lorrie

That's great. I 'll be passing that one along.

When I was going through LPN school I had every disease / illness known to man. After I finished I was a normal healthy human being. I am now back in school finishing my RN, and as I type I am convinced I have MRSA. And I guess from reading everyone else's post this isn't completely insane. Or either everyone that has posted is (haha) lots of luck and it should get better.

You know you're a nursing student when: The only clothes in your laundry basket are white uniforms and those hideous pentifores. I wonder if i can ever still wear my street clothes?

Pizza is the way to my heart, I would have loved that doctor forever. In alabama, we too have a tendency to use sugar, honey, etc. so i would have taken " good lady " with a grain of salt, smiled, and ordered pizza. The doctor I work for usually buys the office lunch every friday for the week's hard work. I really appreciated that too.

I have been a LPN for about two years, so I am not totally clueless of what's involved in patient care, although I am still very green. I am also finishing up my RN degree. We started our ICU clinicals last week for my RN. Oh my gosh, I was so lost. I felt as if I had never been a nurse a day in my life. I was so overwhelmed by ventilators, trach's, chest tubes, central/arterial lines. I always thought well what is the difference between an RN and LPN. I have a completely new outlook after spending a day on that floor. Is everyone overwhelmed by ICU at first. I thought I really had it together as a nurse before that experience. I know if I felt completely in control and unintimidated it would not have been a learning experience, but I have never felt like I was drowning. Will ICU ever be better, I hope so I have it here on out.

RealNurse, Thanks so much for the address for NFLPN. What a great site. Also thanks everyone else for the posts. The situation never seems as bad when someone knows where you are coming from.

I am currently enrolled in an ADN program and now feel GREAT about it. These posts were so encouraging. Thank you so much.

The other day I went for a job interveiw for a LPN position and was asked by the interveiwer " Now do you know how to take a blood pressure?" I probably looked like a truck hit me. I was so stunned by this question. I have also been in situations where co-workers have asked do you know how to give a shot? I just wonder what people think LPN's do, and if they have any idea of what the curriculum covers. I just get really tired of constantly having to reaffirm our ability to carry out the most basic nursing procedures. I sometimes feel that people do not look at LPN's as being real nurses, and that aggravates me so much. I am currently in an RN program, and people who know I am a LPN still make comments like " So you're going to be a nurse one day." It is said without trying to be demeaning, they simply have no idea. I have worked with some wonderful nurses both LPN and RN's and respect both, but some of the LPN's I have worked with share the same frustration as I do. Anyone else? Does anyone know of any LPN forums or bulletin boards?

When I took boards about two years ago, it was a little bit of this , and a little of that. It was pretty evenly distributed among all areas of study. Good luck!!

I did not see that ER episode. By the time I get home I'm like if I have to hear one more medical term or get emotionally involved with another patient I am going to scream. However, I have been unintentionally sucked into Gideon's Crossing. That is unfortunately a awesome series. I leaves me an emotional wreck. However, I too can take offense to things like that. Know where you are coming from.

know what. best place to look for these types of answers is the texas board of nursing. if anyone can give you facts it should be them.

LPN- licensed practical NURSE. I do not know about Texas in particular, but just about every other state in America allows LPN's to give injections. That was basically the idea of going to nursing school, having pharmacology and medication administration. Further more, why would the NP be responsible if the person is licensed by the state board of nursing to perform this type of procedure? So far as untrained personnel giving injections and medication administration, I would like to know the answer myself. They are pretty much phasing out nurses in walk-in clinics locally, and hiring untrained personnel they can train on the job and pay less. I have been told they work under the MD's license.

dixie this is very odd but this is exactly something i have been up against myself now for a while. it is very scary that unlicensed personnel are perfoming the exact same tasks as a nurse. a person off the street could watch a doctor do a cardiac cath for five years, eight hours a day and probably go through the motions himself after a while, but not knowing why he was doing what he was doing, or the consequences of a wrong move. i just feel a little uncomfortable with people "going through the motions" but having no idea why. i am currently putting in phone calls and e-mails regarding the legality of the situation and will definately keep you posted on the findings.

jd if you are interested in the nursing profession. GO FOR IT! As a male nurse you will be appreciated and have alot of opportunities thrown your way. I am a LPN and have been for two years ,I have chosen to go back to school for my RN degree because of the pay difference and broaden my opportunities. I would not go so far as to say LPN's do not have alot of opportunities because we do, so do not worry about not being able to find work as a LPN. If you have only got a year to spare and you are not completely sure you will enjoy nursing, go get your LPN if you can do it in one year(the program i went through was 15 months). You have nothing to lose only experience to gain by it. If you decide you want to stay in nursing there are LPN-RN mobility programs. It is only taking me three semesters to complete my RN degree. So go for it and best of luck. lorrie

first and foremost congradulations!! and settle down, don't drive yourself crazy. when i took boards i studied day in and day out and just about went bonkers. i took the board exam and afterward thought"why in the world did i kill myself for this" in my opinion you cannot study for board, it what you have learned throughout the entire program. just hits the hot spots and areas you are not comfortable with. do not get me wrong boards were extremely difficult, but just relax and feel confident in yourself. good luck lorrie