"Just an LPN"....does anyone else get discouraged?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hello nurses!

I have been discouraged lately...I feel like I am constantly fighting off the stigma of being "just an LPN." When people ask what I do, I always say I am a nurse....they then want to know if that means "RN" and of course what hospital do I work at???!!!!! I work in a clinic and have been an LPN for several years. UGGGHHH!!! Anyone else have this challenge?

Denise

Specializes in Registered Nurse.

When I was an LPN, I did get that feeling and have the experience that a LPN was never good enough to many. But I always knew inside that I was a good nurse. I knew when to tell the doctor what I needed to even if I couldn't diagnose the problem....though sometimes I did know what the problem was. As an RN you learn more, but you still can't legally medically diagnose. You can address nursing disagnoses. But both LPN and RN licences should be respected as nurses. Period. Like someone else said, just with a different scope of practice.

Specializes in Registered Nurse.
I think people are getting a little sensitive.

An assistant nurse still nurses. She or he can still say she nurses.

So what? Whether you're an assistant nurse, enrolled nurse or registered nurse, you are still a nurse. Just like a doctor of philosophy still has a Dr before their name or a vet can still say they're a medical practitioner.

Really. Get over the titles, people.

Wrong. That is why it is illegal to say you are a nurse when you are not.

wrong. that is why it is illegal to say you are a nurse when you are not.

yeah, and wish someone would make that clear to the medical office assistants that work in physician's offices or clinics. they always refer to themselves as 'nurses' :angryfire the docs even say "my nurse will explain that to you" - i recently had a urologist tell me his 'nurse' would be able to demonstrate how to insert a suprapubic catheter - and he knew i am an rn. wonder if he understands why i changed the patient to another urologist.

I have been an LPN for almost 10 years and enjoy it! Yes, I have been looked down for being a "low paid nurse." I just thought of it this way....I am still making more than the average wage earner...so it can't be that bad!!! I just finished up my ASN degree and do look forward to better pay and more respect HOWEVER I contribute much of my nursing career experience and success to being an LPN.

Kim

At my university the pre-med majors think they are superior to not only nurses, but other students going into health care fields that are not pre-med. It seems like the superior attitudes start before one even makes it into a field. Just my opinion.

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
I contribute much of my nursing career experience and success to being an LPN.

Kim

I was an LPN for 26 years and was always employed, made good money, was able to be very flexible with my schedule which allowed me to never have my kids in daycare, yes being an LPN was a good thing for me. Once I had my kids through school, at the age of 46, I went back to school and enjoyed every minute. I've been an RN for 3 years. The best part was school. I know some of you may find that hard to believe but it's one of the best things I've ever done for myself. No matter my age, it was a personal goal. I reached it! Woo Hoo!

Hello nurses!

I have been discouraged lately...I feel like I am constantly fighting off the stigma of being "just an LPN." When people ask what I do, I always say I am a nurse....they then want to know if that means "RN" and of course what hospital do I work at???!!!!! I work in a clinic and have been an LPN for several years. UGGGHHH!!! Anyone else have this challenge?

Denise

I bet you know more about saving a life than they do. and I bet if he or she were in a life-threatening situation they will wish there was an LPN around!:uhoh21:

Hello nurses!

I have been discouraged lately...I feel like I am constantly fighting off the stigma of being "just an LPN." When people ask what I do, I always say I am a nurse....they then want to know if that means "RN" and of course what hospital do I work at???!!!!! I work in a clinic and have been an LPN for several years. UGGGHHH!!! Anyone else have this challenge?

Denise

In the hospital that I work at I have noticed some of the new RN grads having the attitude of "just LPN" or "lowly aid". It bugs me a lot!! I am just an LPN, and I can honestly say sometimes the LPN's can do and handle a ton of more work than some RN's. I had an RN correct me when I said I was just an LPN, she said "You are a nurse, same as me"

I also worked with an RN who came from the mind set that RN was the almighty one, the LPN was the pill pusher and aid helper, and the aid was the slave...... UGGHH I hate working with people like that!!!!!!!!!

Specializes in Registered Nurse.

i agree with some of what has been said here in the last day for sure. if i wasn't an lpn first, i don't think i'd be as good of a rn now. it's great experience and you get to do most nursey things....about 90% or more of the things rns do in ny state.

and i agree, weeziebat, the techs or assistants should not say they are nurses when they are not. it is very commom though, unfortunately. it's probably because people don't know they are being "fooled" and never think to report the problem, if they did know. they may not know it is really wrong and illegal.

i know it's been said before but the people who say "you are only an lpn", are the same people who a. have no concept of what an lpn does, b. so full of their own self doubt that they have to try to put other peolpe down to make themselves feel better, or c. just plain ignorant and cruel. :angryfire either way i feel these aren't people i need to impress at all. there is nothing in the world wrong with being an lpn. i can, and have done, the same or better work than any other nurse i've ever worked with. whehter or not i am an lpn or get my rn i am still a darned good nurse and that is what should matter. :rolleyes:

I think everyone just needs to realize that the medical profession has a need for all of the people who chose to be in it. It doesn't matter what letters you have after your name. Maslow did come up with the heirarchy. If a persons basic needs aren't met then it just goes to reason that there isn't much need for anything else. C.N.A.'s provide the basic nursing needs needed by our clients, which in turn allows the L.P.N.'s to do their job and so on and so forth. While the educational level and the letters after our names may all be different there is one constant, we were all directed down this path because we care. When one of our patients is in need each and everyone of us is there because we care. At the true moment of crisis it seems we all forget the power and control issues and each one in his or her own capacity responds to the situation at hand. As far as I'm concerned L.P.N. stands for:Love, Patience, and Caring. Isn't that what it's all about anyway? :balloons:

Specializes in ICU, HOME HEALTH, NURSING EDUC, CASE MGT.
I was an LPN for 26 years and was always employed, made good money, was able to be very flexible with my schedule which allowed me to never have my kids in daycare, yes being an LPN was a good thing for me. Once I had my kids through school, at the age of 46, I went back to school and enjoyed every minute. I've been an RN for 3 years. The best part was school. I know some of you may find that hard to believe but it's one of the best things I've ever done for myself. No matter my age, it was a personal goal. I reached it! Woo Hoo!
HI THERE DUTCHGIRLRN! YOUR LETTER IS DEFINITELY AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL! YOU GO GIRL!!! :balloons: I AM 44 YEARS OLD AND IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND PURSUE AN RN DEGREE. I LOVE BEING AL LPN/LVN, BUT IF I WANT THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN I.E. CRITICAL CARE NURSING, THEN I HAVE TO DO IT. ADIOS AMIGA, 91C_ARMYLPN :) :p
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