"Just" an LPN

[kjrobinetteSN]

I am so tired of getting this question. "Why are your going to school to be "just" an LPN?" At church when I announced I was going to school for LPN one of the ladies came up to me after and said, "you're going to get your RN after right?" as if being an LPN is not good enough. Well, that's the plan, but so what if I don't? I'm doing this because I have an insane love for learning about the human body, & working with people, not only to have a career. In fact, my current job (non-medical) pays more than most of the LPNs start out at around here. If i start working as an LPN and love it, I may not bridge to RN.

I'm not sure what kind of reply I'm looking for, just needed to vent.

[cjdmomma]

People will talk, they will doubt you and try to make you second guess yourself. It is a reflection of them, not you. Someone in there life has made them unhappy, and they cannot stand anyone else who has found their path. Just like the bullies of our childhood, they feel bad about themselves. Its not you, its them.

you do you, and forget them.

[Bringonthenight]

Yeah. When I went to EN(LPN) school it was a FULL TIME 2 YEAR program! And intense!

All the RN have 4 years of education. No 2 year RN programs! Also as an EN we had to have 2000 clinical hours before we could graduate nursing school. And when we graduated nursing school we EN could work in ANY department and we were well trained and prepared. I worked in ICU from Respiratory ICU,Cardiac ICU, Cardiac-Thoracic ICU and NICU as EN. I also worked Labor and Delivery, Operating Room, Burn unit, Pediatrics, Medical/Surgical, Surgical short stay, Gynea/OB surgical unit, Outpatient - adult and peds.I even helped in a cath lab.I helped Gyn/Ob deliver breech babies. I circulated as an EN in OR as well I got amazing experience working in these departments as an EN (LPN).

What country are you working in?

[duskyjewel]

I'm applying for a LPN program that starts in January. I am a hospice CNA and hope to work for my current employer as a nurse. (For any who saw my post on the CNA board about not wanting to be a nurse, right after I posted that, I had a long talk with my husband about my struggle to decide, that ended with me scheduling TEAS and deciding to just go for it.)

I am fully aware of the limitations of being a LPN. But, I have a family and taking this in small bites is what's right for us. My employer hires LPNs, will help me pay for school, and will require me to work for them for two years if I use their educational benefits. (Aw shucks, a guaranteed job for two years? How terrible!) I expect to bridge to RN and possibly BSN in the future. As it is, if I get into this January cohort, I'll be graduating a couple months before my oldest child graduates high school. The LPN program is the quickest way to get me working (and earning - gotta think about college tuition) as a nurse. I can worry about the rest later.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

I think we all face this discrimination to some degree. Nursing is such a weird heirarchy, and I don't like that about it. I'm going to school for my RN (ADN) and people say "You'll have a hard time finding work with only an ADN degree." I plan on getting my BSN eventually, but not because I don't think I will earn enough respect/money with an ADN. I want to work in trauma and from my research that is the route I have to take. The CNA/LPN/ADN/BSN/MSN heirarchy is kind of ridiculous to me. Are we not all patient advocates?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'm not sure what kind of reply I'm looking for, just needed to vent.

You need to be happy for your own accomplishments because you cannot depend on others to be happy for you. Many people have the 'crab mentality.' I'll explain further...

Pretend you are a crab in an open barrel who is climbing to the top to escape your situation and pursue a better life. Without warning, the other crabs swoop in and try to pull you back to the bottom so you'll presumably suffer the same fate as them. These crabs can be your friends, church acquaintances, coworkers, and even close family members such as spouses, parents and siblings.

I did not discuss school-related issues with others because of this very same problem. I noticed that many of the most negative people wasted time in their own personal lives and had not succeeded in anything. The 'crab in a barrel' mentality can be explained in one sickening phrase: "If I cannot succeed, neither will you." Unsuccessful people will keep you at their low level if you listen to them.

Keep on striving. I was an LPN for 4 wonderful years and it is an honorable occupation. I wish you the best of luck. Please tune out the naysayers!

[melnaughton]

People tend to forget "personal interest and passion". It is all about money. Whatever earns a high figure is the one that gets a lot of acknowledgement and recognition. It is wrong. Its just wrong. Don't let anyone let you feel that, if you love what you do, be content and happy. Enjoy the simple rewards that compliments a service well done with passion and care.

[Swellz]

I'm sure you will hear that a lot. As someone who just got her BSN, I keep getting asked how soon I am going for my NP! Seriously people?

Some people will never be satisfied, but the only thing that is important is that you are happy! Good luck!

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

You are not "just" an LPN. You are a valuable asset to the healthcare team. I have been an LPN for many years and I am anxiously awaiting to take my RN boards on the 19th. Then I suppose I will "just" be a RN with a BSN, LOL. And, no, I am not going for my masters, I plan to get my doctorate.

[SmilingRN]

People on the outside looking in always have the most to say: "Why not just go for an MD?, if you're looking into becoming a CRNA?" -or- "Why didn't you just go on to become a doctor, if you are doing so well at nursing?" Blah, blah, blah. At the end of the day, you have can only live your life for you and the people you may have to provide for and it bothers me when people question what you have determined is best for you and yours. Even though I am an RN now, I would have rather went to LPN school immediately after high school and returned back to school after working as an LPN. To be quite frank, some of the best nurses who I've worked with and have had the pleasure of being taught by started as LPNs. Sometimes people say things because they have no experience and have heard things about what they don't actually know to be true from personal experience. I wish you the best of luck in your career! You're going to make a great nurse and will have so much experience, if you do decide to become an RN. The options are limitless!

[OCNRN63, RN]

"If we didn't have people who became 'just LPNs,' there wouldn't be enough nurses to take care of sorry butt's like yours when you get sick."

It's a never ending cycle. Why don't you become an RN? Why didn't you get your BSN? Why didn't you go to medical school? Why didn't you become an astrophysicist?

There's no cure for terminal cluelessness.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I was a LPN and got the same comments. You simply have to ignore them. They are ignorant and really do not have a clue what they are saying. Even, as a RN ADN, I get the " you're going for your BSN right"? It never ends.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I once asked an arrogant old bat if it would make him feel any better if I, being JUST an LPN with then 18 yrs of experience under my belt, and the new RN swapped badges long enough to start his IV or would he prefer that the new RN start her skills training on him? Of course, it mattered not to me at all since I was not the one in need of an IV. I told him to think about it and we would return once he made his decision. Needless to say that we never even made it through the door before he saw the error (for lack of a better word) of his ways.