I am an LPN. I have been at my job for almost a year at a inpatient drug detox. I love what I do it just clicks with me. I am tired of hearing I will lose all of my nursing assessment skills from older nurses saying I should do Med-Surg. Sadly LPNs in my area do not work on the floors at hospitals in the capacity of a nurse.
I don't buy the argument that if I stay as a detox nurse for a few years that I will lose all my skills so bad I won't be able to find a job at an LTC or other similar setting...I learn quickly and can multi-task with min. assistance with skills learned from my past life as a pharmacy tech. It would be one thing if I wanted to work in an ICU, ER (I buy the the "losing skills argument" in those scenarios). I would be okay if I had to find a job in a non-psych setting.
I have no intentions of ever working on a med-surg floor. I am smart and could do it. But it isn't my cup of tea.
My main interest is Psych/Detox nursing. I work 11-7 full time. I plan on going to Excelsior and getting my RN..then my BSN online at a local State College. Then someday...my MSN for a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
I respect all Nurses...especially Acute Care Hospital Nurses.
Anybody in a similar situation or have experiences of being in a specialty for years and switching over to say Nursing home or hospital?
I plan on staying where I am at right now... its like what is was 20 years ago other nurses are telling me... a total job war.. I thank god everyday that I am able to have that SMALL chance to have a life changing impact on my patients.
While they say a DNP will be required for being a NP, they also said a BSN would be required to be a nurse. How will they provide enough people to do the work if they have such restrictive requirements that only some can reach them. I'd bet a nickel the DNP requirement falls through...
27 years ago while I was in LPN school, they scared us silly stating that BSN would be required entry into nursing soon. Since school was tuition free, I did not care, but some in my class were bugging out. We were told we would get grandfathered to RN and I am still waiting.... All that happened was community colleges exploded with AA grads. BSN, did gain some popularity, however, never to the extent hoped by the ANA. You are correct, it will never happen.
Chin up
694 Posts
27 years ago while I was in LPN school, they scared us silly stating that BSN would be required entry into nursing soon. Since school was tuition free, I did not care, but some in my class were bugging out. We were told we would get grandfathered to RN and I am still waiting.... All that happened was community colleges exploded with AA grads. BSN, did gain some popularity, however, never to the extent hoped by the ANA. You are correct, it will never happen.