[Dior Princess]

Originally Posted by DGood

I know LPN's are licensed practical nurses but saying you are "a nurse" seems misleading. Right now I'm in "nursing school" for RN. If I was in LPN school. I would say I am in a "practical nurse school."
There is also "nurse" in certified nurse assistant, but they are still nurse assistants not "nurses".
I think people should refer to themselves with proper titles.
EXAMPLE >>There is an ARNP here where I work and everyone calls her doctor...how annoying.

WOW! What ignorant and offensive statements!

[JeanineLPN1984]

I prefer " I am THE NURSE " LOL. If strangers ask me I say " I'm a nurse", if they ask what kind I say, " The kind you want in an emergency". I figure after 20+ years, full time in different settings, never been sued or in front of a lawyer or judge for any of my nursing care and action- it says enough. I earned it, taught many new excellent nurses, both LPN and RN'S, even DO students. I have always been respected by my peers and I LOVE what I do and how well I turned out. Have a great day.
P.S. Miami night nurse -well said, did you notice the young student is also in FL? Maybe you'll get to orient them to the REAL world. just a thought.....

[kythe]

It depends on who I am talking to, but I tend to specify "LPN" because so many Medical Assistants call themselves "nurses" that the word doesn't mean anything anymore. Although, I did once have a conversation with an MA who seemed to honestly believe she had even more education than I did. Considering that I worked as an MA for 3 years before going to nursing school, I *know* that isn't true! Doctor's often encourage MA's in their offices to call themselves "nurses", so I think that leads to a certain arrogance in these circles.

[hikernurse]

When I was an LPN, I'd introduce myself as a nurse; now I'm an RN and I still introduce myself as a nurse.

I liked the earlier poster who said, "I'm the kind of nurse you want in an emergency." Good answer.

And for the record when I was in nursing school, I'd say I was in nursing school, not "Registered Nursing School."

[pagandeva2000]

Originally Posted by DGood

I know LPN's are licensed practical nurses but saying you are "a nurse" seems misleading. Right now I'm in "nursing school" for RN. If I was in LPN school. I would say I am in a "practical nurse school."
There is also "nurse" in certified nurse assistant, but they are still nurse assistants not "nurses".
I think people should refer to themselves with proper titles.
EXAMPLE >>There is an ARNP here where I work and everyone calls her doctor...how annoying.

Sorry, I totally disagree. I AM a 'nurse' and I did attend 'nursing school'. It did not take an idiot to complete an LPN course, and I took the state boards in order to practice. It is not misleading to say that I am a nurse that went to nursing school and earned her license. Not trying to sound harsh, just that if we bow down and allow the RNs to own the title NURSE is wrong... and there is no reason to then have to justify that I am a qualified person trained to care for someone.

[Leo2]

I say I'am a nurse, have been for 22yrs. If they ask LPN or RN, I'll say with pride LPN. diff. levels still nurses, If you are in school then you are a student nurse. Leo2

[scrapgirl2000]

I would tell people I was in nursing school. If they said "oh, you are going to be an R.N.", I would say "No, I am going to be an LVN". Never be ashamed of your hard work and education as an LVN student / future LVN. And also, don't sell yourself short. A nurse is a Nurse. I am an LVN and proud to be. My grandmother who is a little bitter, said to my grandfather (of my fiancee who is an R.N. "He is an R.N. he is registered".) I was mad, but I am sure anyone who feels that way and is choking or having an MI is not going to say "Wait you are not an R. N. or a real nurse, don't help me. Get a real nurse". We work hard and give everything of ourselves to earn the right and respect to call oursleves nurses! Did Florence Nightengale designate herself with a title? better yet, it was her principles and dedication that stood out. Without that, what would nursing be today.

[scrapgirl2000]

Originally Posted by DGood

I know LPN's are licensed practical nurses but saying you are "a nurse" seems misleading. Right now I'm in "nursing school" for RN. If I was in LPN school. I would say I am in a "practical nurse school."
There is also "nurse" in certified nurse assistant, but they are still nurse assistants not "nurses".
I think people should refer to themselves with proper titles.
EXAMPLE >>There is an ARNP here where I work and everyone calls her doctor...how annoying.

With that attitude, good luck in nursing school and the "real world of nursing". Maybe you won't think it is so misleading when you can no longer take care of yourself, and have a licensed vocational NURSE giving you pain meds, calling the doctor on your behalf, and being YOUR advocate when you no longer can.

[pagandeva2000]

Obviously, those that know me on these boards are aware that I am a very PROUD LPN...better yet, I am a proud NURSE...period. I learned anatomy and physiology, psychology, microbiology, sociology, all of the good stuff that the RNs had to take for their pre-requisites at my community college. I sat side by side with prespective RN students in these classes, and in many cases, I earned higher grades than they did.

I have to say that I am totally outraged that someone would actually say that to mention I am a NURSE is misleading! Does this mean that the BSN, MSN and Advanced Practice nurses can say to an Associate Degree RN that she is not really a nurse? NO, they CANNOT... it does mean that their education and scope of practice is advanced, yes, but they all sat through NCLEX-RN. I stand proud next to an RN because I am a nurse as well. I learn from RNs as well as WITH them. We learned the nursing process (which is the SAME for both), pharmacology (because ANY nurse is legally responsible for the administration of medications), nursing diagnoses, NANDA, many of the same things. It does not mean that our education is equal to theirs, but, we are nurses in our own right. No one is misleading the public when we say we are nurses; we do not mislead anyone when we tell them we are attending nursing school, because we are; we only mislead them when we say that we are RNs when we are clearly not.

And, I clearly will not apologize for being an licensed practical NURSE.

[suejara]

Originally Posted by DGood

Not trying... just giving an opinion.
Question: Do LPN's take the same exact NCLEX?? I thought it was and LPN NCLEX (can't remember what it's called).

PS> I'm not trying to be smart, I'm trying to learn about LPN's

Its called the NCLEX-PN (PN for Practical Nurse). Perhaps you can go to a bookstore and browse through an NCLEX prep book for RN's and then one for LPN's and see for yourself how similar the two exams are.