"LPNs should be done away with altogether"

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

As an offshoot to the News article about nursing education, an opinion was brought to the board that LPNs are not adequately prepared to care for patients, and that their education is not strenuous like an RN program is. Having been in the field for awhile, what is your opinion on the differences between LPNs and RNs, other than the legally different aspects (LPNs cannot do initial assessments or IVs in my state for instance)

I'm not looking to start trouble, but rather discuss the topic in an area other than an unrelated thread.

Differences in LPNs vs RNs (educationally, functionally, intellectually)

Best way to combat any possible negatives of the above

Advice for an LPN student (who is too far through her program to just throw it out and start over in an RN program - already applied for an LPN to RN program starting Jan 2010)

Should I really expect to run into attitudes in the workplace about my not being worthwhile as an employee and a care provider because I chose the path that I have? How do you handle it if you do?

There is a local small rural hospital that pays incredibly well for LPNs right out of school and who has been trying very hard to recruit us during clinicals... am I going to be inequipped to care for patients there because of my education? I would never want to get into a situation where patient care was compromised because my education was lacking somehow...

Jennifer

~slightly confused and frustrated LPN student

for me it was pretty quick, timing i think was all because when they did hire me they were pretty pushy about getting me into an orientation that was starting like the same week. otherwise, i have heard that it does take quite awhile. we had a couple nurses come from another hospital and they told me that it was nearly 6 months for them. i would contact the va you applied at and follow up on your application. if you kept the information from the opening i would even call the nurse manager for the area you were applying for and see if they have made any decisions yet. hope it helps and good luck to you.

thank you ebibeault for the information. the thing is, is that i have called the nurse recruiter at least 4 times now and left a message since 09/30 (this is the date when my application status changed to eligible sent to the selecting officials for processing). when i get a live voice from someone other than the nurse recruiter (the one listed to contact), they can not give me a status on my application at all and they tell me to keep trying to call the nurse recruiter. i am really trying to be patient with the wait. i probably will try to call the actual nurse manager for that department and see if they can give me a status (thank you for the advice).

Specializes in Med/Surg;Geriatrics;Ortho;Family Med.

After reading a great portion of the posts, I am clear on one thing. There is a big difference in the training of LPNs from state to state. When I started out as an LPN back in 1989, we were in a year 'round program, five days per week, eight and a half hours a day (half hour for lunch). I had to be in school from 7am-330pm. The only break I had was 1 week during Christmas. It was EXTREMELY thorough, believe me when I say that! We had to maintain a percentage of 85% to even stay in the program. After moving from the foundation segment, we went on to do clinicals 4 days a week, with rotations in OB, psych, med/surg and even clinic nursing. To this date, I do not know of any nursing program that intensive! The attrition rate was staggering, more than half did not make it. After graduation, I went on to work in hospitals, homecare, hospice, LTC, etc. I precepted RNs who did not know nearly as much as I. Several people mention critical thinking. It is ascinine to even say an LPN does not have critical thinking skills. ALL nurses are taught to evaluate signs and symptoms, review labs, assess the patient and review orders and medications leading up to a change in status. My LPN schooling surpassed my clinical training as an RN. Duh, if you have good clinical skills it should stand to reason that you have critical thinking in order to utilize the clinical signs before you. I would never knock another nurse because they are all my brothers and sisters. The only difference, and this is speaking from the point of view as an LPN to RN with many years of experience, is one thing, respect. I always made darned good money as an LPN, heck, I made more than many RNs. But for some reason, people see the letters RN and it makes a world of difference, to them. BTW, I went to LPN school in Detroit under the JTPA program which was phased out for some reason. But, I will say this, if someone wanted my opinion I would tell them to go to RN school. It makes no sense to go to school for 2 years to be an LPN when you can be an RN, they do not have programs around like the one I graduated from. But Lord have mercy, if I saw ANY nurse graduate in 6 months time, I would be VERY skeptical. I feel one year should be the MINIMUM for an LPN.

