I was working as a CNA 32-hour weeks and going for my RN prereqs Mon through Fri. I too wanted to get my RN as fast as possible for the salary aspect of it as opposed to bridging over from LPN. In retrospect, I wouldn't advise this and I'll explain why in a minute. What I observed watching the RNs really surprised me. I saw paperwork taking precedence over patient care and the nurses were becoming madder and madder about it. We CNAs were doing more and more of what nurses used to do while they unhappily sat with the paperwork. We barely made a little more than minimum wage while they got the big bucks. We knew the patients better than they did. The patient load per nurse and CNA was too high because of nursing understaffing. What kept us going was the fantastic feeling you get when you help someone who is suffering. The job has to be done from the heart primarily if you want the best benefit of it.
When I saw how frustrated and disillusioned the nurses were because of all the red tape for the slightest thing instead of patient care, and how they were run ragged because of understaffing, I began to look into transcription as my main job with CNA on the side because I truly do love hands-on care. On some accounts, I make more per hour doing transcription than an LPN with a lot less hassle. RN might pay more at first as opposed to transcription, but the burn-out rate is high these days and the constant shift changes can do a real number on you.
There's a thread -- I think it's on MTChat -- where Linda Andrews of the Andrews School discusses how more nurses are turning to transcription and she quotes their replies when asked why. You might want to check that out. I agree with what they told her.
You might also want to try doing CNA for a hospital before you make a major leap. Don't depend on the schools to give you your information -- get in there and try it youself for a while and see if it is what you want. You may thrive on it or you may hate it. I found that on the job was SO different than what I was being told in school. Talk to the nurses themselves. They are more than happy to share their thoughts with you and give you advice when they have the time.
As for the respect factor of LPN to RN -- where I worked the nurses were very supportive of anyone who did this, as that is how many of them became RNs. While there were some power-plays at times, all in all it was like a family. If there was real trouble in that regard, I never saw any. As a matter of fact, I was advised by the nurses to do the LPN first and bridge over because I'd be a better supervisor that way if I had walked in their shoes first. The only nurses I saw who were not liked and respected were the lazy ones who just wanted to take breaks and leave as much of their patient care as they could to the CNAs.
Good luck to you whatever you decide! We sure need more dedicated nurses! |
nursing - Janine
