EsthyLady

@ [COLOR=#003366]CherylRNBSN, quite frankly, a pathetic reason for putting your pet down. In animals, it can mean a nutritional deficiency (at least according to my vet). Also, never met that a dog that doesn't sometimes do it. ITA with the rest of your statement that it would be better to be medicated than eating or smearing feces.

It's not that bad. I too had (have) math phobia. Did terrible at it in HS, avoided it like the plague in college. Now, at 36, I just completed my first trimester of an LPN program. The math in my drug calc *was* hard for me. But it wasn't actually that hard in reality. It was my mind-set that made it difficult. You just need to fight it out with your book, be prepare to work harder than others to get by, and use extra resources. For example, I had to get a book on GED math. It really helped. I got through the class and feel stronger for it. It was the class that scared me the most, but it was my fear that impaired me more than the actual material. I say go for it.

If you love the ER, chances are you won't like being an LPN half as much because chances are very good you will never work in the ER as most LPNs work in some type of long term care setting (translate: nursing home). If you have a BA in psychology, why not concentrate on pre-reqs for an ASN or BSN? In my state, there is a bridge program to become a nurse practitioner and all you have to have is BA level education+ the same pre-reqs required for most ASN programs. So I would just slowly take pre-reqs at a community college and work at something. The reason I say this is because an LPN program is no walk in the park (currently in one myself after humanities education). It is really hard actually, much more time and energy consuming than any of my BA classes were. I have a whole new respect for LPNs though:) I wish I had known how stressful an LPN program was (at least the one I am in) or I would have taken my own advice!

I think it's hard sometimes to smile and act like everything is happy-go-lucky when most medical settings are less than festive. I mean, I would actually be a little freaked out if all the nurses where I work looked really happy and like they couldn't care less about all the sick people they are responsible for. On the other hand, no one loves a nurse ratchet face. I think it's a hard balance to strike sometimes!

Unless someone looks unhygienic or too obese to function well, I've noticed that in general teachers, employers and other nurses are less threatened by and competitive with nurses who are not super attractive or are somewhat over-weight,

I'm a CNA and an LPN student. I had a different career previously in a totally different (non-health related) field. I wanted a change and started working as a CNA to see if healthcare was for me. And yes, I have seen lazy, useless CNAs. And I've seen very good ones. Usually good ones. However, even the good ones have a very high turn over rate because of how poorly they are treated. Much higher it seems than nurses. In general, I have been shocked at how grossly over-worked they are and how little they are paid. Yes it is "unskilled" labor in the sense that if it only takes about 2.5 weeks to get certified. However, to be a good CNA, it takes innate caring, good intuition and *very* hard work (both physically and emotionally). My response to this whole thing that comes up often (CNAs complaining about nurses or vice versa) is that I think there would be less complaining about CNAs if they were treated better and paid better. No, not as much as nurses. But goodness, they are the ones who spend most of the time with patients who are in any type of LTC or rehab type setting. It seems that since they are entrusted with so much responsibility (and they are) they should be better compensated. I think in that case the job would become more desirable, the competition more stiff, and ergo the quality of worker much better. Otherwise, yeah, you might end up with a lazy, bitter, obese tech who ignores granny and spends too much time complaining. In essence, a facility gets what it pays for.

Hi all, LPN student here, also currently CNA in an ALF. It's no secret of course that LPNs are very likely to work in LTC, including of course ALFs. Wondering if anyone else caught PBS's "Life and Death in Assisted Living" documentary that aired recently: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/life-and-death-in-assisted-living/ I have mixed reactions to it myself. I feel that a lot slides by that wouldn't be allowed in nursing homes. On the other hand, I feel that the families knowingly choose an ALf vs a nursing home for their loved one because they think it is best. Then they are shocked when the residents don't receive the same the same type of continuous care as in a nursing home (which of course has its own down sides). Interested any thoughts/reactions y'all might have had to this. Cheers:unsure:

OMG! I feel this way exactly. No one in my family even knows the difference between being an LPN and an RN, yet somehow the pressure is already on to be making immediate plans for an ASN or BSN.

