Whats the point of a LPN license

caliotter3 · Jul 12, 2012

There's a way of saying something without offending. A wise or intelligent person would take the time to figure that out.

gcupid · Jul 12, 2012

Also, I make over 23 dollars an hour and have a nice state job with pension and benefits. I'm also routinely charge nurse on a 49 bed ward where I'm constantly administering meds/treatments, assessing pts, calling the doc for orders and acting as a mentor to the CNAs. Yep..... Sounds like a "real nurse" to me!

That's nice but that sounds like a role of a RN... I guess it really does depend on the state in which one practices.... My experience with LPNs is that I've noticed two types.... Type I, are the really excellent ones (better than me, RN) and then you have type II trifling, unknowledgeable etc. I get extremes, never met an lpn that falls in the middle in regards to skill-set... So the ones that are bad are really bad and vice versa... But fortunately I've seen more of the best nurses fall under the lpn role... I'm not biased

allnurses Guide · Jul 12, 2012

Speaking of not too bright.... :)

Aside from the immaturity of the wording I the OP, it is a complicated debate about LNP an ASN programs and whether they should continue to be options for entry to practice.

From my experience, all the LPNs I have worked with in acute care have been as good if not better than average RNs. I also have ha many a run in with "not too bright" nurses....and doctors....and patients....and others; you know what, sometimes I'm not that bright!

snuggles49 · Jul 12, 2012

What is the point of getting a LPN license? A majority of places dont hire LPNs anymore unless you want to be stuck in a LTC or home health. From experiance a lot of LPNs in the LTC and Home Health are not the brightest bunch no offense to anyone. If your long term goal is to be a RN why not just go stright for the RN license?

WOW....did you put yourself out there......curious... what experience have had with LTC and Home Health LPN's to make the statement you did about thier mental capacity ?? I work in acute care and we employee LPNs and they are pretty bright!!! In some cases more than a few RN's.

You might want to change your user name :no:

Sparrowhawk · Jul 12, 2012

I don't know about your experience....but your post makes me want to take you out back....if you know what I mean. The LPNs I know in LTC are a hell of a lot brighter then the RNs that fall there.....thats MY experience. It takes a LOT Of smarts and brightness to deal with 50 + patients everyday and juggle 100 things at once all the while keeping a smile and energy and not go crazy. So you can take your opinion and just keep on truckin'.

mintygirl · Jul 12, 2012

What is the point of getting a LPN license? A majority of places dont hire LPNs anymore unless you want to be stuck in a LTC or home health. From experiance a lot of LPNs in the LTC and Home Health are not the brightest bunch no offense to anyone. If your long term goal is to be a RN why not just go stright for the RN license?

Wow. I'm real surprised that posts like these still exist today on the forums. I don't even know where to begin, but pretty much your whole post is real ignorant. I could understand if you were just generally curious as to the point of an LPN and had ended it there, but you continued on..

A lot of people have already said this but whether a person wants to be an LPN/LVN/CNA-etc, it doesn't matter, that's the path they chose for themselves. As for being 'stuck' in an LTC - surprisingly people chose that line of field because geriatrics is their calling. Not everything is about the prestige of a nurse working in ___ amount of fields, but where they excel at.

The latter of your post was just offensive and completely unrealistic. I won't address that but just simply state that not all of us are fortunate to have a full-ride for nursing (as those rarely happen) meaning people need to work sooner. RN programs are wait-listed and in my case I'd rather have some exposure before being thrown to the wolves as an RN. Not every hospital will babysit you through orientation and it will be your butt/license on the line, so it helps if you already know what to expect before hand.

Good luck not getting sued in the future (or losing your RN) for your way of thinking is pretty naive.

allnurses Guide · Jul 12, 2012

The latter of your post was just offensive and completely unrealistic. I won't address that but just simply state that not all of us are fortunate to have a full-ride for nursing (as those rarely happen) meaning people need to work sooner.

I cringe at defending the OP but this statement , IMHO, is not a good way of defending LPNs. It gives the impression that LPNs are looking for a cheap, fast, and easy way. It seems to suggest that LPNs are less prepared but it's ok because they didn't have time yet.

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2012

seriously.

allnurses Guide · Jul 12, 2012

I cringe at defending the OP but this statement , IMHO, is not a good way of defending LPNs. It gives the impression that LPNs are looking for a cheap, fast, and easy way. It seems to suggest that LPNs are less prepared but it's ok because they didn't have time yet.

Why would someone saying they have to do their nursing education in steps because they can't afford to go all the way through a longer and more expensive RN program make you cringe? I think it's a responsible choice.

Sounds like you're buying into the myth that an LPN isn't a separate, and equally legitimate nursing job. If you have an LPN license you are prepared to be an LPN. Some people are happy with that. It makes them no less a nurse if they are.

prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 12, 2012

Op,

I had the opportunity to go through your previous threads. I see that you are a CNA, can you tell me the point of you going through CNA training and not directly to RN school? We all take different routes to get where we want to be. And sometimes we find out that we are just fine where we are :). Please really think before you past judgement on millions of LPNs.

allnurses Guide · Jul 12, 2012

Why would someone saying they have to do their nursing education in steps because they can't afford to go all the way through a longer and more expensive RN program make you cringe? I think it's a responsible choice.
Sounds like you're buying into the myth that an LPN isn't a separate, and equally legitimate nursing job. If you have an LPN license you are prepared to be an LPN. Some people are happy with that. It makes them no less a nurse if they are.

Maybe I am reading this wrong but, to me, it sounds like your first paragraph and second paragraph are at odds with each other.

In the first you seem to argue that it is smart to get your education in steps implying that LPNs are a step along the way, which personally, I do not agree with. I doubt many patients would say its responsible to care for them as a step along the way.

The second paragraph seems to present the opposite: LPNs are prepared for their role or scope of practice, which I agree with.

decembergrad2011, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2012

Can this thread be closed? I don't feel like it's helpful and it's extremely insulting to LPNs. The OP isn't coming back with any feedback, either. Links and information have been provided already for those who stumble upon the topic wish to learn more. Just an eyesore to me every time I come to this section of the forums.