Re: Does anyone regret becoming an LPN?

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:mad: yes IM sad at the ten grand I owe to loans and struggle to find a decent job......yea another nursing home no thanks the risk is too great, I do visiting nursing which is good but again limited. In school we trained for areas well NEVER get into. I graduated with a academic award in excellance highest scores in maternity nursing, what a joke............all that studying for nothing,:crying2: :crying2:Im reminded all the time Im just an LPN the bottom.
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I was very lucky to land a job in our ER where I live, 2 1/2 yrs ago. There was always talk of phasing us LVN's out but the ones that had worked there for years said they always said that. But I was the last one hired. As some quit, we slowly were getting pushed out of treatment areas and into the waiting room to watch for anyone needing treatment urgently. Since our ER is the busiest in California, most medi-cal, it was a mad house, getting yelled/cussed at etc. I finally just left for a job with Kaiser in Urgent Care. Our Kaiser doesn't have an ER here. I miss the learning experience of the wide range of things that came in to the ER, but have grown to like Kaiser.

Do I regret becoming an LVN, yes for the variety of jobs out there. But other than that, no. I'm married so I don't need the extra income. Most RN's I worked with are single mom's and need the money.

I'm 50 and not interested in going back to school, but I tell younger ones, just do the RN program. Another year of school and you'll be glad you did :nurse:

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

i'm sorry you don't want to work in a nursing home. my ltc is not that bad and i made 62k last year with some ot so being an lpn is definitely not a waste of time for me. in addition, i am almost done with my lpn-rn program so i am thankful for my lpn license.

good luck to you! i hope something good comes your way.

angel

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I don't regret completing the LPN program first. In fact, my only regret is not having been able to complete the LPN program immediately after high school.

There are several positive aspects of having an LPN license in the area where I live. The schooling is relatively quick, the pay is competitive, the jobs are usually there if you are not too selective, and advancement opportunities exist. A person can make a career out of being an LPN, or he/she can use it as a springboard to becoming an RN, a licensed nursing facility administrator, an instructor, or some other career pathway.

Again, I'll say that I do not regret having an LPN license. To be blunt with all of you, it has enabled me to maintain a middle-income lifestyle with all the associated comforts.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I am also happy that I got my LPN first. It was quick, super cheap and allowed me to work full time for decent wages when I went back for my RN. If you aren't happy as a LPN think about continuing in school or find another career. Good luck with whatever you decide.

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Yes & no... No, I don't regret it because I want to be an RN someday, and I had to become an LPN first to get my RN at the college I've been attending. I'm working on my associate RN degree. The way the college does it where I attend, you get your college basics first - english, math, psych, etc. Then you become a nurse aide, and apply for the nursing program. If you're accepted, you take Nursing-I and nursing-II. If you pass those classes you are an LPN once you take your boards. You then get readmitted to nursing school and take nursing- 3 and nursing 4. If you pass those, you are then an RN upon completion of your state boards. This is called an LPN-RN mobility program that many colleges have. The problem is at this college, once you take nursing-I and II and become an LPN, you have 3 years to reapply to nursing school. If you don't apply within 3 years, you must work one full year as an LPN, then apply. That's the "boat" I'm in. I graduated from there as an LPN in '07, and won't be able to apply this year for the RN part of school. I now have to try to find a job and work a year before going back. I have 2 young girls, and don't want to put them in daycare, and don't have reliable babysitters for them. :( I have tried a couple part time jobs locally as an LPN and hated them. One was an urgent care, the other a LTC facility. Both jobs sucked! The management was non existent, the LPN's were over worked, and the staff were grouchy... some were even on drugs I suspected! I realized then I really wanna be an RN someday... no disprespect to us LPN's though. Everything I've learned on the floor has been from LPN's. I think the elder LPN's are the smartest nurses by far I've ever met. They've been there done that. I am just learning that if I wanna get hired anywhere that I wanna work (which is actually OB or OR) I'm going to have to get those two little letters after my name -RN. Good luck to everyone with the job hunt! I'm 29 and F by the way from VA., USA...

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baylay.....i am 47 and doing my 2 pre reqs this semester for RN....chem and alg.....i did the LPN program 2 yrs ago...tho i dont regret it...i do regret not going right on to school but i was tired of school.....and wanted to work as i was a stay at home mom for 19 yrs....i work PT now....so moving forward i am...hehe.....

i am in the same boat as you....i dont need to work...i want to....and my sister who is 62 is graduating from the LPN where she lives next fri.....and going right on to RN.....

just wanted to let you know...i dont think 50 is ol.......hehe...

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

Nope, I graduated when dinosuars walked the earth in 1972:rolleyes: I worked for 19 years then burnt out. At that time they didn't have the flex opportunities like they do now. I'm currently fighting with the GA LPN BON just to re-activate and get approved for a refresher (loooong story see GA sub-board for the whole thing).

At 59 and change I have no interest in "trading up". My goal is to become the best LPN I can be again and hopefully in another 5 or 6 years go part time.

I think it all depends on where you work if you want hospital work, small rural places still use us, there is a small hospital right up the road that was just advertising for an LPN on their med-surg floor. I want to get into a clinic/day surgery/urgent care type place. I loved family practice clinic work in a rural area.

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.

I don't regret it at all. I've always had a stable job (or two) and been able to make pretty good income. I've been fortunate to have an opportunity to work in a variety of different settings. In my jobs there is little difference between the staff RN and LVN. I generally feel respected in my position. I want to get my RN to increase my income and future oppotunities.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ICU, ED.

I have no regrets that I became an LPN. However, my only regret was that I wished I started nursing school as soon as I graduated high school. Nothing goes as planned sometimes and I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason.

Also, when I paid 23K for my LVN tuition, I saw it as an investment. And it was the best investment I made. It's much better than any stock, CD, 401K, etc. It's an investment on myself and the return on inverstment is huge.

I just got my license and I know that I'll have some hard times finding a job but, I know there's a job out there for me.

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Specializes in Corrections & Developmental Disabilities.

I have no regret becoming an LPN. I only wish that I had done it immediately following high school.

I am an exceptional nurse and have never thought of myself as being at the"bottom". I have actively searched for and worked in varied positions and settings where I have been able to learn and grow in nursing. I have been generally treated with respect from patients, families and co-workers. I was able to work and make good money(40k-70k/yr) while advancing my education and pursuing personal interests. Practical Nursing has been a wonderful experience and an awesome stepping stone along my path of personal and professional growth.

I feel for you that your journey as an LPN has not been a good one...thus far. You have many options for bridging to/obtaining you RN education and license. I will suggest that you look outside of your present location for opportunities...if traveling or relocation are options, consider that as a way and means to access more/better work. When you are interviewing for work, ask for the salary and benefits that you want...and in the meantime, do reconsider some of the places you may have been avoiding (ex:long term care facilities).

All patients & residents deserve good nursing care. Good nurses make a facility better. You doing the best job that you can do will make the experience wonderful for you and the people you care for. With the higher acuity of LTC populations, you will likely utilize many of the same skills in the LTC setting that you will in hospitals. When you're ready, you take what you have learned with you and move on to the next assignment.

Be encouraged...you're not stuck:) Determine what you want from nursing and get it-make it happen.

Wishing you the best through the next phase of it all.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Regret it? Nope. I love my job, and I made 43K+ last year working 3 days week. This allows me to work on my RN program, and do a few other things that have helped me be a better healthier person, all while getting to work at a great place (And yes, it's a LTC.)

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