Yes, but honestly I shouldn't feel that pressure yet because I am still in LPN school. Everyone is constantly talking about how they won't be an LPN long and are already making plans for their ASN and finding bridge programs etc. I feel all this pressure like even inexperienced students somehow look down on being an LPN. I know a lot of LPNs who love their job, one of whom is even DON of a facility now. She loved being an LPN and worked her way up there. So, on one hand, I feel pressure from family and classmates to be already planning on getting an RN, while another part of me says "hey, relax, maybe you will be really happy as an LPN and not desire anymore school" (I have 2 graduate degrees in *very* different fields), so nursing is new to me, and I want to give being an LPN a fair shake before I invest more time, energy and money in school.

This exactly. I needed an HP CPR class fast for my school application requirements. I went on the AHA website, found a class offered 15 mins away from me for the next day. It cost me $65.00. Good class too.

Um no, the level of her shock, long description of how she repeatedly had to run to the bathroom to dry heave etc strongly indicates she does not deal with BM much at any level. Other nurses I know see it all the time and gladly call a tech to deal with it, but are by no means shocked by the site of finger painting.

True IME. I am in LPN school now, have been a CNA for years. In all those years I have never seen an RN change a diaper, and I have only seen an LPN assist with a diaper change (as in restrain the [dementia] patient or pass wipes). In school I hear a lot of teachers talking about how they "love their techs and help them out." Then I hear them relate stories that are supposed to shock the class. Example: "I once saw a dementia patient playing with his feces!!". That she is even surprised indicates this RN has indeed not changed a diaper or seen much poop.

IKR?! What's the point of a "warm-up" jacket if it isn't warm?! Thanks for responding:)

Thanks, I will ask about this. this would help a lot!

Hi there all, I start my LPN program on Monday and we are only allowed to wear white warm up jacket in addition to the school uniform scrubs. This is a very cold building (had classes there before) and I am very cold natured myself. All the warm up scrub jackets I have seen are so flimsy that I am afraid I will spend the year too cold to concentrate:eek:. Any suggestions on a warm up jacket that is actually warm? Are there any that come actually lined? Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks so much!

IMO, LPNs surely have a future. There is a seriously top-heavy aging population. Soon Depends purchases will out-number infant diapers. That being the case, I think there will always be place for LTPs in LTC, HHC, Hospice, Rehab and the like. I agree with the posters who pointed out that LPNs are not as likely to find jobs in hospitals anymore. But that's not everywhere, and certainly not in one the fastest growing area of healthcare: geriatric long-term care. The only caveat I see is that if RNs will work for the same pay as LPNs, which is not impossible given the dire economy.

Yeah, I agree that CNA work can be quite thankless, boring and strenous. But it is a paycheck and it is experience that others entering the nursing field won't have under their belt. When I finish my nursing program, I'll be glad to put my CNA experience on my Resume. But also glad to never have to be one again hopefully!

Good information for nursing students to have! A CNA in my state need only take a 75 hr board certified course, including 3 days of clinical, then pass a relatively easy writtin and practical exam. I found a course that I could do over X-mas break and it cost about $700. I was employed within a week of passing my CNA exams and had made back the cost of my certification within my first paycheck. However, I have heard similar stories of MAs having some difficulty finding work. I work with quite a few MAs who basically ended up in the role of CNA, yet they had to work harder and pay more for their certification as an MA. While the hours and work of an MA are easier usually, there is simply a never a shortage of CNA positions, while MA jobs are harder to come by. Also, MA programs are often more expensive and can foster unrealistic expectations (though I do also now some happily employed MAs as well). I am starting my LPN program in May (YAY!!!), and I am so glad I completed my CNA because while I don't want to continue work full time while in school, I can do PRN work, work part time or a bed sitting job or work whatever hours or shifts I choose that are offered by an agency. I think it's very good for newly graduated LPNs especially to have CNA experience because chances are they will be working somewhere in LTC, which is also where most CNAs end up working. Therefore new LPNs will be able to say they have substantial hands-on experience in LTC even if it is only their first LPN job. TY for posting!

I am a CNA, about to start my LPN program. I have to agree with the poster who said to write them up. I worked with some great CNAs and then a few who were so awful, rude and lazy that they brought the productivity of the whole team down. If only someone had written them up, we would have been rid of them a lot faster.