Why is it so bad to be an LPN ????

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

I have posted in other parts of this site, and it seems like soon as I mention I am going to school to be an LPN there seems to be a few people that ask why in the world would you want to do that? Why do I want to waste my time being and LPN. No place hires LPN's anymore, its just a gimmick for the school to get money from me.

I am tired of it. I am becoming an LPN because I want to why not ask an RN why waste your time on that just go be a PA or doctor. We each have our own reasons for doing what we do. If no place is hiring LPN's then how come I see ad's in the paper and on the state job bank ? RN's may have more of a choice but there are opportunities for LPN's too. The government wouldn't pay for you to go to school for LPN if there were no jobs.

One day I hope to be an RN but for now I would like encouragement or at least don't bash LPN's when a question is asked about LPN's.

Specializes in Med-Surg.

I ALSO GET THE SAME NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS. BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT ANYTHING. LPN HERE I COME!!!:redpinkhe GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE FUTURE LPN'S AS WELL!!!

I got the same reaction from many people when I decided to go for my LPN. I never let it bother me. I don't notice much of a difference between the LPN's and teh RN's at work, except for the fact that the nurse managers (with the exception of the DNS of course) are all LPN's!

At this point I am not particularly driven to go for my RN. I'm sure one day the initials after my name will make all the difference in the world, but right now I am enjoying being an LPN very much.

Don't let the nay-sayers bring you down! Be proud of what you are, a Loving Patient Nurse! :D

i just wanted to respond to the post's, the area i live in, as a pn student we are taking classes and learning things the rn program never touches. this has been proven over and over again in my particular area. if you think about it, it is really scary we answer to a new rn that has little or no knowledge of what she/he is doing. as a pn student we are required to take a separate pharmacology class, rn's are not. we have more clinical hours than the rn. so for those that have had comments made to them about going to pn school, i say go for it...

the education you receive will greatly benefit you and foremost your patients!!!! then when you choose to go on, you will be ahead of the game. and i applaud:yeah::bowingpur you...

smiles,

It is obvious that there is a stigma for lpn's.I think some people tend to think "Oh you must have not been able to make to your rn"Well,to each is own and who cares?This day and age to have accomplished what you have says it all!!Just be proud!The differences in an lpn and an rn should be better brought to the attention of the public,so their un true thoughts of us can be put to rest!I do respect those that go on with their career.I love working with those that dont throw themselves around.There is those kind of people everwhere you go!I would also like to add,there has been plenty:nono: of times in my career that I was very glad to have that rn there,and other times I thought "what the ----is up with this.Why did you make the dollars you did today,when I did all of your work????

Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
It is obvious that there is a stigma for lpn's.I think some people tend to think "Oh you must have not been able to make to your rn"Well,to each is own and who cares?This day and age to have accomplished what you have says it all!!Just be proud!The differences in an lpn and an rn should be better brought to the attention of the public,so their un true thoughts of us can be put to rest!I do respect those that go on with their career.I love working with those that dont throw themselves around.There is those kind of people everwhere you go!I would also like to add,there has been plenty:nono: of times in my career that I was very glad to have that rn there,and other times I thought "what the ----is up with this.Why did you make the dollars you did today,when I did all of your work????

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It's becoming obvious and lamentable, as I read these posts, that a lot of condescention exists among the different categories of health care workers, and when that happens, a situation known in Psychology as "Kick the dog syndrome" occurs. This usually begins at the top of an organization

Personalities will ever more be a positive and/or negative changeable mix, and the key is to work together toward making them as positive as possible keeping common goals in mind. Add stress to that mix, either in the worker or the patient's condition, and you've got a crisis brewing. Of course the ideal is to have the stress only reflected by the patient, but in these times of economic and other instabilities, it's more common to see both having it.

Recognizing and working toward common goals is best, but "stuff" gets in the way, and then we have to spread ourselves to include coworkers' concerns, or suffer conflict. For example I&O, which used to be a battleground in one place I worked, where the RNs thought they'd never empty another urine container or add the sheet at the bedside (thank goodness we have calculators, now). When I see a co-worker, regardless of educational background disparity, who looks hassled, harried, and disgruntled, it's my job to ask how I can make his/her day go better, and follow through realistically or explain how someone else might help them, and contacting that person. Sometimes if it's early in the shift, it might mean another Nurse needs to be called in.

A retort that I can't make anything better, followed by a flood of tears makes red flags go up about my responsibility to let that person know that their inability to handle all the stressors is a good thing to let me know. It could be that someone close to him/her is dying, their home may have burned down, etc. and if I can, as I check patients around her assigned patients toward end of shift, I'll ask, never just do it, if I can empty a urine bag, and tally the output. It's a small thing, but it can relieve some of the "world is out to get me" feelings during personal difficulties. I always appreciate help and show it with smiles and "thanks".

Sometimes, thinking they're complimenting me, people have asked why I never became a physician. I grit my teeth and tell them that for me, Nursing gives me greater satisfaction than sitting in an office, seeing 20 - 40 patients daily for 10 minutes each, who may or may not comply with my recommendations. As a Nurse there's more I can do toward assisting people to deal with their disease(s).

