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.

I just graduated from LPN school last month. My grandmother told me that maybe one day I could go back to school and become a real nurse. I am very tired of hearing the question, "are you going to go back and get your RN?"

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The most important thing in all these questions is to do what you want to do at the time you want to do it due to convenience.Don't be what people want you to be but be what you want to be.Never be discouraged.Azor

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I say that we need to better advocate for ourselves. There is no reason to 'justify' being an LPN. It is a respectable living, we are not hitting old ladies on their heads and stealing their pocketbooks nor are we living off of welfare (not criticizing those that do need to). We get up to go to work, to take care of people. It did take a certain amount of dedication, education and smarts to get as far as we have, and no one has the right to insult us.

I have gotten to the point that I have gotten rude with people who continously tried to ride my back about my decisions. It is not what they think that bothers me...we can all have opinions. But giving unsolicited advice and comments is one thing I refuse to accept from people. Do not apologize for making an honest living and do not apologize for taking care of people who can't fend for themselves. Hey, these people don't know...one day, you may have to take care of them or their loved ones. And, may do as great of a job as the RNs, physicians, and whomever else. Be proud!

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Hello to everyone on the forum. First off, I don't have the LPN title attached to my name yet... I will soon though. I can't wait! first of all, There is NOTHING wrong with one's choosing to become an LPN and stay as such. If a nurse chooses not to pursue an RN education; then that's fine. I see nothing wrong with that. It's the same thing with the RN's or even the CNA's. If they choose to stay in that positon, then it's okay. I don't see why some nurses can't be proud of who they are? Not one nurse is "better" than the other. They just do different things. And it's because of those dfferent tasks that we have differnce titles. (CNA, LPN/LVN,. and RN). btw, when it all boils down, it's about the safety and concern of the pts. :nurse::nurse::nurse::)

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To me, I don't see why someone would want to be an LPN...it has NOTHING to do with the job title, etc.

When I started clinicals for my first semester, I saw very, very quickly, that LPN's did everything that the RN's did....now, I know that the difference they teach you in school is "knowing how vs knowing why", RN's were the charge nurses, but to me, it boils down to economics.

Why do virtually the same tasks for far less money?

not really. LPN's DON'T do what the RN's do. In the RNs role, there more paperwork, assessments, discharges, transfers, pts to take care of that have unpredictable outco,es, and more responsibility involved. I mean she has to manage the whole floor and everyone underneath her, while LPN's olny have to manage their CNA's. Plus, not everything is about the money.

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.

dont you worry about those :angryfirelosers who questions the decision to become an lpn, you do whats best for you!! , lpns work just as hard as rns and get way less respect than them,

proud to be an lpn !!!!:pumpiron::nurse:

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In Canada RPN's out number RNs. We cannot hang blood, or initital doses of antibiotics, and some institutions allow us to hang antibiotics and narcotics on predicatbale clients and some don't.

To say RPN's are utuilized to the fullest is an understatement, and further education is being introduced all the time.

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.
not really. lpn's don't do what the rn's do. in the rns role, there more paperwork, assessments, discharges, transfers, pts to take care of that have unpredictable outco,es, and more responsibility involved. i mean she has to manage the whole floor and everyone underneath her, while lpn's olny have to manage their cna's. plus, not everything is about the money.

actually the roles of lpns vary from state to state, facility to facility, especially in ltc!! i work in ltc and i do all of the above, transfers, discharges, name it hun, i do it! it really varies from place to place, i know places where lpns dont even give injections!

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That's so. The education varies too. the RPN course in Ontario is 2.5 years.

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Specializes in Women's Specialty, Post-Part, Scrub(cs).

I chose to be an LPN for several reasons. I went back to school for nursing when I was 23....my son was 2. After working an 8 hour day and spending 2-3 hours in basic classes at night...I quit. I was missing too much time with my baby. I went back to school in 2004...he was 13. I chose LPN because I did not want to bogged down with general education courses and I needed to get back in the working world quickly. I found I could do school nicely if I didn't spend 40+ at work first. My new husband said he would support us for as long as he could. Times were really tight. But the course was for 5 semester..approx 20 months. My schooling ended up being a full 2 years because of Hurricane Rita. Blew the school practically away. I was in my 4th semester but that one got cancelled. Long story short....I became an LPN. I am a NURSE. There are just some things I don't get to do without the extra education but I am a nurse. I may get the RN I may not. Once I start relaying exactly what I do in a day's work...most don't hassle me anymore!!! Stick to what you want.

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Specializes in correctional, occupational,.

I faced the same questions and criticism when I was in school. I chose to become an LPN because I was going back to school after 11 years and I wasn't even sure I would like nursing. LPN offered me the chance to test the waters. The course was only 11 months long and the tuition was pennies on the dollor as opposed to wasting 4 years and 20 to 30 thousand dollars only to find out I didn't like nursing. Turns out I love it and now I'm taking my time and working toward my RN. And there is work for LPNS its just a matter of finding the job you love. Don't get discouraged.

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Specializes in critical care.

I was a LPN for 2 years of my career before going further for my RN. I always worked in a hospital, starting on a 40-bed Medical floor. I really couldn't stand the restrictions placed upon my practise, ie:IVP, transfusions, initial assessment etc. I hated going to the RN and asking her to do my Push for me. She was busy too, and here I was unable due to my license to "pull my own weight". I really felt like a burden to my unit. My way of compensating was to be the best at what I could do, I could get any IV start, was great when patients were crumping etc. It truly was a relief for me to be able to have RN behind my name. I really didn't feel a big difference either, tho school tried to enforce that there was a HUGE difference between the LPN and the RN. For me I was only getting the recognition of what I was doing all along.

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