What are you going to do when you become a *nurse*?

[Kelly_the_Great]

What do you all say when you get this question in clinical?

I understand most ppl don't realize we're already nurses b/c after all we're there in the student role, right? However, I often feel kind of conflicted when I get this question.

Sometimes I'll say, well actually I've been an LVN for the past 12 years and I'm going to school now to get my RN so I can have more opportunities, etc.

However, sometimes I just act like I'm not a nurse at all and say I'd like to do this or that when I graduate. Sometimes, you can just tell the person (usually an RN that hasn't been practicing that long) would feel threatened (don't know if this is the right word but it's the only one that comes to mind to describe the feeling) if you revealed to them that you're an LVN.

One incident in particular that I'm thinking of that occured last month when I was finishing up an independent clinical experience sticks out. Myself and another student were assigned with a nurse to follow her doing psych home health visits. She says to me, when it's just me and her as I'm leaving, "I think you're going to make a really great nurse, you're really compassionate and conscientious." Thing is, she knew I was an LVN from the other student nurse saying so. I don't know it was just kind of odd to me.

Oh well...Any of you run into this?

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Already planned for this lol.

"The same things i did the FIRST time i became a nurse."

[fla orange]

I've been in situation like that many of times. Last semester we had to shadow a home health nurse and I didn't tell her that I was a Lpn, I did mention to that I worked at the local hospital and when we left the 2nd house she ask what did I do at the hospital. When I told her that I'm a Lpn and has been one for 7 years she literaly stopped in the middle of the road and asked me if I'd like to leave befor lunch if I wanted to have some personal study time. I was like "yes, I would". She was like " this must be old news to you" To be honest she wasn't doing anything mind blowing so I agreed to her offer. I went to the libary and study for the rest of the clinical day. I can honestly say this situation worked in my best intrest.

[General E. Speaking, RN, RN]

Coming from LVN pay for 16+ years...hopefully, :) smile when I get my 1st paycheck!