean, preterm babies being thrown in the trash---it's a disgusting state we've tumbled into. I live in Texas and I praise our state system for implementing a new program dealing with abortion. Before you get one, you must wait an obligatory 24hrs, have a sonogram and read literature that shows actual pictures of the fetus at different stages of development ie they're seeing that it is not just "a blob of tissue." Partial abortion is murder. Why is it that there is such a controversial question over euthanasia when we go about aborting people without their consent? We protest in the streets about sending our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, friends and relatives to a foreign land to fight for our freedom, but willingly accept killing our own children at home. I apologize for those I may have offended, but as a women's health advocate AND pro-lifer, I have seen and experienced friends and family who have come to me for psychological counseling due to the enormous amount of grief and pain these women carry about them for the rest of their lives for a bad decision. It's hurtful for everyone involved. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and you shouldn't start messing with the Divine plan of things. I'm writing this in rememberance of all those that didn't get a chance, and for all those that did have a chance and were thrown away, still. Abortion is not an option, it is a consequence of your actions. :stone

If I was not a nurse, I'd have been a university literature professor, writer and bookstore owner (not unlike BookPeople in Austin, Texas.) Sigh....ahh, to daydream for awhile.....

I will be graduating in May as an LPN (here in Texas, LVN, of course) and as we delve deeper into the hospital realm of clinicals, I've begun to question the involvement of the LVN in certain specialty areas. Is it common to have a large demand for LVNs in OR, ER or OB? Those three areas are my favorite and what I am looking to go into (after a stint in med/surg to gain experience). I just wanted to see if an LVN is considered just as important in those types of jobs as RNs or if LVNs are even greatly accepted in those areas. Thanks

Yes, I plan on continuing to my RN, BSN and eventually my Nurse Practitioners' License, but all in due time. I will graduate in May and will try to find a job, more than likely med/surg to gain experience and further my hands on education before embarking upon school once again. I have a better understanding of the wages now, thanks guys!

Hi! Hope everyone is having a great new year so far. My question is this: what is the range for LPN salaries, perhaps just the most common. Most salary questions are answered by RNs, but I'm in LVN school and would like to know a little bit more about what I could come out making soon (MAY 2004 GRAD!!!) Thanks guys and have a wonderful day----

I am a student about to start the second semester of my LVN at a community college in Texas. I love the program and the instructors are extremely helpful and I regard their opinions in the highest, but I would like to have other nurse's opinions on this matter as well. Everyone tells me it is highly recommended to do Med/Surg at least one full year after graduation to gain more experience and capability in other areas. I feel like this is a good decision, but am not sure if that is what I really want to do. I am planning on furthering my education to BSN and maybe someday, God willing, Nurse Practitioner and would like to continue my schooling as quickly as feasible with my concurrent nursing career as an LVN. My question to you all is this: is it a good idea to do Med/Surg prior to specialization? What are your thoughts on this and what route did you take? I know this this is a quite frequent question, but my time is closing in on graduation (MAY 2004! YAY!!!) and would I like a tad more input on it than what I am getting locally. Thanks and God Bless!

Hey guys! I'm relocating to Lubbock from Big Spring Texas in September/October and I was wondering if there was anyone out there from Lubbock that could give me some job tips or just tips about the scene in general. I'm graduating with my LVN in May and planned on getting up there, working and then trying to finish my RN through the Covenant System....I'd really appreciate any info---Thanks!:kiss

Well, this subject will always be controversial and unfortunately I don't see an end to it in the near future. Because, not only are we dealing with the most taboo issues here i.e. politics and religion but we're also dealing with the quality of life. In my opinion, yes, it is an excruciating thing to watch a terminally ill patient go through the tortuous moments (weeks, months, etc) of dying, but that is not in our hands to decided when they will expire. Only God knows and I'm a firm believer in God's plan and that only He can choose when one shall die. I do think euthanasia is a wonderful concept, but that just won't hold water in the social or religious world. I understand that we take animals out of their misery, but folks, animals and people, regardless of what many want to say, are quite different. (Again, remember, this is just my novice opinion) and unfortunately, I would even feel this way if I had an ailing family member. There is the fact that we can pull the plug (not unlike the Terry Schiavo travesty)---and just not put them back on it, but as for purposely overdosing a client, I do not believe that is ethical and it is beyond our scope, here. Even Doctors, as much as they like to possess the God complex, do not have that decision. No one ever promised this world was going to be easy and that there was going to be no sufferring involved. God does not give someone more than they can handle, regardless the circumstance; whether its financial hardship, physical pain or prolonged dying, it is no MAN's decision on when one shall die. Hope I haven't offended anyone, but again, yeah, there's my two cents. God bless and have a wonderful holiday season.

Thanks for all the responses guys. Well, the cramming worked---got an A. Finished this semester with 4 A's, 2 Bs. I'm a happy camper. Cramming and studying the night before has always been my successful M.O. but hey, if you're one of those people who can retain knowledge days in advance, more power to ya!

Well, this is the end of my first semester in LPN school and boy, do I need a break! The question that everyone seems to be asking each other and veterans of the program is this: does second semester tend to be harder? We really don't know what to have in mind for the future---I kinda feel like I did right before school started--confused, excited and a little scared. I'll be finishing this semester with all A's and one B---is that any indication of spring semester (OB/Pedi, Med/Surg, Misc....)? I'd love to hear anything you can tell me about it.....Thanks:kiss

I'm just taking a study break, it's 4:15 am here in Texas, and I thought I'd log on and remind all of you guys out of school what it was like to cram all night the night before finals.....school is heaven, wasn't it?? This is me This is what I should be doing :zzzzz It's enough to drive anyone loony, isn't it? :chuckle