People used to ask me why I "settled" and went to a vocational school to become an LPN, instead of going to a traditional college and becoming a "real nurse." I always had a list of potential answers running through my mind when that happened:
✔️ I do the exact same thing an RN does at my job with absolutely no variation.
✔️ I train both new grad RN's and BSN's, and have discovered that in my field, experience and competence are more valuable than the initials at the end of my name.
✔️ I work with babies, which is pretty damn cool (turns out I like them better than many adults).
✔️ I have an incredibly flexible schedule that allows me to continue my education.
✔️ The pay is much, much better than when I was the drive-thru girl at Taco Bell.
✔️ I took on 11 months of school and no debt to make sure nursing was what I wanted, rather than 2-3 years and a boatload of loans.
✔️ This Microbiology test isn't hard. My six-month old vent-dependent patient went into respiratory distress last night, and I guided them through it. That was tough. I eat micro exams for breakfast!
✔️ Vocational school helped me develop study/homework skills, so that when I entered traditional college, I got easy A's.
✔️ In Honors classes revolving around theory, I could speak about practical application in real life situations.
✔️ When scholarship time rolled around, I wasn't simply a student who wished to change the world. I was already actively changing the world.
So many students apply to awards because of who they want to be, whereas I could apply because of who I already am. When I had to write numerous essays, personal statements, and narratives about myself and my future dreams, I had so many compelling stories to tell about my job as an LPN. When asked about community service, volunteer work, or past experience performing good deeds for others, I got the opportunity to explain how such things weren't simply extracurriculars to me, but rather an integral part of my day to day life as an LPN.
Those people who used to ask me why I "settled" and went to a vocational school to become an LPN, instead of going to a traditional college and becoming a "real nurse?" These days, I don't need to tell them anything. Because I was awarded $124,500 dollars to complete my bachelor's degree, and $200,000 dollars for any graduate school I choose. Not because I was a traditional student (I came from one of those schools, a vocational school for people who weren't "good enough" for regular college). Not because I did well in high school (I dropped out at 15). Not because I was cookie cutter (I've got a dirty mouth, a sarcastic streak a mile wide, and I wear jeans and red converse to business casual events). Not because I had special advantages (as an older student, I had to fight for every opportunity, knock on many doors, and annoy professors into letting me take on special projects). I received all of this because of my work as an LPN and the way it made me stand out among other students when I transitioned back into traditional college.
So don't let anyone tell you this is a road for people who "settle" or don't have what it takes to hack it at a "real" college. You have no idea where an LPN license will lead you, or the impact you will have on the world because of it.
Having been an LPN (and an LVN) for numerous years before bridging to RN. Then having been an RN for about as many years while working in critical care, and then going on to get my MSN, I think I can speak to both sides.
What I found, is that if you put an RN and an LPN/LVN side by side and gave them the same tasks, they could each state that they did the same thing. The perception is that the scope of practice is the either the same, or extremely similar.
As you get more and more in to critical care, trauma, etcetera, the tasks that can be performed by both become more and more dissimilar. The perception is that the scope of practice is vastly different.
Depending upon where you stand within the spectrum of same-versus-different as noted above, you may have a different perception of RN versus LPN/LVN.
Just because you might know how to fly an airplane, does not mean that you can legally fly one. The whole purpose of having a license is to demonstrate competency to show that you're capable. If you have an RN license, then you've passed a competency in order to call yourself an RN. If you have an LPN/LVN license, then you've passed a competency in order to call yourself an LPN/LVN.
I think the RN versus LPN/LVN debate centers around flying the airplane. (I'm talking in metaphors here.....) You can talk all day long about how you can fly one in this State, or that State without a pilots license, or that you can fly one at certain hours of the day, or under special weather conditions, or that you're perfectly happy where you're at with learning how to fly the airplane, or that someone just gave you a lot of money to learn how to fly an airplane. However, until you have demonstrated competency that you can pass the exam, there-in lies the rub; you are merely talking, and have not put your money where your mouth is. Not only that, but you snub your nose at those who have went through the effort to GET the pilots license to begin with.
Worst of all: You put yourself down, because there is nothing wrong with being an LPN/LVN.
