[carribeanbound]

Hello again,

sorry, didn't mean to start any strife here. There is one really awesome LPN in this same ER, who refused to do this charge thing. The triage nurse does not see the ambulance pts who are brought in, that duty is the control Nurse, just thought I would clear things up. I guess the one of the problems here is probably financially motivated--- paying LPN wages vs RN wages.

[Nurse Ratched]

PAT PAT PAT PAT PAT

Whew! Let's put those flames out folks~

PLEASE, this should not be an RN vs. LPN thread - only what is legally permissible within the individual scopes of practice. Thank you!

[Dream_Nurse2b]

Originally Posted by lindarn

LPN/LVNs have no business being in charge of anything. I cringe when I hear that nursing homes pushed to change the wording that allowed LPN/LVNs to be the only licensed person present in facilities. I would not allow anyone in my family to be admitted to a facility that allowed LPN/LVN to be the sole person avalilable and/or be in charge. LPN/LVNs do not have enough education to take that responsiblity. One year of post HS education, and allowed to take that responsibility? How much do people pay to be in nursing homes and hospitals? Do schools allow individuals to teach even kindergarten with a one years "teachers assistant certificate" ? I don't think so. JMHO.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

I'd suggest that you get off your high horse, and stop using beat around the bush words to demean an entire profession. It seems to me that you are trying to over compensate for something. The fact that you would not "ALLOW" anyone in your familty to be admitted to a facility an LPN/LVN to be the sole person avalilable and/or be in charge, is fine, that's on you. But I doubt everyone in your family is stupid enough to let any one person, no matter how many letters are behind her name, to take away their right to choose. An to spoof off of something that someone else touched base on, have you ever been an LPN? I don't think so. Have you ever gone into an indepth review of LPN education? I don't think so. Because if you did you would know, that most if not all LPN programs, require basically the same as any RN program whether, it be a ASN or BSN program. The only thing that they do not include is something that I like to call filler courses. enough credits to fill up a transcript, to qualify for a degree. That is not saying that those courses mean nothing. But they are not absolutely essential to nursing practice. Education is very imortant, where you get that education from whether it be on the floor or in school, isn't that high on the list. I am not a nurse at all, and I was offended by your statement. I would suggest an apology to all LPNs/LVNs.

[Light,Love,Truth]

The 24 year old Commuter put it ALL very nicely!

[lindarn]

I stand by my statement on this thread, and I will not apologize to anyone. The fact that you are not a nurse speaks volumes about your allegations.

There is more to an RN education that just technical details. The fact that you don't think there is a significant difference between the careers makes you just as offensive as the admistrators who treat nurses like interchangeable widgets. This is the main reason that we need to go the a BSN in to practice, and standarized our education and be in line with other health care professionals. The different levels of nurses confuses the public, gives adminstrators a reason to de- skill our profession, and cheapens our title and status as a professional.

I don't think that doctors would stand for Physicians Assistants passing themselves off as doctors, or allow them to take over their professional practice.

I will again state the LPN/LVNs have no business being in charge of anything, and should not have their professional practice enlarged. If there are too many procedures/issues for the LPNs to handle, then the instutution should hire more RNs, keep the patient ratios reasonable, and pay them enough so they dont quit. And RNs need to start to DEMAND THESE CONDITIONS, as they did in California. If they would hire enough RNs than there would be no need for LPNs. There is a reason that hospitals have gone to an all RN staff. And no, I was never an LPN. I was a diploma grad originally from 1975, and earned my BSN later. I have worked most of my career in critical care, and cannot imagine having to supervise, and be accountable for an LPN in the ICU setting. I have nothing against LPNs. I just think that hospitals and nursing homes are trying to provide nursing care "on the cheap", to save money, and RNs are letting them get away with it.

RNs need to hold their State Board of Nursing accountable, when they allow lesser educated personnel take over the professional duties of an RN. RNs need to pay attention to what the state legislature is proposing, and get in the fight to stop it. That is how medication aides were born. I personnally resent the de skilling of nursing, not only to unlicensed aides, but also to LPN/LVNs who are being given a bigger piece of an RNs practice. It is not only the training that goes into being an RN. It is EDUCATION. Dogs and monkeys are trained. Nurses are educated. That is the difference. The blurring of the lines of an RN/LPN/Nurses Aide, continues to make it difficult to defend our practice.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

[P_RN]

Last chance here. No more one on one. Debate the topic which is a hospital having an LPN as charge nurse. What one's opinion of ONE LPN or ONE RN is not justification for slamming an entire professional title.

As has been said twice now Play nice OK?

[cotjockey]

I've done "flow control" as an LPN. It makes much more sense to have an LPN keeping track of which patients are where, who still needs to go to x-ray, who the doctor has seen, who we still need to find next of kin on, keep paperwork organized, etc than it does to have an RN tied up doing it when there is a patient who really needs an RN. I was never "in charge" of anything or supervised anyone...I just made sure that things flowed smoothly and that people got where they needed to go and had what they needed when they got there.

[GoLytely]

Originally Posted by lindarn

LPN/LVNs have no business being in charge of anything...JMHO.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

There is a whole lot I could say in response to this, but I'll just leave the thread with this thought: the less people know about something the stronger their opinions tend to be.

[Marie_LPN, RN]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ratched

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Whew! Let's put those flames out folks~

PLEASE, this should not be an RN vs. LPN thread - only what is legally permissible within the individual scopes of practice. Thank you!

That would be sooo nice, however, when (no names mentioned) a certain person takes it upon themselves to demean, attack, etc. a certain kind of nurse, that's EXACTLY what it turns into right afterwards!

EVERYTIME!

[Marie_LPN, RN]

Originally Posted by lindarn

I have nothing against LPNs.

COULD HAVE FOOLED ME!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!