question for RN's who started out as LPN's

cursenurse · Oct 1, 2004

in some ways yes. since i had had 8 years of experience assessing, documenting and passing meds on 40+ pt's i had a lot of time management skills and therefore was not as flustered (in clinicals) as some of the generic students. also knowing how to communicate effectively with the rest of the healthcare team helped.

one problem i noted though was that when you have experience as a nurse already, it is very hard for you to deal with the nursing/clinical instructor who is a drill sargent(sp?) and overreacts over stupid things that don't really matter. i had an instructor who was so upset that my pt did not have a nightstand(and that i didn't run around finding one, as if i had time for that)and acted as if somehow pt care was compromised because of this. also had an instructor who couldn't understand why i was getting frustrated with having to do a complete bed bath 3 times in an hour and a half d/t profuse repeated vomiting in addition to giving complete care to my other pt's(we were not to ask the CNA's on the unit to do it, they were understaffed). i informed her that in the real world one utilizes one's CNA (and a good antiemetic!) so that assessments, meds, documentation-things only the nurse can do get done. i also informed her that i didn't then, nor would i ever work somewhere that was that chronically understaffed. that didn't go over too well, but i did get through it. i think that all things considered being an lpn helps, just don't talk to instructors about what you know goes on in the real world.

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Oct 1, 2004

Do you think that your LPN schooling/experience helped you in RN school or did it really not matter?
I'm almost finished with my pre-reqs and am trying to prepare myself for what to expect

During RN school, I learned to value the training and education I had received as an LPN. Because the program length for RN is limited, I was happy to not shove information into my head for the sake of passing the test. My practical experience helped me understand the material better and therefore learn it easier. In addition, the changes I made to how I thought about care and the delivery of care was different for me when I became an RN.

Overall, I was pleased that I was an LPN going through school. Some of my class mates really struggled getting through the program and I know I would have been in the same boat if I had not been an LPN and had not had several years of experience.

I found some of the clinicals boring and needed to seek out my own learning experiences. Most of the LPN's that were in the program were from the nursing home environment and I was already working acute care. So, I asked many times to go to a higher level of acuity floor. Sometimes they honored this request (i.e. going to ICU or PACU, etc.).

Good luck!

movealong · Oct 1, 2004

It helped me to be an LPN first. I was totally comfortable with giving patient care, totally at home in a hospital setting. I was familiar with drugs, and medical procedures. How could that not help?

My instructors knew it too. I didn't walk into patient's rooms tentatively, or have trouble with speaking to them. I already knew how to organize my work load, deal with other depts and so on. You can be bored with the routine assignments.

My instructors pushed me towards more diffucult patients, which helped me grow.

RNBSN1 · Oct 1, 2004

Yes

USA987, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 1, 2004

I whole-heartedly agree with the above posts. My experience as an LPN is invaluable to me and I was able to work my way through the RN program. When I graduated from the RN program, I didn't have that "reality check" that most experience because I had already been through it!!!!

In any case, it really is an individual decision. You have to do what works best for you!

Good luck. :)

mattsmom81 · Oct 1, 2004

I agree with the other LPN to RN'ers here...it only helped me, but then i went into it with a positive "I'm gonna jump through their hoops' attitude.

To be honest, I HAVE known a few LPN's who had trouble in their RN coursework and felt their experience was held against them, but to be honest, it probably stemmed from the chip on THEIR shoulder. These LPN's were the 'know it all' types who probably communicated this clearly to their instructors (and this doesn't go over well with professors does it...LOL)