BAtoLPN

I am not really responding to any comment, just to the "general" title of this thread. I admit I WAS guilty of thinking that LPN's were not "real" nurses. I was on a waiting list for an ADN program, but discovered that if I entered the LPN program, I could get in earlier and thus finish my ADN earlier by doing the LPN to RN route. (The ADN program here is 5 semesters - the LPN program is the same as the ADN program, the LPN's just graduate after 3 semesters instead of 5.) I work full time and have a 7-year old daughter. I also have my BA, so I already had a lot of the "pre-nursing" classes. ANYWAY! I was taking 3 classes (pharmacology, nutrition, and anatomy and physiology) AND starting my clinicals. Well, I had to drop the clinicals - it was too much to work, take 3 classes, be a decent mom, AND do well in clinicals! The thing that REALLY grated my nerves was that just prior to dropping clinicals (I am re-entering in the fall),my mom asked me if my clinicals were "boring" because I was just doing "LPN stuff." AHHHHH!!!! I wanted to choke her! Yeah, mom, "REAL" nurses (aka, RN's) don't wipe butts, and FAKE nurses (aka, LPN's) don't have to know SQUAT about medications, doing assessments, taking vitals, etc. GRRRR!!!! Anyway, just wanted to apologize to all of you LPN's out there and let you know that I respect you and CAN'T WAIT to be one of you. I plan to work as an LPN while I pursue my RN, and you know what? I will be getting NURSING experience! I think that will look just lovely on my resume.

I'm just a "glorified receptionist" and nursing student in the ER here, but I can tell you this already: NO ONE calls in sick here. If nursing staff or techs call in, they are made to feel VERY guilty about it. Folks here usually show up near death, and MAYBE they will get to go home after a bit, IF the charge RN agrees... I am not sure how it affects the workload for the other folks inthe back, but I imagine it creates similar problems to the ones described here. The thing that _I_ don't get is why, even if you are short-staffed, you would want some sick person around ER patients? I can say that if I brought my daughter in there for something, I wouldn't want some sick-as-a-dog person hovering around her and providing care - they might make her worse! I think the administration needs to take that into consideration. I know there are "slackers" out there who will call in at the drop of a hat, but most folks are NOT like that. If they say they are sick, they are sick! What I have seen here so far makes me really nervous - I am not sure I would want to work here once I get out of school with the attitude the way it is currently.

Interesting point. There are a LOT of OB docs out there that are men.... why are these folks not telling THEM that THEY can't possibly know what they are doing because they have never given birth? LOL! Heck, they don't even have the same "equipment," so what they hell do THEY know? :wink2: I also wonder do the male nurses and docs get these same questions? I'll bet they don't.... :angryfire BTW, I DO have a child, and I am VERY glad, but in my pre-nursing profession (Special Ed) I definitely saw plenty of unwanted children. Also, I was VERY good with those kids even BEFORE I had my own child. :thankya:

You are a school nurse with an LPN? How did you manage that? Where do you live? I would LOOOOVE to do that, but I thought it was almost impossible unless you were an RN, and in some cases a BSN.

I totally agree! I am in a similar situation, and BSN is my goal - eventually. I am getting my LPN first - not my "dream," but frankly I think it will be helpful in the long run (experience as a "nurse," if not an RN, still as a nurse). My plan is to take and pass the NCLEX and AS SOON AS my LPN license comes in I will apply IMMEDIATELY to the LPN to RN program (that is kind of my only option here). That way I will be less likely to "put it off." Also, if you can get your foot in the door somewhere as an LPN, a lot of places will pay for you to get your LPN to RN as long as you agree to work for them for a certain time period after you graduate. They are also more likely to work around your school schedule if yyou do this, as they know the sooner you graduate, the sooner they have another RN, and one they KNOW at that. Good luck!

Not sure where you are from, but here in Lexington, South Carolina (yes, in po-dunk SC) they have Doulas on staff. WONDERFUL! :)

See above....

WOW. Let me make a suggestion: since this is your first child, hold off on making the school decision for as long as you can, or at least until your child is a month or two old (whichever is the longest time period). And don't be against changing your plans. I am divorced with a 7-year-old. My plan was to work 3 twelve-hour night shifts in a row, and take 4 classes (including my Fundamentals clinical class). Well, I had to drop the fundamentals class, and that will put my graduation back about 8 months. But, even though I want to finish school ASAP (like YESTERDAY), I DO need to make sure that I don't "burn out" before I even get started and that I have enough of "me" left for my daughter. You need to do the same, and I am not sure you will fully realize what your child will require of you (and what you really want to give) until that child has been in the world for just a little bit. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! And PACE YOURSELF! You will finish school, AND you will have your beautiful family as well. :)

Um, I thought that was the point I was trying to make... Ouch! Talk about nurses "eating their young" - I haven't even "hatched" yet and I am getting this kind of response.....

:chuckle Um, okay, YOU were obviously not a big ole COW like myself. I don't think my arms would have reached... yes, I know, sad, but I HAVE lost the weight! :) And yes, after 16 hours, I was a LEEEETLE tired....

:smackingf OKay, as I said, student here.... I just googled "fundal pressure" - let some jerk push all on MY big old belly? I don't think so! He'd have gotten his *** a trip straight down to the ER after doing that to ME! Who IS this dinosaur, and why has someone not set him freakin' STRAIGHT? Sheesh!!!

DITTO! DITTO! DITTO! DITTO! DITTO! DITTO!

