Hi- I'm brand new to the forum, have just posted a thread in the Greetings/Introductions area. I have some questions I hope the LPN's can answer. I plan to start the LPN vocational course in Jan. I have wanted to do this for 14 years now, ever since I saw and felt the compassion that I was given when my oldest son was born. I want to give that others, if that makes sense.
Anyhoo, I was on another LPN forum and it seemed like there were alot of disgruntled LPN members. They were talking/complaining about "getting stuck", colostomies, being treated unfairly, being looked down upon, etc.
Is being an LPN as bad as all that? How many colostomies do you do in a day? How often do you clean up vomit, poop? Bodily fluids? And if the answer is "frequently", are these things something you get accustomed to during your schooling? I don't have a gag reflex, and I have cared for 3 of the most amazing boys anyone can ever have, but some of that stuff is not like taking care of your own, kwim?
Any pointers, advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.
Going into my 36th year as a LVN so I believe I qualify as a veteran; especially combined with my military nursing years. I have been fortunate to work primarily in two states that have a fairly broad latitude for LVN/LPN scope of practice. There has been more restrictions placed on us in Texas since the combination of the two nursing boards into one and sometimes I admit I miss not having access to the degree of freedom to pick and choose that those limitations have imposed upon all LVNs. However I am still a vital part in the chain of care for some truly complex folks and have been, for the most part, appreciated for my background, experiences and skill sets.
Regarding the physical aspects of patient care I agree with the other posters who recommend you get some experience as a CNA in a nursing facility or as a direct care staff person in a setting for developmentally delayed clients. The group homes have some total care clients and most of the clients require assistance with their activities of daily living such as hygiene. I will confess I am not thrilled to death about cleaning up bodily fluids or dealing with smells but I worked on my grandparents ranch as kid, worked with dairy cattle co-managing a dairy farm and have elderly frail animal companions so messes come with living and no human can produce as much poop as a cow lol. One can develop a tolerance with exposure and the right attitude.
The things that still chafe me are those folks who try to make themselves feel better by putting others down, i.e. BSN slams ADN or LVN, LVN slams CNA, MD slams non MD...etc. However that kind of ignorance is not confined to nursing or health care in general. It is human nature. So carry yourself with dignity and self respect, don't stop learning or cracking the books or asking for more education after nursing school, stay open minded to input from everyone and folks in general will treat you with respect. If they don't the problem is theirs not yours to fix.
txredheadnurse, BSN, RN
349 Posts
Going into my 36th year as a LVN so I believe I qualify as a veteran; especially combined with my military nursing years. I have been fortunate to work primarily in two states that have a fairly broad latitude for LVN/LPN scope of practice. There has been more restrictions placed on us in Texas since the combination of the two nursing boards into one and sometimes I admit I miss not having access to the degree of freedom to pick and choose that those limitations have imposed upon all LVNs. However I am still a vital part in the chain of care for some truly complex folks and have been, for the most part, appreciated for my background, experiences and skill sets.
Regarding the physical aspects of patient care I agree with the other posters who recommend you get some experience as a CNA in a nursing facility or as a direct care staff person in a setting for developmentally delayed clients. The group homes have some total care clients and most of the clients require assistance with their activities of daily living such as hygiene. I will confess I am not thrilled to death about cleaning up bodily fluids or dealing with smells but I worked on my grandparents ranch as kid, worked with dairy cattle co-managing a dairy farm and have elderly frail animal companions so messes come with living and no human can produce as much poop as a cow lol. One can develop a tolerance with exposure and the right attitude.
The things that still chafe me are those folks who try to make themselves feel better by putting others down, i.e. BSN slams ADN or LVN, LVN slams CNA, MD slams non MD...etc. However that kind of ignorance is not confined to nursing or health care in general. It is human nature. So carry yourself with dignity and self respect, don't stop learning or cracking the books or asking for more education after nursing school, stay open minded to input from everyone and folks in general will treat you with respect. If they don't the problem is theirs not yours to fix.