LPN's are Nurses Too? Aren't they?

lpnger · Sep 21, 2004

congratulations,you go for it , lpns are real nurses .....:balloons:

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Sep 21, 2004

Many people think that LPNs are "Lower Paid Nurses" and at the time when I was a LPN that statement really hurt.

Just wanted to say - from me, at least, it isn't meant to hurt. It's kind of a sarcastic comment on the fact that LPNs do work hard, have extensive knowledge, and don't get paid adequately for it. While I think LPNs are exploited, at least in my hospital, I know many who are superb nurses and taught me well.

In fact, when I started on a general surg floor as a new grad (BSN) I also started with a new ADN grad and a new LPN, both of whom came from the same 1+1 program. I'd never seen an NG, and these girls had had clinical experience in which they got to be charge of the unit! The LPN was several steps ahead of me in terms of being ready to work the floor. I was supposed to be her "resource," I guess that means supervising RN, but what that meant was we had our own assigments and I pushed her morphine and zofran, of which there was a lot on a surgical floor. Sometimes I was even assigned to be "resource" for an LPN who'd been there twenty years. It was hilarious - I was asking her to show me how to flush a Foley and I was supposed to be supervising her.

Nurse Berta · Sep 21, 2004

I was an LPN for 10 years before I eventually got an ADN, BSN, MSN. I really learned how to be a nurse in LPN training. I was really proud to be an LPN. Eventually, I taught in an LPN program. I chose that over the AD or BSN programs to teach in, because in my heart, I will always be an LPN. Be proud of who you are. Stand up for your profession! YOU ARE A NURSE! :rolleyes:

opalmRN · Sep 21, 2004

But, when I tell them it is for LPN, they all get this look on their face, like disappointment. I am finding out that most people do not think of LPN's as real nurses. Jenn

It never ceases to amaze me how may people run into this ATTITUDE.

If you were to say you wanted to teach elementary school would they say you were not a real teacher because you were not teaching at the college level? :rolleyes: Of course not but it seems that some folks have this misconception about the responsibilities of LPNs

If LPNs are not (in their minds) real nurses, what does the "N" in LPN stand for? Naughty or Nice? NOT!

Thank these folks for their opinions but don't let THEIR'S become YOURS! :nurse:

Autumndove · Sep 28, 2004

Hi all,

I agree there is a real lack of information about LPNs and their role in nursing. I'm a first year nursing student for the ADN degree and so far in my nurse 1 & 2 classes, they've yet to talk about LPNs. What drew me to this site was when we got a test question on what to do when a Physician wants to give an order over the phone and the LPN answered. The possible answers to choose from were a) get the nurse b) tell the physician to call back later c) take the order and repeat the order to verify you have the information down correct. I chose © but I'm thinking I got this wrong, since in the text books, it says to get the RN.

My whole confusion on this topic was that I thought LPNs were nurses and I didn't really see anything wrong with them taking an order over the phone as long as it was taken correctly. I was also fustrated to see that in my nursing text book there really wasn't much of a mention about LPNs and their roles and responsibilities.

-Autumn

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2004

Thank you!!!!!!:)

I was an LPN for 10 years before I eventually got an ADN, BSN, MSN. I really learned how to be a nurse in LPN training. I was really proud to be an LPN. Eventually, I taught in an LPN program. I chose that over the AD or BSN programs to teach in, because in my heart, I will always be an LPN. Be proud of who you are. Stand up for your profession! YOU ARE A NURSE!

opalmRN · Sep 28, 2004

What drew me to this site was when we got a test question on what to do when a Physician wants to give an order over the phone and the LPN answered. The possible answers to choose from were a) get the nurse b) tell the physician to call back later c) take the order and repeat the order to verify you have the information down correct. I chose © but I'm thinking I got this wrong, since in the text books, it says to get the RN. -Autumn

In Pennsylvania, LPNs are authorized to take phone orders as are RNs. The difference is whether the facility has implemented this new change or not.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Sep 28, 2004

You BET they are Nurses... and damn GOOD ones, too ! Uh.. it does say Licensed Practical NURSE, does it not? :rolleyes:

So sad.. our facility is now no longer permiltted to hire any more LPNs from here on out. Just PCTs and RNs. What a shame... makes the RNs job all the more difficult, too.

missmercy · Sep 28, 2004

yes!!!!!

Our LPNs are not allowed to take orders from the Docs,or give IV push meds. They can start, maintain and regulate IVs if it's not a major drip or blood products. However, they are ( at least in our facility) intelligent, hard working NURSES and we love having them here!!! RN's have a specific role, LPNs do to -- but we all have licensure and are al nurses!!

mattsmom81 · Sep 28, 2004

Old thread revisited here, eh?

The hospital systems around my parts don't know how to manage the two levels of nursing anymore, sadly. They have found it easier recently to do away with LVN's altogether which is even more sad. Honestly the policies in some places I work make it very difficult for me as a RN to work with LVN's as I seldom find in place a practical way available to divide the workload fairly and appropriately.

When I was a LPN we did team nursing which allowed everybody on the 'team' optimal contribution. Now we do primary care, and if a LVN is on duty it can leave the RN's feeling resentful they have to 'do extra stuff' and assume liabilities LVN's are not permitted by policy. This along with a full load of patients themselves. I've been stuck in this situation and it CAN foster resentment between RN's and LPN's, I believe...the system propogates it IMO.

So in my mind it goes back to an unresponsive system... again. Just like most of our problems in nursing IMO.

With the shortage of nurses willing to work in today's facilities, hospitals seem to be shooting themselves in the foot by not providing a workable system made up of both RN's and LVN's. But they never asked me for an opinion, did they?

lpn3324 · Sep 28, 2004

Hi all,
I agree there is a real lack of information about LPNs and their role in nursing. I'm a first year nursing student for the ADN degree and so far in my nurse 1 & 2 classes, they've yet to talk about LPNs. What drew me to this site was when we got a test question on what to do when a Physician wants to give an order over the phone and the LPN answered. The possible answers to choose from were a) get the nurse b) tell the physician to call back later c) take the order and repeat the order to verify you have the information down correct. I chose © but I'm thinking I got this wrong, since in the text books, it says to get the RN.
My whole confusion on this topic was that I thought LPNs were nurses and I didn't really see anything wrong with them taking an order over the phone as long as it was taken correctly. I was also fustrated to see that in my nursing text book there really wasn't much of a mention about LPNs and their roles and responsibilities.
-Autumn

Depending on the facility,LPNs can take verbal orders over the phone. If we had to have an RN all the time at the facilities I work at we would probably have a lot of very sick or dead patients,due to lack of care.So manyb places are administered by RNs but RUN by LPNs. Time to get off my soapbox

Mommy/Grandma · Sep 28, 2004

I am 46 years old and changed my profession to nursing I was out of school for a good 15 years. I didn't think I could do the program it was hard but I did and proud of my self. What bothers me is when you tell people that you are an LPN and they ask are you going for your RN you know you really should if not just to prove you can do it. Patients and other RN's say this to me. If I wanted to be an RN I would of went to school to be one. It just really upsets me.