Why do I always hear, why are you ONLY doing LPN?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

I am tired of explaining this to people. I tried the RN but did not get lucky..

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Well as an RN, I love to work with LPN's. Many RN's go the path that you are. That's an excellent way to get school payed for. Ask the next RN that says that to you, why are you only anRN, why arn't you a DR.? Don't get over worried about it. Go about your buisness and be proud.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I am tired of explaining this to people. I tried the RN but did not get lucky..

Then don't explain it. A simple "It's best for me" is enough.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

thank you both...

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Dont worry about this!!! Some people just dont have a clue... I was an

LPN for 8 years before becoming a RN. Some people would say, "Oh, you are a nurse? Are you a RN??? I would say no, I'm a LPN and they would say "OHhhhh"..Like you poor thing.... I like the response about why aren't you a doctor!!! Hit them back with that.... I know that it is very frustrating to constanting feel like you are not worthy, but you ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't let it get to you... Good luck to you

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Specializes in LTC.

I heard something like this from my own mother. I graduated from a practical nursing program being a mother of one, pregnant with the second and also married.

There was a waiting list for the RN program so I went ahead and did the PN program in the meantime.

Anyway I was extremely proud of myself and I was on top of the world the night of my commencement ceremony. My mom had a little party for me afterwards and gave me a video camera as a graduation gift.

Then she proceeded to tell me in front of everyone there that while an LPN license is nice "It's the RN that really counts."

I was crushed and have never forgotten it. I went home and cried that night (and yes, at that time in my life I was trying desperately to gain my mother's approval. I've grown up a lot since then!!)

Whenever my mom and I were together with other people and the subject of my LPN license came up she always made sure that they knew I would be going on for the RN. Of course this made me feel as if what I already was (and so proud of being) meant nothing to her. I almost felt that she was embarrassed of it at times even though she herself never attended a day of college!!!

Anyway, in response to your statement..some people are just stupid and really should look in their own closet before criticizing others.

Okay so maybe I'm still a little hurt about what my mom said but I've learned as I've gotten older that what other people think does not really matter as much to me and have often found out later that he source of their anger is jealousy.

Love yourself and be proud of who you are. Nurses are wonderful no what it says behind their name!!

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Specializes in TNCC CEN CPEN CCRN.

Oh, if I had a dollar ($0.75 after taxes) for every time I heard....

"So, are you going on to be a doctor?" :uhoh3:

To which I reply, "No, I've seen their job, and I don't want it." :lol2:

Don't let it bug you. The sooner you realize that they're only making small talk and it's not an indictment of your educational career, the happier you'll be.

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Specializes in cardiac, ortho, med-surg.

my favorite question is, "are you a nurse or an lpn?" i had a patient demand to see an rn because she had a question that i nor my lpn colleague could possibly answer. it was "am i allowed to eat anything?" she was npo for surgery the next day. the rn gave us a look of irritation that she had to be interrupted changing another patient's pca for that. she told the patient that lpn's were perfectly capable of answering her questions, but this woman was older and set in her ways. some people are unable to change. when there is nothing you can do to change someone's mind, leave it be. it took me 35 years to learn that!:trout:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I am tired of explaining this to people. I tried the RN but did not get lucky..

I feel the same way. I always feel like I have to explain myself and why I am an LVN. Even to patients and their families! I refuse to NOT put the LVN behind my name. I worked hard for it and afterall the RN's just write RN: and their name, so I write on the boards in patient';s rooms

Nurse:

Shannon, LVN

People almost always ask "What does LVN stand for?" and I always explain and follow it by but I am working towards my RN.

I am DARNED proud to be an LVN!

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
i heard something like this from my own mother. i graduated from a practical nursing program being a mother of one, pregnant with the second and also married.

there was a waiting list for the rn program so i went ahead and did the pn program in the meantime.

anyway i was extremely proud of myself and i was on top of the world the night of my commencement ceremony. my mom had a little party for me afterwards and gave me a video camera as a graduation gift.

then she proceeded to tell me in front of everyone there that while an lpn license is nice "it's the rn that really counts."

i was crushed and have never forgotten it. i went home and cried that night (and yes, at that time in my life i was trying desperately to gain my mother's approval. i've grown up a lot since then!!)

whenever my mom and i were together with other people and the subject of my lpn license came up she always made sure that they knew i would be going on for the rn. of course this made me feel as if what i already was (and so proud of being) meant nothing to her. i almost felt that she was embarrassed of it at times even though she herself never attended a day of college!!!

anyway, in response to your statement..some people are just stupid and really should look in their own closet before criticizing others.

okay so maybe i'm still a little hurt about what my mom said but i've learned as i've gotten older that what other people think does not really matter as much to me and have often found out later that he source of their anger is jealousy.

love yourself and be proud of who you are. nurses are wonderful no what it says behind their name!!

ahh...my mother was or still is like that. before doing lpn, i had finished my a.a.s. in computer science. my mom wouldn't even congratulate me for it; she said that is just an associate degree and only bachelor's are good. i dunno why sometimes ur own mother put u down. needless to say i had an arguement about this wid my mom and it was a big fight. then, i am doing lpn and my mom always tell people that i am only doing lpn for the moment and i surely would be getting my bsn. i told my mom i would do adn first because i want to be an rn already and she would always say yeah but u have to do bsn too. sometimes, it is very discouraging when your own parents do that. i sure would not do that to my kids when i have them in future.....

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
my favorite question is, "are you a nurse or an lpn?" i had a patient demand to see an rn because she had a question that i nor my lpn colleague could possibly answer. it was "am i allowed to eat anything?" she was npo for surgery the next day. the rn gave us a look of irritation that she had to be interrupted changing another patient's pca for that. she told the patient that lpn's were perfectly capable of answering her questions, but this woman was older and set in her ways. some people are unable to change. when there is nothing you can do to change someone's mind, leave it be. it took me 35 years to learn that!:trout:

yeah i hate it when people say "oh you're doing lpn but why not be a nurse you can make so much more money." people are just ignorant sometimes...

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
i feel the same way. i always feel like i have to explain myself and why i am an lvn. even to patients and their families! i refuse to not put the lvn behind my name. i worked hard for it and afterall the rn's just write rn: and their name, so i write on the boards in patient';s rooms

nurse:

shannon, lvn

people almost always ask "what does lvn stand for?" and i always explain and follow it by but i am working towards my rn.

i am darned proud to be an lvn!

yes i am so proud i made it this far. few more months and i will be a nurse. yay...yeah i wonder if those ignorant people could even do the lpn program themselves. and for the rns at work asking me why i'm doing lpn and not rn i now will tell them oh why aren't you doing a nurse practioner or a doctor. hehe

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