I am back in school after receiving a BA nearly 20 years ago, in hopes of being admitted to a local college's LPN program after I complete my pre-requisites.
I have been in school only two weeks, part-time, and was telling my neighbor this morning about it for the first time. I told her my goal was to become an LPN. She said, "Oh, so you'll be doing all the dirty work!"
How do I respond to statements such as this? I told her I felt sure there was plenty of "dirty work" to go around. Is this a common belief? And is it true??
Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful replies. I am still pressing on, and so excited to finally be pursuing what I have always wanted to do.
However, it's amazing the negative comments I receive. And from "friends," even. Like (as someone mentioned previously) another neighbor of mine said, "Good for you. And then maybe someday you can even become a REAL nurse." :angryfire
And my close girlfriend said, "Oh, so you'll be working in a nursing home the rest of your life."
Y'know what? Maybe I WANT to work in a nursing home; at the very least, I certainly wouldn't rule it out. But all these comments come with such an air of negativity that I don't even want to tell anyone anymore.
(Frankly, I have been looking online for LPN jobs in this area and there does seem to be the majority of postings in LTC and that sort of thing.)
Specializes in acute, med/surg/ER/geri/CPR instructor.
Tell them if taking COMPLETE care of a sick person or a person in need is defined as "doing the dirty work" then YES that is what we do. I once had a family tell me they were so happy to have a real nurse instead of an LPN (yes, i have a name tag) b/c I knew soooo much.. boy, you should have seen their faces when they found out they had a "fake nurse" couldnt apologize enough. Now they appreciate ALL nurses.
I firmly believe that what goes around comes around and I would guarantee that some day she will be hospitalized or in a nursing home or in a clinic or wherever and she will see directly just what being an LPN is all about. In the meantime, let it go, you know who you are and what you do and so do your coworkers.... I wouldn't take it personally, obvious that person has very poor social skills and I would bet she suffers because of it.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
However, it's amazing the negative comments I receive. And from "friends," even. Like (as someone mentioned previously) another neighbor of mine said, "Good for you. And then maybe someday you can even become a REAL nurse." :angryfire
And my close girlfriend said, "Oh, so you'll be working in a nursing home the rest of your life."
Are your so-called friends suffering from the green monster on their backs (read: jealousy)? If I had to bet top dollar, I'd conjecture that these people are secretly envious of what you'll eventually become. If they weren't really jealous, then I suspect they'd be more supportive of your goals and dreams.
WVlpn2b
49 Posts
Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful replies. I am still pressing on, and so excited to finally be pursuing what I have always wanted to do.
However, it's amazing the negative comments I receive. And from "friends," even. Like (as someone mentioned previously) another neighbor of mine said, "Good for you. And then maybe someday you can even become a REAL nurse." :angryfire
And my close girlfriend said, "Oh, so you'll be working in a nursing home the rest of your life."
Y'know what? Maybe I WANT to work in a nursing home; at the very least, I certainly wouldn't rule it out. But all these comments come with such an air of negativity that I don't even want to tell anyone anymore.
(Frankly, I have been looking online for LPN jobs in this area and there does seem to be the majority of postings in LTC and that sort of thing.)