Re: Does anyone regret becoming an LPN?

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

: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.

Regret becoming a LPN? Yes, I can't find a job around here in Michigan. I'm not a pick and choose kind of person either. I will jump right on one if I see an opportunity. So don't be sad. After all your hardwork and dedication, it's only a matter of time until you reach your goals honey.

Specializes in LTC/Sub Acute Rehab.

Do I regret it? Yes and no. I regret not going back at least 1 year after beginning practice. I hate being an LPN here in GA because there are jobs available that no one wants to train you to do and they put too many requirements on a perspective applicant; so you're defeated and disqualified before you apply. I hate the way that I have been treated at my current job when many are aware of my skills (that includes management); yet you are only as good as your last critical situation. No. because it has allowed me to get experience in doing the job and learning how to think critically whether it is an emergency or not. Even with all the troubles that 've had, Im secure when I say that I know for a fact that I'm a d**mn good nurse and my documentation skills are on point. These 4 years and the treatment has shown me that it's time to "upgrade" my thinking and my skills to be even better than I am right at this moment. I'm proud to say that this morning, I took the first step to "upgrading" my skills; I took the placement test at Gwinnett Technical College and turned in all necessary documentation to persue my RN. That is truly an achievement and I am happy to have accomplished it. Nowhere to go now but "UP!" NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY SAYS AT THIS MOMENT, IM A NURSE AND WILL BE FOR LIFE!:nurse:

Specializes in medical/surgical, acute care, psych..

i do not regret becoming an LPN first,,,iam a nw Florida LPN, former EMT, have worked 3 years med surge, IV certified, and worked along RN's on the floor, doing everything they do, with exception to narcotic IV pushes....iam currently appx 7 mos away from having my ADN from excelsior college....and am moving to Fairbanks Alaska...where3 i know Rn jobs are plentiful, not so sure about LPN's---i dont regret anything, starting at the bottom (CNA) and moving up...Iam an LPN, and proud, even having my RN hopefully soon....In a hospital setting....perseverence, good assessment skills, and knowledge base are your key...half the doctors, dont know or care3 if you are an RN or LPN...If the scope of practice is ever parallel or exact, the pay should be as well...wont forget where i came from

Specializes in Geriatrics, MR/DD, Clinic.
: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 bottom.

Just curious, why do you feel this way?

: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.

This is one of the most truthful things I have ever seen written on here.I too wonder "why did I even have a surgery rotation,when I will most likely never see the light of day in an OR as an LPN?" maternity-forget it as an LPN you have to be grandfathered in here.

Basically,here as an LPN the only jobs are nursing homes with sweatshop like working conditions.:crying2:

Specializes in Geriatrics, MR/DD, Clinic.

IDK guys, I have to disagree. I have had some wonderful experiences working in LTC. Trachs, extensive wound care, g-tubes, caths, colestomys, injections, post op surgical patients, and so forth. I learned skills working in LTC that I never touched working in any hospital. Just because it is LTC does not mean it is not skilled nursing. LTC nurses work hard and use their skills they learn every day. I've gotten even more experience by working in an ICF/MR, most of this wasn't even brought up in school haha!

Lets also not forget that the people who live in LTC are great people. They are someones mother, father, brother, sister, grandpa, or grandmother. They need qualified care and attention by nurses who know what they are doing. I'm always surprised but the extreme dislike of LTC work.

Now, not all facilities are a bed of roses. Just like not every hospital job is a dream job. Perhaps give it a trial run and see how you like it. You may be surprised to find that the right facility can really make a difference. If not, then it's not for you. Life is what you make it :redbeathe

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Perhaps its more about expectations? I'm in a large urban area with more opportunities and better pay than some but the bottom line is the majority of LPN jobs are in LTC. I accepted this before I started my first class.

Specializes in Home Care.

Yes and no.

If only I'd known then what I know now....

Meaning...that if I'd known I could have taken a PCT course then worked at a hospital and that the hospital would pay for my RN...that's the route I would have gone. I could have been working in that hospital through school and have a job there as an RN upon graduation.

Oh well, I start the LPN-RN transition program in May.

I really don't want to work LTC, but it looks like I have little choice for now.

I think that via the fact that there is maternity/peds/OR etc clinicals,that gives the impression that if you are "training" for this in school that there is the "potential" to get a job there.

Itsmejuli-I have been "wishing" I'd taken that route lately too.I know a few CNAs who are working at hospitals while they go to school as an RN. I guess one good thing about going the LPN route first is that I make better wages and I have a head start in school.

Yes LPN's are being replaced.....by Med Techs. They make just under what an LPN makes and cheaper to hire. In Michigan Mercy hosp fired ALL LPNS, they are obsolete. I was told LPN'S are not considered Professionals in the field. I am reminded each day how replaceable I am. I am so sad........

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.

No, I do not regret becoming an LPN at all. I went back to school at age 30 and could only take 1 year of school as I have a household to contribute to. And I wanted to make 100% sure that nursing is for me, which I now know it is. Our financial situation is now a bit more stable and I may start the long road to upgrading and applying for the BScN program.

Here in BC, it's either 12 month LPN or 4 year BScN. There is no 2 year RN program. So, now as an LPN, I can work for a great wage, have tons of real life nursing experience and it will only be a huge benefit for me when I do enroll in the BScN program, which I can bridge into 2nd year, so 3 more years, plus the ugrading I will have to do 1st.

Specializes in LTC, Urgent Care.

The only thing I regret about being an LPN is that there are limited positions here in my area. Hospitals stopped hiring us about the time I graduated, which is where I really wanted to work. Otherwise I had planned to become an LPN first to gain experience and also to be able to earn a decent living when I did finally pursue my RN.

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