will my LPN be counted as experience?

From reading responses on this site in the past, the majority of employers will not count the LPN time as experience when applying for an RN job. The employers that do count it are few and far between. For example: one of my current employers stated to me that they will not employ me as an RN until I get one year experience as an RN elsewhere. Pretty asanine if you ask me, since I have no intention of changing job duties. I would be doing the exact same job. They want me to do it at the LVN rate of pay, instead of what they pay RNs to do the same job; of that, I am sure. I intend to work as an RN for employers who will give me the respect of an RN, so my association with this employer will most likely end when I get the RN license.