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

Nurses LPN/LVN

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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 have been an LPN for 22yrs. and I have never regreted it. There will always be people that think LPNs aren't real nurses but I bet if they needed one they wouldn't care which one you were. become an LPN and be proud of it. Leo2

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.

Very well said...I feel the same way when I have to ask a RN to do something for me that I am not allowed to do. I work in a very busy ED but am limited to Triage, Ambulance Bay and our Urgent Care. I LOVE my job EXCEPT when I have to ask for help. My limitations are that I am not able to do a "primary assessment" (unless I get it co-signed by a RN, which I have to do all day if I am assigned to the Bay) and I can not IVP meds or initiate a blood transfusion. I have been there long enough that I know who to ask for help when I need it and who to avoid...but you are right, no matter who I ask, they are busy too. So...when I have to ask someone for a IVP, I always do something for them in return. I am so tired of having to do this and explain 100X/day why I'm not a RN, I am currently taking some classes to work towards my RN. In the mean time...I will be the best LPN I can be. I am proud to be a nurse! :nurse:

Specializes in Long term care.

It's not Bad - it's just someone elses opinion.

I started my nursing career as a 'care aide' for handicapped persons. After that, I went on to be a CNA, and then an LPN - which was 11+ yrs ago.

To tell the truth, when I started, I had no idea if it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life - but I'm really happy that I took that path - it was a slow process, and I was sure, each time, that it was what I wanted to do.

I didn't waste my time, or money going to school for something that I didn't end-up being -- and I know that I have made a difference in the lives of the people I've cared for.

Hey hair tie. How are you? It is absolutely nothing wrong with being an LVN/LPN. I have been one for years now. Alot of times when people ask me, I often say I am a nurse. When they ask a LPN/LVN, it use to upset me quite a bit but what made me realize that it is not the title but the knowledge of nursing that you have, this is what makes a difference. So don't worry yourself. When I went to school to be a LVN, I made the choice based on the fact that I wanted to complete the program and start making money. I eventually will go back and get a RN degree, its never too late. I have been through alot of situations working with some RN's that really didn't know what they were doing and I had to show them what to do. Of course, I didn't mind because I like to help people, but I think that alot of them came to the realization that "Knowledge is Power". So, DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT WHAT ANYONE SAYS, DO YOU.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

I have been an LPN for a little over a year now and I still hear comments about it. I am 40 years old now. I am confident in my decision to become an LPN first. Every one has their path in life. "To walk in my shoes"! No one person can assume what may be the best for another. I have noticed that nursing is not the only job that someone comments "why didnt you...". Live for yourself and your family. Try not to let anyone make you feel inadequate about your decision. Life is short. If I were to become fatally ill and on my death bed, I am not going to say to myself " I wish I would have become an RN, BSN, MSN, ARNP, MD. I want to know that I touch as many lives as I could while I was here on earth. Ghood luck and God bless.

Hello,I am new to this,but needed some moral support. I totally agree with your advice.However,today I feel stepped on yet again... I find it very hard to be an lpn of 15 years dealing with a don that has no respect or care in the world for residents in a ltcf.I like my job and sure wish I had my rn.I cant afford to go to school at the moment and ots been that way along time now.Also it is really annoying that in ltcf rns make a whole lot more than an lpn and do nothing different and mostly nothing at all thanks for letting me vent

a new lpn and let me tell u something i work with a couple of rn's. in a long term care facility and sorry say they are plum dumb. for instance relieved a rn that had a patient that was complainig of severe pain to lower leg, she had been giving him prn pain medications. keep in mind i'm a new nurse only working on the floor for 2 months. anyone with a brain would asses the patient 1st perform rom( range of motion). well the resident had a fractured tibia. i'm telling u this to let you know rn"s are so use to working der a doctor's advice 24hrs out of the day they don't know how to use their judgement. lpn's work by there selfs in a long term care facility and only notify the doctor on call when there's a serious problem. the most funny part about is that we make the same amont they do or a little more in nursing homes

amen sista!!!:bowingpur

I understand your frustration. But, couldn't a flighty LPN had made the same mistake. I don't think it's fair to say that RNs don't know how to use their clinical judgement, that's certainly not true for all RNs. I think you judging and generalizing RNs puts you in the same category as those RNs that judge you as an LPN.

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

It could have also been that the RN was so loaded down with other responsibilities that this was an oversight. While it is not true for everyone, I stand on the fact that many perceive that a person with the higher titles are not doing much, or anything. Of course, it is true for the bad apples, but it is not for everyone.

I was invited to become a member of the nurse practice council in my hospital. Most of the members are RNs. I sat for the first meeting yesterday, and from what I witnessed, many of them are stressed out by doing 'document care' rather than patient care. Most of them wished to have the time to do the things they are supposed to do, but, cannot. Actually, my heart went out to them. And, in my mind, I was also glad that I did not become one once more, because I don't think I could have handled things much better than they have so far.

I have been asked the same question as everyone else about why I just didn't go on to be an RN. It's really aggravating. I became an LPN for mant reasons. I had a young child to support as being a single mom I needed something that was quick at getting done so I could make better money for my family. Eventually I would love to go back to school For my RN but at that time it just wasn't right for me. Some people just think that things are easier than what they really are.

Specializes in Cardiac Thoracic Surgery, Emergency Med.

A new lpn and let me tell u something I work with a couple of RN's. In a long term care facility and sorry say they are plum dumb. For instance relieved a RN that had a patient that was complainig of severe pain to lower leg, she had been giving him prn pain medications. Keep in mind I'm a new nurse only working on the floor for 2 months. Anyone with a brain would asses the patient 1st perform ROM( Range of Motion). Well the resident had a fractured tibia. I'm telling u this to let you know RN"s are so use to working der a doctor's advice 24hrs out of the day they don't know how to use their judgement. Lpn's work by there selfs in a long term care facility and only notify the doctor on call when there's a serious problem. The most funny part about is that we make the same amont they do or a little more in nursing homes

It is statements like this quote from above that make this argument ridiculous. First off, I know many RN's that I would rather care for me than doctors. They are THAT smart! I also know many LPN's that are brilliant. The fact of the matter is that when generalizations are made like the above statement, it weakens your argument. RN's in hospitals are caring for some pretty high acuity patients. RN's working in ICU today are caring for patients that are VERY close to death. twenty years ago, patients on hospital floors were in the ICU's of hospitals. Today, you are pretty darn close to death in order to gain a stay in an ICU. I would definitely not say that nurses in LTC facilities are smarter than RN's in hospitals because, as you state "they are so used to working per a doctor's advice 24 hours out of the day that they don't know how to use their own judgement". That is just a silly statement.

As I said, generalizations such as the above quote really weaken the argument.

mamaoftwoboys

How lucky you are.do you ever feel like you work in a drama center?NO no not a trauma center,I said a drama center. Thanks me too!

I have been asked the same question as everyone else about why I just didn't go on to be an RN. It's really aggravating. I became an LPN for mant reasons. I had a young child to support as being a single mom I needed something that was quick at getting done so I could make better money for my family. Eventually I would love to go back to school For my RN but at that time it just wasn't right for me. Some people just think that things are easier than what they really are.

amen sista!:bowingpur

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