Again, I have spent numerous years as an LPN, and then some more as an LVN. I speak from experience. I've endured years of hearing ALL of the disparaging comments that ignorant, rude, and hateful RN's could think of to say to me. I've left work in tears at the end of the day, from the mean things that were said because I was not one of them.
Excuse me, but where did I demean OP? These are facts and not an opinion. And since you've stated that you just finished your RN program, would you like to weigh in on how they are just letters at the end of your name? And what shift do you work, overnight? Because yes that would pay more. Your scope at that specific job may be similar. But the board of nursing defines the nursing scope of practice, not you.
Excuse me, but where did I demean OP? These are facts and not an opinion. And since you've stated that you just finished your RN program, would you like to weigh in on how they are just letters at the end of your name? And what shift do you work, overnight? Because yes that would pay more. Your scope at that specific job may be similar. But the board of nursing defines the nursing scope of practice, not you.
If you would use the quote button (bottom right corner of the post) to reference the post to which you are replying, we would be able to tell who you are talking to and what they said to elicit your response.
The title should read, "Wanna know what you can get with an LPN license?...a stepping stone to an RN license". Because that was basically what the article was about.
I think its great that you're proud of your job. However, this article is confusing and misleading. RN's and LPN's do not have the same scope of practice and you stating that you are doing the same work as an RN sounds illegal to me. Not to mention the pay difference is pretty wide. RN and LPN education is entirely different and while I agree I have met some very comptenent LPNs in my time in health care, they do not learn the VERY important theory base that RNs do. Good luck furthering your education!
Oh here we go again. We're going down the same path that started way back when. The "all important theory" didn't help the 24 year old skiing accident victim who fractured her femur. I was the ICU LPN and of course whenever a new grad (any new grad) was placed on the a floor (in this instance it was a post op recovery floor). Me with my little LPN license and her with her shiny newly acquired BSN. Our 24 year old was blue and sinking. I wanted to pull the code (her standing directly in my way) insisted that she wanted to do a full assessment first. She was more worried about being wrong and upsetting the Drs. She placed no 02, no nothing.... I ran to the adjacent (empty) room and pulled the cord.... then directed code staff to her room and grabbed the cart. The diagnosis? Fat Embolism/PE. Please, LPNs can read. We use critical thinking skills just like you. I had worked in the ICU/CCU/Step Down/ and ER I liked to float. I am in the bridge program and going on for my BSN. If I didn't HAVE to I wouldn't. I am not saying that I know all there is to know. There is just many classes that we have that just does not beat experience...not by a long shot.
Thanks for bringing the encouragement and positive attitude about becoming an LPN, we are just as important as other members of the healthcare team. I want to point out that LPNs and RNs have a few different educational differences and that's why each scope of practice is different. Nonetheless, LPNs are key players too.
I am an LPN and I don't get it either. In my facility, we have a med-pass system that makes it nearly impossible to make a med error. It tells you what to give, what time, your 2 hour window is color coded and if any meds happen to interact, an alert screen pops up to let you know. It is the easiest part of my job.
I am an LPN and I don't get it either. In my facility we have a med-pass system that makes it nearly impossible to make a med error. It tells you what to give, what time, your 2 hour window is color coded and if any meds happen to interact, an alert screen pops up to let you know. It is the easiest part of my job.
Same here. It's almost impossible to screw up medication administrations in a system like that, barring the fact that one can still pass meds despite not seeing little add-on physician notes under the 'comment' section that say things like, "Don't administer if SBP
Same here. It's almost impossible to screw up medication administrations in a system like that, barring the fact that one can still pass meds despite not seeing little add-on physician notes under the 'comment' section that say things like, "Don't administer if SBP
I would just encourage you to remember not all facilities are like that. I work in an acute care hospital and I often find that physicians have not left parameters for blood pressure medication leading the RN to utilizing nursing judgment to decide whether or not it is a safe medication administration. Not all facilities provide such specific parameters.
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
There is no state in which LPNs and RNs have the same scope of practice. And in each state it goes beyond one or two things such as hanging blood.
The differences in scope between LPNs and RNs have everything to do with the amount of formal education they receive. .
