When I did my RN exam I made up flash cards and studied every chance I got. Passed the 1st time.

Maybe I'm just tired (studying most of the day) but I resent your implication that working on your PN diploma is "half way!" I have no idea what your background is but it's not "just" an LPN exam. For those of us working toward our PN license, it's an accomplishment to be proud of and work for.

I sure hope that I don't run into more nurses out there in the "real world" that belittle Practical Nurses as you seem to be doing. We may not have as much education or shoulder as much responsibility (specifically paperwork) as the RNs, but that doesn't make us less caring, less important or less dedicated!!!

The real difference, aside from money, between and RN and LPN is scope of practice. RNs have a wider scope of practice, can practice more independently and LPNs, can legally interpret data (LPNs collect it) and create nursing diagnoses. True, in practice LPNs do many of the same things RNs did (I sure did as an L). But there IS a substantial difference.

However, LPNs serve a valuable role in nursing, and I also would not call going to PN school "going half way." LPNs ARE nurses! The biggest reason I would advice someone to go for their RN is for increased pay, responsibility, and opportunities. But there's nothing wrong with being an LPN, or going that route first if it fits the needs of the students.

However, as to the idea that RNs can't do hands on skills: I would strongly disagree, char. As an RN I have done as many hands on skills such as give injections, start IVs, do EKGs, drop NG's, pass all sorts of meds, and on and on and on. I did so as an RN in a state prison, on a medical surgical unit, and as an ER nurse. The kinds of skills a nurse performs these days varies depending on where she works. Nurses in critical care are much more likely to perform certain types of skills than nurses in Long Term Care, or Industrial Health, or school nurses.

Some skills are passing out of use for other reasons. Pain medications are much more likely to be given PO or IV these days, rather than IM. 23 years ago, when I was a new grad, I gave IM pain shots in the hospital routinely because most patients didn't have a heplock (saline lock today). Nowadays, just about every patient in the hospital has a saline lock, and because patient's don't like to be stuck, they get their narcs IV. The medical and nursing profession has forgotten that while IV meds work faster, IM meds are effective 4-6 hours longer. PO narcotics are just as effective as IV or IM narcotics, and also last longer than IV.

Of course, RN programs vary widely in terms of skills emphasis. ADN and Diploma grads are much more likely to be comfortable with complex skills than BSN grads, but even then there is variation. I quit a BSN program that had no emphasis on basic skills, but all emphasis on "nursing theory" and "management" as a waste of my time. I later graduated from an excellent BSN program that emphasized basic skills at all levels, and whose instructors sharpened the skills I already had and broke me of some bad habits.

To answer Franco's original question: she should get some help in test taking strategies. The real issue may be she is unable to understand what the question is asking, and how to make the correct choice from the distractors. I find this all the time with my nursing students. There are books on test taking skills for nurses available at Borders or Barnes and Noble that are very good. She might also try a PN Review Course. Good luck!

Just to clarify: I was responding to NurseNursey's comment that going to a PN program left her "halfway stuck"--my comment was meant to refute that. I can understand why you're satisfied as an LPN. I was satisfied myself for 12 years and the ONLY reason I went for my RN was to get my ER job back.

I have known some crackerjack LPNs, and some piss poor RNs. It bothers me that some RNs look down on LPNs. One RN called me a "Little Pretend Nurse," when I was still an L. When I pointed out I was ACLS and PALS certified with ER experience, and he had no advanced certifications, it took some of the wind out of his sails.

EVERY health care professional serves an important role and deserves to be treated with respect!

see that's what I'm talking about. I can't believe nursing has so much arrogance, when I first become a CNA., I was so discourage to even continue my career as a nurse, because of the arrogance. My friend was going through a LVN program, and the RN students kept saying, make room for the REAL NURSES, and took their chairs away in class,come to find out, that those same RN students were repeats!!!!

need advice...I was in an RN program at a local college then I failed a clinical portion; it is my school policy that after a failure a student must go to LPN school in order to be admitted and finish their RN program. I must mention I was 2 semesters from graduation...so now I am looking into LP N schools...any ideas anybody about this problem?

Thank you

Oh yeah before i forget. ALWAYS go with your first answer! it is 90% of the time correct. I hope that helps FRANCO 128906. That is the what our instuctors told us on all of our exams.GOOD LUCK!