Well, if you want MY advice you should get your RN

Princess74 · Nov 24, 2006

It's always been this way and I guess it always will be. I understand how you feel and I also get the same crap all of the time. Just do what YOU want to do and try not to worry about what others think. In the end it's yourself that you have to make happy. Practical NURSES are NURSES too, the key word here being NURSE.

Another LPNurse Student.

bethin · Nov 24, 2006

*Vent* So tell me, how come whenever someone asks me what I'm going to school for and I say "I'm in school to become a practical nurse." they say something like "OH okay well if you want my advice you need to go to school and become an RN." and they act as though the classes I'm taking now are just a cake walk because I'm not going to school to become a "real nurse".

Next time reply "if I wanted advice, I'd ask for it and I'd ask for it from a nurse."

People like this really frost my crack.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Nov 24, 2006

If someone began their sentence with "well if you want my advice", i'd let let them finish their sentence, and then reply "I didn't ask" with a wink and a smile.

If someone gave their unasked-for advice, i replied "It may not be for everyone, I'm doing what's best for me, what works for me, for my life."

HealingHands327 · Nov 24, 2006

Yes, I hate it particularly when family makes you feel like your efforts are not enough.

It's not over if you do choose the RN path. People then will ask you why not become a doctor, as if being a nurse isn't good enough or people can't just be a nurse and be happy.

But for your LPN scenario, I guess what people mean is that as an LPN you will generally do the same stuff as an RN but be paid less. I am surprised however that you cannot afford to go to RN school ? I'm in RN school myself and don't have a penny to my name but I am able to do it through school loans....but I'm sure maybe your situation is more complicated then that.

lol, I don't blame you for leaving after you graduate, I left because my family was negative too, so im happy for you. When you move out, you'll be in more positive light and be able to move forward easier.

In any case good luck with your future plans, you are really young, and I am jealous of your youth. Take your time with school and really decide what you want to do. :)

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Nov 24, 2006

I am surprised however that you cannot afford to go to RN school ?

My reasons I couldn't afford it because of car insurance, car payment, and general cost of living. LPN was affordable (cheaper) tuition and books, compared to the RN programs in this area.

Student loans aren't always possible, thanks to the income catch-22.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 24, 2006

I hate to say I agree with Princess, it's just something that is. I would just ignore it and not let it get you so upset because you are going to be hearing. People just don't understand.

Good luck!

dcoffee · Nov 24, 2006

You know what?!?!?!? I have heard the same thing, even now that I'm working as an LVN!!! I graduated last year as an LVN, and I really have no plans currently of going on to be an RN. I too get sick of people saying "when are you going for your RN?" Well guess what, probably never!!! Families and patients either don't know or don't care that I'm an LVN and not an RN, I've worked with my employer for one year, an RN has worked there over 20 years, and families come to me before they go to her! The receptionist told me recently that most people who call ask for me specifically, so you know what, so what if I don't want to become an RN right now. I do almost everything an RN does, I just don't want to go to school another 2 years and I really don't want the responsibility that is added in becoming an RN, and believe me, I have a heavy enough burden of responsibility as an LVN! It's your life, do what makes you happy, and besides if you are an LVN and do decide to become an RN later, you will have such an advantage!! I also think that people that work their way up the ranks make better nurses and doctors!!!!

nursesaideBen · Nov 24, 2006

Yeah you all are right about it not going to change, usually it doesn't bother me but here lately it seems like it's been coming out of everyone's mouth lol as far as me not being able to afford getting my RN right now, the LPN track was best for me because since the program I've been doing is at the vocational school in the same county I went to highschool at I don't have to pay tuition at all which is WONDERFUL and I just don't feel that financially I would have been able to survive even with student loans just for the reasons Marie stated. Thanks to everyone who has replied I appreciate it a lot. I do know that nursing is the only thing I want to do, I've been a CNA for almost two years and I just absolutely LOVE nursing sure I have bad days but most of my days are good I learn so much from my patients and other nurses and nursing assistants I work with everyday and it's truly the only thing I could imagine doing.

bethin · Nov 24, 2006

My reasons I couldn't afford it because of car insurance, car payment, and general cost of living. LPN was affordable (cheaper) tuition and books, compared to the RN programs in this area.
Student loans aren't always possible, thanks to the income catch-22.

:yeahthat: I could only get student loans after I reduced my hours and didn't take that second job.

I work as a CNA and according to the government I'm just too darn rich.

Gee, that's why I'm still living with my parents.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Nov 24, 2006

I have heard this as well..." WHEN will you be going for your RN?" and I say the same thing...NEVER. We all have the option to change our minds at a later date, but to be honest, from what I see, there is nothing about being an RN that entices me except the pay...however, I am not willing to take on the heavy responsibility that the RN has. I have shocked people when I say this, but to me, LPN equated to freedom in my eye, because I am primarily responsible for myself...not the actions of other people working around me...especially since I am not an LPN working in a charge nurse position (and would never take on that job, either). Unfortunately, people in charge, may they be managers, RNs, head nurses, charge nurses are defined by the people that work below them-similar to how a parent may be defined by a child that misbehaves. I can't control what happens around me, but I can control ME. I let the chaos around me spin out, and I do my job. I know that ALL nurses can be stressed out, but I compared what I saw, and I personally found that each and every RN I know has been afraid of losing their license, been frazzled, stressed, and such. There are few that maintain a balanced demeanor, but I know that I would NOT be one of them. Once I was able to determine that RN would never be for me, I felt much better.

I had one ill-tempered RN say to me that I should become an RN, and I said "For WHAT??? To be like YOU???" and, I didn't say this to disrespect the RN position, but because I know my limits. If a person does not think that I am a nurse because I am an LPN, then, this is THEIR problem, not mine. And, like the others have said...it is not their business how you chose to live your life, and you DO have the option to become an RN at a later date. The doors are not closed to you.

kstec, LPN · Nov 25, 2006

We as LPN's need to be proud of our accomplishments. I'm presently an LPN and I don't think I want to become an RN because I don't think I want to take a chance of developing a big head. I know I'm not better than anyone else and I want to keep it that way