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

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, This is my first post. I received my letter Monday accepting me into the LPN program at a school 40 miles away. I am sooo excited that I am telling everyone. 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. This is troubling to me. I am proud and worked hard to make it this far. Can someone explain this to me?

I applied to 3 schools and have been on waiting lists for sooo long, that it took over a year to get in. The RN waiting lists are 2 1/2 yrs long. One reason for the shortage of nurses, is because there isn't enough room for people to get in.

I hope I will do well and make a difference in people's lives.

Jenn

Specializes in Government.

As much misinformation is out there for RNs, it goes double for LPNs. We all have to educate, every day of our professional lives.

I do want to add that when I worked as a CNA in the early 1970's, I worked with 2 LPNs who had never had any schooling at all. They called them "LPNs by waiver". They were grandmothered into the licensure system. They were both quite old. I had looked into it because I had a degree already and bedside skills but was told that the waiver program had long ago been stopped. So, the educational question for all stripes of nursing still haunts.

Do not worry about every one else. My job satisfaction comes when one of my patients takes the time to thank me. As far as everyone else knowing what I do the can take a flying leap

Specializes in geriatrics.

Just Jenn,

I registered just to reply to your post. I am an LPN Student, finishing in December. I AM a nurse already, as far as I am concerned. Nursing comes from the heart and no piece of paper can make anyone a nurse if they are not. A nurse IS a professional no matter the title, but the license is not what makes you a nurse; it is what you have inside of you that makes you want to go into a sick person's room and clean them up for the eleventh time this shift, to go back and check on your patients one last time before going home, to hold a patients hand and let them tell you about their pet that is surely missing them at home while they are away, and drives you to keep going back everyday for more. I know that some people can't understand how a person can clean up pee and puke all day everyday, but there is so much more than that to nursing, and those who don't get it will never be nurses, and those who do get it will be taking care of them when they get sick and need help. In response to those who question you about why you are just going for your LPN, ask them why they chose to be a jerk when there are so many other things they COULD have been if they had tried. Don't let 'em get you down, girl!

Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

"We have an inside joke that RN means REAL NURSE and LPN means LITTLE PRETEND NURSE".

Man, that brought back a memory! During orientation at a psychiatric hospital years ago, I'd been warned ahead of time that "LPNs are treated just like the direct care staff--not like nurses--so be forwarned." Shortly after this, I had a CNA ask: "So what's your role here?" I said "I'm an LPN." He said "Oh, not a real nurse then..." Pissed me off!!! I, in turn, said "Well, last I checked I was a real nurse!" I sure hope we are never "phased out"(that term was used in nsg school nearly 20 yrs ago, telling us we had better not stop at the LPN level!) because as much as I would like the better pay and better job opportunities, I just don't have the energy or finances to go back to school for the RN education.

i agree that many people are unaware of the scope of lpns but also many people who do know of that you are limited as to how far you can go,,but mny people are constrained by finances and time needed at home to return to school..

"We have an inside joke that RN means REAL NURSE and LPN means LITTLE PRETEND NURSE".

I had a CNA ask: "So what's your role here?" I said "I'm an LPN." He said "Oh, not a real nurse then..." Pissed me off!!! I, in turn, said "Well, last I checked I was a real nurse!" I sure hope we are never "phased out"(that term was used in nsg school nearly 20 yrs ago, telling us we had better not stop at the LPN level!) because as much as I would like the better pay and better job opportunities, I just don't have the energy or finances to go back to school for the RN education.

Yup I hear ya. I was a LPN who worked her way through RN school, it wasn't easy and not everyone can swing it.

Sadly there are those BSN proponents who would just as quickly do away with you (and me also as 'just' a diploma RN.) Recognition of the value and contribution of all of us seems lost on these types, and too many delight in elitism and actively propogate it in the workplace.

I still remember being told as a new grad diploma RN (by snobby BSNs from the local uni) that very soon I would be the only one passing bedpans and she, the educated BSN who was soooo much better than me, would be ordering me to do it. The local BSN program was actively pushing this agenda. (This was 28 yrs ago and it ain't happened yet by the way. ;)

Don't let the turkeys get ya down...they're out there everywhere it seems. :uhoh3:

Yup I hear ya. I was a LPN who worked her way through RN school, it wasn't easy and not everyone can swing it.

Sadly there are those BSN proponents who would just as quickly do away with you (and me also as 'just' a diploma RN.) Recognition of the value and contribution of all of us seems lost on these types, and too many delight in elitism and actively propogate it in the workplace.

I still remember being told as a new grad diploma RN (by snobby BSNs from the local uni) that very soon I would be the only one passing bedpans and she, the educated BSN who was soooo much better than me, would be ordering me to do it. The local BSN program was actively pushing this agenda. (This was 28 yrs ago and it ain't happened yet by the way. ;)

Don't let the turkeys get ya down...they're out there everywhere it seems. :uhoh3:

Amen Mattsmom81!!

My favorite LPN instructor was in the first graduating class of the very first ADN graduates in our state in 1972. They were told to keep going and get their BSN's because they would soon be phased out and become "technicians" of some sort and that the "ADN experiment" would not last.

I graduated from LPN school in 1997 and RN school (ADN) in 2003 and I'm still not a technician.

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