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[COLOR=#000000]I've been an LPN for 9 years. I had intended to obtain RNlicensure, even completing all of my Pre-reqs for an RN program. But I had to leave my RN program after onesemester for various reasons. I found ajob with the VA and could not return to school and keep up with bills at thesame time. Financially, it wasn't apossibility. I work in a physician'soffice setting now and I really like it. It pays well and I'm happy there. I have no intention of going back to schoolbecause I would have to quit my job in order to change my schedule for school. I would also have to retake all my sciences. Iam not doing that. Plus, being an RN hasno real appeal to me anymore. I like theidea of improving myself and becoming a better and more knowledgeable nurse,but I'm not going to quit my job and go back to school to do that at thispoint. Many of the RNs I have met areVERY unhappy with their careers, as are many of the LPNs I've met. I feel blessed to have a job that I enjoy andgood coworkers. I'm not going to messthat up. And to everyone saying thatLPNs had better go back to school because LPNs will be phased out, I agree thatthat's always a possibility. However, it'sunlikely. If you can use a nursingassistant, you can use an LPN. It wouldmake no sense to wipe out the entire LPN work force, but that's just myopinion. Besides, working in healthcareis not my only option. Nurses have many skills that can be used in many otherfields.[/COLOR]

I realize this post is four years old now. I'm curious whether your thoughts have changed at all. I've been an LPN for about 7 years and I don't regret going to LPN school. I wanted to become a nurse, and that's what I did. Up until recently I didn't want to go back to school for RN. Whenever someone would ask me about it, it really irritated me. I don't need to prove that I'm a good nurse by going back to school. However, now I am looking into returning to school, but that's only because my employer will help pay for it and I feel like I need to advance myself since I have the opportunity. I don't know any other practical career to pursue with my background at this point. For anybody else interested in going to LPN school, all I can say is it's better than not pursuing nursing at all. It's a cheaper and shorter way to find out if this field is for you. I've talked to RNs who hate being nurses and thought that LPNs were crazy for going back to school for RN. If you really want to do it, just go for it. Nursing can be very stressful, but also rewarding in many ways.

I would offer to sit next to the patient and hold his hand while he was in bed, but that's it. I would have to say I am not comfortable with laying next to the pt. If you are not comfortable, that's that.

There are some advantages to being the only guy in the workplace. In female dominated fields, you will find that women tend to be at each others' throats a lot of times. In most of the places I have worked, most of women like me (strictly platonically). I'm the only guy around usually, so it seems to work to my benefit. If one of them treats me poorly or bothers me, the others usually come to my defense. Me and my home girls.

Sorry to hear you are so burnt out. Don't you think you should look into a different job? Perhaps even a different type of nursing? I wouldn't give up on it just because your current job sucks. I'm not sure what all you dislike about the job so far, but it sounds like the facility you are in may have a difficult patient population.

Thank you. I actually checked with the BON in PA and they sent me an email stating that all nurses in PA educated as LPNs after 1990 have been required to take IV therapy training in their LPN program. For some reason they just don't add anything to the license number to indicate the nurse is authorized to administer IV therapy like Ohio does. They stated it was up to the employer to determine competency.

Thank you Esme12 :)

Oh, and I would like to add that my partner actually told me about this without me even asking about it. Otherwise I would have probably never asked. I would have just handled an emergency the same way I would handle it with any other person. I would have commenced CPR if necessary. The fact that my partner told me that his father is a DNR is why I am trying to get a copy of the paperwork.

I don't think she is crazy, although she was a VP of a hospital; so I do think she should know better. I don't get it at all. That is why I am trying to get everything in order. I am alone in the house with him on certain days, and I want to be prepared if something happens. I also don't want to perform CPR on someone who does not want it. I like your comment :)

DNP? So I seriously have to explain to you why the fact that I'm a nurse makes all the difference in this situation? Nursing 101 anybody? A nurse--especially one certified in CPR--has certain obligations when present during an emergency. Do I have to spell the rest out for you? I "gather" that you are just here to sh*t on posts. I do not find your comments helpful so please kindly take your "advice" elsewhere. I hate to think anybody in a similar situation to mine might actually take your counsel seriously--he/she might be seriously jeapordizing a career and/or license. Your comments are disrespectful and I find you reeking of pretentiousness.

thanks for the advice grntea and everybody else. this has been very helpful for me. i live in pa so i will try to find out what the emts would need to see to withhold cpr.

The dad has made it clear he does not want CPR performed on him if something happens. He has heart disease, but other than that he functions pretty well on his own and is doing pretty well overall. He has not been declared incompetent. If something happens, I don't want to be questioned about why I did not perform CPR with nothing to back myself up. I also don't want EMTs starting CPR if it is not something he wants. I don't know why they don't have the paperwork here. That is why I'm trying to get everything in order.

I will definitely get the ball rolling on getting the advanced directives sent here. I do not want to be put in the position where I walk into the house to find him without a pulse, but if it does happen I do not want people questioning why I did not initiate CPR.

How is it none of my business? I'm a nurse and I live with him.

My partner's family failed to tell me about the DNR status of their 82 year-old father until last week. He lives with us. He is pretty healthy but has recently been feeling some general malaise and weakness. The my partner's only sibling who is the healthcare POA stated he is absolutely a DNR, but she lives out of state. I am uncomfortable not having his advanced directives here at the home to reference to incase of an emergency. What do you suggest my fellow nurses? I am going to ask for my partner's sister to submit a letter to me stating that he is a DNR at the very least, since she is the healthcare POA. Do you think I am blowing this out of proportion? Please leave your feedback.