:angryfire OOOHHH!!! I am "just a mommy" (not a nurse... YET), but I tell you what - if any doc had put one of those damned vacuum pumps on MY Little One's head unless it was ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, I'd have gone POSTAL on his ***!!! Good for you! Why don't you go for Midwifery? You sound like you would be good, and I was SOOOO glad that we had a practice here so that I could avoid docs just like the one you described! :uhoh21:

:chuckle Honey, that is no higher than the national average for "regular" folks! (Sad, but true, and I am one of those statistics). I'm sure it is hard, but it can be done. (I think - don't ask ME for advice regarding how, though! ) I think the quality of your relationship, and your willingness (both of you) to continue to nurture the relationship matter more than geography ever could.

I'm interested to see more feedback specific to this comment (of course, I haven't read the rest of the posts yet). I have a Bachelor's degree, and it was useful to me for a little over 10 years. Now it is time for a career change, and I am pursuing my LPN first, then I plan to work as an LPN for a semester or so and pursue my ADN. Once I become an RN, I am thus far undecided about pursuing a BSN. I would have done the "Accelerated BSN" program had there been one nearby (I live in hickville). Is my BA (not a BS, mind you) in Psychology and Elementary Education (two "easy" majors - double major, and Phi Beta Kappa, but I suppose that doesn't matter because what I was studying was an "easy" bunch of crap! :angryfire ) good enough, or should I pursue the BSN? I'm inclined to think I should pursue the BSN at some point in time simply because it will probably be required. Having a Bachelor's already may make it a little easier for me because I might (crossed fingers) be able to get credit for some classes. :uhoh21:

Not sure how old you are, Sweetie, but trust me - very few of us have lives that have gone as we planned. I know mine sure didn't! I'm 33, divorced with a kid, and I am working in the ER as a "glorified secretary" (with a 4-year degree, mind you ) while I return to school for my LPN and eventually my RN. I'm supposed to be a "stay-at-home-mom" with three beautiful children and a rich husband (instead of a rich ex - :chuckle !). Anyway, what I am trying to say is HANG IN THERE! You are not alone in all the crap you are going through. Luckily, you are also young and have the support of your parents - that is a real blessing! Do you really need to work full time, especially if you are in school? I know that you probably have some "issues" about your parents supporting you, but if they are willing to do it, I would let them for now. You will be out soon enough and you can "pay them back" then if you wish. If you cut down on your work hours, or even find something you would enjoy more even if it pays less and/or isn't as steady, you would probably be glad you did. Keep the faith! :flowersfo

GIRL! If at all possible, you want to go into labor the "natural" way! "Normal" contractions are not exactly loadsd of fun, but the pitocin-induced ones feel like evil aliens have taken over and are wracking your body! Seriously, three STRONG contractions in a row with NO BREAK between each contraction and only about a 30 second break between sets of three is NOT NORMAL! Anyway, if ya have to be induced, never fear - epidurals are magical. :thankya:

Hello! My boyfriend is an ex-Army medic and a Paramedic and he is working on his RN through this program. (Frankly, I am relieved to find out that it is legit - I had my doubts about an online nursing program.) ANYWAY! It seems to be taking him FOREVER becausethe cost is so high and he does not qualify for financial aid (don't ask). Is it really that expensive? Can anyone give me a rundown about the cost? Also, is there a time limit on the classes/program? He is having to take some classes over (and thus having to PAY for them again) because they "expired" or something like that. Could someone clue me in on these details? THANK YOU! :loveya:

The only question I can answer is the LPN in ER one: I work at Lexington Medical Center (just at the ER desk - I'm just a student), but I do know that they no longer allow LPN's to work the ER. Not sure why.

Hello! I have a Bachelor's degree and am changing careers - I am starting my clinicals this January. I decided to pursue LPN first for one reason only: the waiting list was 1 year shorter. I am divorced with a child, and her dad lives here in town, so my options were pretty limited by geography. Anyway, supposedly once I pass my licensing exam, I can jump right back into school for LPN to RN with no waiting list. Is this true? I want to be an RN eventually, (in fact, ASAP) as this will open up MANY more opportunities for me. I guess I just would like a "morale boost" from some folks who were LPN's first. I would guess that the experience I will gain (even if just as few months) as an LPN will be very helpful while pursuing my ADN/RN. I just feel a little strange about it because EVERYONE I know who is going into nursing (I work the front desk at an ER right now - a lot of students working here as Techs!) is going straght RN. Any thoughts? Oh, and yes, I AM going to work full time AND go to school. I was an honor grad and am not the DULLEST tool in the shed, so I really don't think I am THAT crazy. Would love any words of encouragement from folks (especially single parents) who did the same thing and pulled it off. THANKS!

LOL! EXCELLENT point! Sadly, my guess is that will never happen. Even if the same chick who wanted birth control (and couldn't get it) came in WITH her partner, I'll bet he would still get his Blue Pills! The irony is that I'll bet this same "anti-birth-control" pharmacist is also a radical "Pro-Lifer" - as a not-so radical-but-lean-that-way "Pro Lifer," I find this INCREDIBLY hypocritical.

BRAVO! And don't apologize - it's true. Our hospital sees ANYBODY, has a program to help folks who don't have insurance and can't pay AND "writes off" a lot of unpaid bills (ie, taxpayers pay for it). Between that and Medicaid (which, frankly, only encourages abuses of the ER for non-emergency cases - AND ambulance rides for non-emergencies) you are right - we DO have national health care.