This fact is TRUE. My niece has a BSN. That involved a lot more critical thinking than any LPN or even an RN has, but an RN has been trained in a lot more critical thinking and problem solving than LPNs are.
(Is the author a real person? it just all sounds way overly rosy... LPN's working in neonatal care, in hospital, with babies on vents? Really? Wow...)
The OP never stated that the work is done in a hospital. If he or she works in Pediatric Homecare like I do: most of our babies/children have trachs and are on vents. If a new nurse comes onto the case, be it LPN or RN, an LPN does train an RN regarding the patient's specific needs and also makes sure that the nurse is capable of taking care of the patient. Some nurses are not. As an LPN, I am more than happy to take care of my one patient than to run myself ragged in the hospital taking care of too many, as I used do many years ago.
This particular post makes me want to decline all my LPN acceptance letters and focus on becoming an ADN-RN and later bridge to a BSN. There seems to be a big difference in LPNs and RNs, whereas I thought the only difference was that LPNs and RNs was that LPNs cannot push meds. I was inspired being accepted to LPN school but based on the majority of all these post it seems I have found part of my answer to my earlier questions I posted today. BTW I am in Mississippi.
This particular post makes me want to decline all my LPN acceptance letters and focus on becoming an ADN-RN and later bridge to a BSN. There seems to be a big difference in LPNs and RNs, whereas I thought the only difference was that LPNs and RNs was that LPNs cannot push meds. I was inspired being accepted to LPN school but based on the majority of all these post it seems I have found part of my answer to my earlier questions I posted today. BTW I am in Mississippi.
Don't let the debate detour you if that's indeed what you want. Think about why you're becoming an LPN in the first place. Weigh the outcomes. Some use an LPN degree as a bridge to RN and then later to BSN. There are both pitfalls and benefits to taking this route. Discuss it with individuals who have successfully done it. But don't allow this debate to sour you.
While some have felt it turned into an LPN versus RN debate, I do not feel it has. One's scope of practice can be a slippery slope and can lead to lawsuits and even worse. The purpose of pointing out the different scopes of practice wasn't to reinforce that one is better than the other but rather to correct the misconception that the only difference that exists is medication administration.
Do a little more research and think of your findings in comparison to your goals before making a hasty decision. Best of luck.
APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP
995 Posts
This is my second time to post on this thread.
Having been an LPN (and an LVN) for numerous years before bridging to RN. Then having been an RN for about as many years while working in critical care, and then going on to get my MSN, I think I can speak to both sides.
What I found, is that if you put an RN and an LPN/LVN side by side and gave them the same tasks, they could each state that they did the same thing. The perception is that the scope of practice is the either the same, or extremely similar.
As you get more and more in to critical care, trauma, etcetera, the tasks that can be performed by both become more and more dissimilar. The perception is that the scope of practice is vastly different.
Depending upon where you stand within the spectrum of same-versus-different as noted above, you may have a different perception of RN versus LPN/LVN.
Just because you might know how to fly an airplane, does not mean that you can legally fly one. The whole purpose of having a license is to demonstrate competency to show that you're capable. If you have an RN license, then you've passed a competency in order to call yourself an RN. If you have an LPN/LVN license, then you've passed a competency in order to call yourself an LPN/LVN.
I think the RN versus LPN/LVN debate centers around flying the airplane. (I'm talking in metaphors here.....) You can talk all day long about how you can fly one in this State, or that State without a pilots license, or that you can fly one at certain hours of the day, or under special weather conditions, or that you're perfectly happy where you're at with learning how to fly the airplane, or that someone just gave you a lot of money to learn how to fly an airplane. However, until you have demonstrated competency that you can pass the exam, there-in lies the rub; you are merely talking, and have not put your money where your mouth is. Not only that, but you snub your nose at those who have went through the effort to GET the pilots license to begin with.
Worst of all: You put yourself down, because there is nothing wrong with being an LPN/LVN.
Again, I have spent numerous years as an LPN, and then some more as an LVN. I speak from experience. I've endured years of hearing ALL of the disparaging comments that ignorant, rude, and hateful RN's could think of to say to me. I've left work in tears at the end of the day, from the mean things that were said because I was not one of them.