LPN school was tough and, to me, was much harder than RN school.

LPN school was 8 a - 3p, M-F, every doggone day...hundreds of quizzes and tests...tough as nails instructors.

RN school - Monday and Thursday. Clinicals on some Tuesdays. 5 tests per semester. No quizzes.

I think LPNs come out of school knowing more about what they are actually going to do.

RNs come out of school, knowing what they are, in theory, supposed to do :-)

I am an RN now, but I went to LPN school first, deliberately, so that I could see if health care was a good fit for me.

Here is the only negative I have found to being an LPN. I recently met up with a classmate from LPN school who had just been interviewed by my nurse manager. I asked what she would be doing, and it turned out she was interviewing for a tech position.

Why? Well, the hospital I am in does not hire LPNs, only RNs, which I think is incredibly short sighted and not a particularly smart decision. Be aware that LPNs have limited career mobility.

LPN school can be a very smart thing to do. It comes with a reasonably short amount of class time and a decent starting wage.

I find I have very little in common with RNs who do not respect LPNs. Those tend to be the types of people who is it best to avoid.

Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.

I have read all the posts on this thread. Somebody made the best sentence that I want to reinforce "LPN's don't know what they don't know." period. At least a lot of them. It is not only doing visible, obvious things like administering meds, hanging IV's and such. Nursing has more into it, and some people are not aware of it. Just because you do the same or similar "skills" as RN's doesn't mean you are doing exactly what they are doing and knowing but getting lower pays. It is not as simple as it looks.

Some posts were ridiculous saying LPN's are better knowledgeable, smarter, above the RN's type things. Not saying these are solid wrong, but this type of comments are very personal; depends on person, the school they went, the experience, intelligence, etc.

Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.
i just wanted to respond to the post's, the area i live in, as a pn student we are taking classes and learning things the rn program never touches. this has been proven over and over again in my particular area. if you think about it, it is really scary we answer to a new rn that has little or no knowledge of what she/he is doing. as a pn student we are required to take a separate pharmacology class, rn's are not. we have more clinical hours than the rn. so for those that have had comments made to them about going to pn school, i say go for it...

the education you receive will greatly benefit you and foremost your patients!!!! then when you choose to go on, you will be ahead of the game. and i applaud:yeah::bowingpur you...

smiles,

this is just funny. how in the world do you know what rn students are learning and not learning? or if they don't know what they're doing? do you think these students just hang out at school for 3+ years? i say at least 3 years, because of those bunch of pre-requisite classes plus nsg school itself. rn's get more years in education, and how come they don't do clinicals as much? how do you know they don't have to take pharm class?

hence, every sentence of your post was biased and not related to on any solid fact.

Specializes in MPCU.

I used IR for incident report. Many other names for that type of thing. for example, PSQI (patient safety quality improvement.) Just a way of reporting that is not supposed to be available to plaintiffs attorney.

I like the mix of several levels of training. It seems to be gone in most health care settings. I have only worked with one Licensed Practical Nurse in the past three years.

Seriously though, if the job duties are the same and training better, but the pay lower and respect less.....(well finish the sentence.)

I enjoyed working as an LVN for almost a decade and I also enjoy my current position, just for different reasons.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I have read all the posts on this thread. Somebody made the best sentence that I want to reinforce "LPN's don't know what they don't know." period. At least a lot of them. It is not only doing visible, obvious things like administering meds, hanging IV's and such. Nursing has more into it, and some people are not aware of it. Just because you do the same or similar "skills" as RN's doesn't mean you are doing exactly what they are doing and knowing but getting lower pays. It is not as simple as it looks. .

I might also say that nursing students don't know what they don't know. Some people absorb everything they learn and put it to good use, others skate by with the bare minimum, so I certainly would never make blanket statements about entire job categories. There are far too many individual differences after graduation from nursing school to make generalizing a very useful activity.

Oh my goodness, I get that all the time from my family. I come from a family full of physicians and pharmacists and they can be so ignorant sometimes. My uncle (who is a pharmacist) asked me why I wanted to become an "orderly". I almost cried I was so mad. >=[ But anyway, I am going into the LPN program in August and I can't wait! I currently volunteer at a hospital in my city, and I love it! I get to see what all the roles are, and the LPN was definitely the most interesting in my opinion. I MAY decide to upgrade to RN, but where I am you can only do the upgrade course online, so that may be out of the question for me.

Im sorry you get the same crap from people in your life. =[

Specializes in drug seekers and the incurably insane..

Suanna.....your post is incorrect. Where I live at there are 2 community colleges that are strictly LPN to RN programs. One has to be an LPN before going onto the RN program. However, in your defense, it does depend on where one lives. I'm currently in an LPN to RN program and the reason why I'm doing it is because I'm hoping I'll have more opportunities with an RN license. Plus extra education never hurt anyone. I know you mean well, but your post came off as sounding like being an LPN is totally dead-end.

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