question for LPN to RN's

Dixiedi · Jul 20, 2004

Hi, I'm new to this board so if you don't recognize my name that's why! Anyhow, I just completed my bridge program from lpn to rn and have a question: did you tell other students or 2nd year clinical instructors you were an LPN? If you did, how were you treated? did anyone resent you? is it just better to keep your mouth shut, do your work and get out? I've been told there's a lot of resentment/dislike out there. I've already experienced a bit of 'tude from a clinical instructor (I disagreed with her, respectfully though) and am wondering if this is the norm? I"m not trying to get into a LPN-RN debate, I just want a little advice! Thanks!

I think I owuld keep it to myseslf. And if I disagreed with an instructor, I would make my point based soley on what you have already discussed/studied for that or a previous course within your current program.

It shouldn't make a difference, but some instructors are bound to feel either a little threatened by your knowledge or think you should already know more than you do, and give you a rough time if you don't measur up to what they think you should be.

I'm a bright person, but I'd be a fish outta water in some rotations because I haven't worked the area in so long or maybe never have worked the area. I'm sure you are no different.

I'd just keep my mouth shut. That, obviously being a little, I would never question her in front of any other students again. But, if you really believe she has steered the other students in the wrong direction, bring it up when just the two of you are there. Keep it professional and very non-condiscending. Remember, some RNs think an LPN can never know as much as they do on any subject. Oh, that just sounds so terrible, but that's the way it is.

Brenda-RN,BSN, WA. · Jul 20, 2004

I did an LPN to BSN bridge program a while ago, and wish I hadn't let others know that I was an LPN. I got the feeling from a few other students that they thought that I thought that I was better than them because I was an LPN. I do not feel that I was better than them at all, I had a little more nursing experience because I was working in a hospital as a nurse, but I had a lot more to learn in the BSN program. It was a 2 year program, so it would have been really difficult to not let them know I was an LPN because people would ask if I was working while in school, and I don't lie, so that's how they found out. I was in the program with a friend who was also an LPN. Anyway, if there's a way not to let people know, I would do so, otherwise there's nothing you can do. Hopefully people won't hold your education against you. Good luck to you.

Hi, I'm new to this board so if you don't recognize my name that's why! Anyhow, I just completed my bridge program from lpn to rn and have a question: did you tell other students or 2nd year clinical instructors you were an LPN? If you did, how were you treated? did anyone resent you? is it just better to keep your mouth shut, do your work and get out? I've been told there's a lot of resentment/dislike out there. I've already experienced a bit of 'tude from a clinical instructor (I disagreed with her, respectfully though) and am wondering if this is the norm? I"m not trying to get into a LPN-RN debate, I just want a little advice! Thanks!

NannaNurse · Jul 20, 2004

We preceptor alot of ADN and BSN students. About half of them are LPN's advancing their careers.........I did too. I noticed that the LPN's were treated differently..........(this is MY opinion and please don't slam me) like they were 'still' LPN's. The debate is long and tiring and I'll not go there. It will never end and in my opinion, the poor LPN will never be an equal to some RN's. It's a sad thing too. But some people just like to feel superior.

LPN's are 50% of nursing and without LPN's, we are sunk!

I would keep my mouth shut and just realize that some people just don't get it. Be proud that you have/had the chance to take a 'step up the ladder'. Your a NURSE, be proud regardless of what is following your name!!

hospicemom · Jul 20, 2004

Hi, I'm new to this board so if you don't recognize my name that's why! Anyhow, I just completed my bridge program from lpn to rn and have a question: did you tell other students or 2nd year clinical instructors you were an LPN? If you did, how were you treated? did anyone resent you? is it just better to keep your mouth shut, do your work and get out? I've been told there's a lot of resentment/dislike out there. I've already experienced a bit of 'tude from a clinical instructor (I disagreed with her, respectfully though) and am wondering if this is the norm? I"m not trying to get into a LPN-RN debate, I just want a little advice! Thanks!

Where I went to school we already knew who the LPNs were when coming into 2nd year. We didnt treat them any differently.....second year proved to be even harder for the LPNs than for the rest of us d/t the transition and the continuous studies we have had that they didnt have.....you have to support the LPNs and HATS OFF to you for going for your RN:)

CSLee3, ASN, BSN, LVN, EMT-P · Jul 20, 2004

Excellent post Nanna! I was a paramedic when I went to LVN school, some people found out and I was all of a sudden asked lots of questions by others, faculty looking down at me because they knew little of EMS and ACLS work, so they really picked on me for stuff like careplans, bedmaking, etc. SOOOO, in my current ASN program, I just chill and act generic. People are people and whether they mean to or not, will always have a small chip or attitude, it's human nature. Education is worth the torment is you want it bad enough........happy karma.......Chuck

MQ Edna · Jul 20, 2004

Thanks everyone for your replies....I will do my best to keep my status to myself. I didn't disagree with my instructor in front of anyone. See, I work as an LPN on a cardiac floor and during clinicals, I heard a change in heart sounds in my pt from the previous day. I told the Prof that I thought she was having ectopic beats because the difference wasn't with every beat but every 3-9 beats. My Prof said it was a murmur and to document it as a murmur because she said it was a murmur. And from that moment on, she criticized or corrected everything I did quite publicly. I just want to survive this next year without going insane.

NannaNurse · Jul 20, 2004

Prof or no Prof, I would not document something just because they said it was so. That is teaching you the wrong thing right there!!

Keep us posted and keep your chin up. Don't let the ego's of some put a damper on your bright star!! Bless you honey and make us all proud!!!!!

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Jul 20, 2004

Most of the second year students in our program were LPN's, or were after they took boards. The program was build on a ladder and you could test after the first year. The program in fact recommended it as practice so you would know what you were in for in a year when you took Rn boards a year later.

RJ:rolleyes:

mhull · Jul 20, 2004

I am currently in an LPN to RN program. We are totally seperated from the RN students. We even have our clinicals seperate. Good luck to everyone in school or not.

Destinystar · Jul 20, 2004

Back in the olden days I went to RN school in NY and after my first year of RN school I sat and took the LPN boards and passed. Everyone thought I was soooo cool. Its like I was a clebrity or something. Be yourself, be honest and have a pure heart. You are not responsible for what other people think. About 10 years later I got my Bachelors degree. I brought it down to work cause I was so proud, and the nurses turned their noses up at it. Now I am going to attend an EMT class at night just to learn something different cause I had been in administration and teaching for so long that I feel like I want to brush up on my skills. I decided it might not be a good idea to tell anyone that I am an RN. So I understand where U R coming from. :rolleyes:

Hi, I'm new to this board so if you don't recognize my name that's why! Anyhow, I just completed my bridge program from lpn to rn and have a question: did you tell other students or 2nd year clinical instructors you were an LPN? If you did, how were you treated? did anyone resent you? is it just better to keep your mouth shut, do your work and get out? I've been told there's a lot of resentment/dislike out there. I've already experienced a bit of 'tude from a clinical instructor (I disagreed with her, respectfully though) and am wondering if this is the norm? I"m not trying to get into a LPN-RN debate, I just want a little advice! Thanks!

KacyLynnRN · Jul 22, 2004

I am 3 months into a 11 month LPN to RN bridge program. The students in the program know I am an LPN and work in a hospital, and I haven't had any problems yet. In fact, a lot of students have asked me questions that they don't know, which I find flattering. (although there is still a lot I don't know!) The one thing I would say that has been annoying is that the teacher expects a lot out of the students that are LPN's, they tend to 'pick on' us for answers to questions no one knows...and I don't usually know either! Congrats on finishing your bridge program! Let me know how the boards go!