After reading a great portion of the posts, I am clear on one thing. There is a big difference in the training of LPNs from state to state. When I started out as an LPN back in 1989, we were in a year 'round program, five days per week, eight and a half hours a day (half hour for lunch). I had to be in school from 7am-330pm. The only break I had was 1 week during Christmas. It was EXTREMELY thorough, believe me when I say that! We had to maintain a percentage of 85% to even stay in the program. After moving from the foundation segment, we went on to do clinicals 4 days a week, with rotations in OB, psych, med/surg and even clinic nursing. To this date, I do not know of any nursing program that intensive! The attrition rate was staggering, more than half did not make it. After graduation, I went on to work in hospitals, homecare, hospice, LTC, etc. I precepted RNs who did not know nearly as much as I. Several people mention critical thinking. It is ascinine to even say an LPN does not have critical thinking skills. ALL nurses are taught to evaluate signs and symptoms, review labs, assess the patient and review orders and medications leading up to a change in status. My LPN schooling surpassed my clinical training as an RN. Duh, if you have good clinical skills it should stand to reason that you have critical thinking in order to utilize the clinical signs before you. I would never knock another nurse because they are all my brothers and sisters. The only difference, and this is speaking from the point of view as an LPN to RN with many years of experience, is one thing, respect. I always made darned good money as an LPN, heck, I made more than many RNs. But for some reason, people see the letters RN and it makes a world of difference, to them. BTW, I went to LPN school in Detroit under the JTPA program which was phased out for some reason. But, I will say this, if someone wanted my opinion I would tell them to go to RN school. It makes no sense to go to school for 2 years to be an LPN when you can be an RN, they do not have programs around like the one I graduated from. But Lord have mercy, if I saw ANY nurse graduate in 6 months time, I would be VERY skeptical. I feel one year should be the MINIMUM for an LPN.

Hi luv4nurses:

I graduated from a college in Livonia MI in 1994 and we got 3 times the clnical time as the Associate RNs and 10 times the clinical time as the BSNs. LOL. Now I am in another state, took a refresher course because it has been over 3 years since I worked actively, and tomorrow at 8 am I will retake the NCLEX-PN so I can be licensed here.

:D Then I plan to go on to get my RN. I hope I will always show LPNs the respect that has always been shown to me as an LPN when I am an RN.:heartbeat

I have not faced that opinion yet, however, what I do want to say is:

We have all chose to be a LPN/LVN because for whatever reason, that option fit better into our lives at the time. Our program is one that one cannot just sail through, however, I love every moment of it. (Currently still a student) I would NEVER let the opinion of another make me feel inadequate!:nurse:

My sister has Cystic Fibrosis and is on home IVs, so when her nurse was over the house, we were talking about nursing and LPNs an RNs. She is an RN, but she did warn me that some (not all, just a few) RNs will try and belittle us because she witnessed it first hand, but just remember what I am learning and remember that I do have worth and I am working everyday at what I love to do, which is taking care of people and making their lives easier!

LPNs :up::up::up:

Specializes in PP, Pediatrics, Home Health.

I love being an LPN.I always wanted to be a nurse, and I love everything I am able to do!I work at a children's home and I work all alone on my side.I am responsible for 10 children,pouring meds,head to toe assessments,documentation, and pretty much running the floor on my own.I love it!I love being a nurse,I don't care if I am an RN or an LPN, to me I still get to wear the proud title of NURSE!!!!!!

from what i have seen, rns do IV and blood (but lpns can be trained too) and they do more paper work. thats it im from MI where lpns are mostly long term care, but since moving to texas have seen lvn jobs in every area i can think of, which i really like

Specializes in Med/Surg.

I totally agree with you!! I have had my LPN license since March and am getting ready to start my first LPN job in 2 weeks at a nursing home/rehab center!!! I think it's really frustrating to hear people talk about LPN's like they are not important or smart enough. I am enrolled in the RN program through my local community college and am currently retaking a class that I failed in 3rd semester. If I am not successful taking this class for the second time then I will be kicked out of the program. I can wait 6 months and re-enter the program as an LPN bridge student if I choose too. My whole thing is that the choice to re-enter or not should be based on what I want and not on whether someone thinks that my being an LPN is not good enough!! Regardless of the level of nursing that you are we ARE ALL nurses and very capable of caring for our patients!!

Thanks for your post :)

Leesha

Specializes in Med/Surg.

We should just be able to say that we are a nurse....end of story!!

Thanks for your post,

Leesha

i just corrected my father in law the other day....my mother in law is in the hosp and we were talking to her nurse(rn)....and my father in law said that iwas going to school to become a RN....said i was allready a LPN but now goin on to be a nurse.....UUMMMM.....i am a nurse i corrected.....i am going on to become a registered nurse now....

Specializes in geriatric correction hospice occupation.

I've heard LETS PLAY NURSE for LPN in the ER by an EMT. Made my blood boil, while strapped down to a backboard post mva. In any other proff. does people get poked at like this? I think not! I've been in the medical proff c various titles and it sucks that the higher educ one gets the more they feel the need to put someone else down. As I work sesmester by sesmester toward my RN, I vow to be part of that change thats needed.

Specializes in geriatrics.

There is an RN at the facility where I work who disagreed with me on a staffing decison. We had an employee call in for their shift and had to be replaced. Calls were made and a replacement was not found. Someone currently working would have to be mandated to stay over. Our facility is a union facility and I am a Union Steward; I am also an LPN. I was trying to explain to her that by not following the rules in the contract I would be forced to file a greivance to represent the employees effected. She looked at me and said "too bad". I was assigned to one wing in the facility and she the other. The wing I was assigned to put me in charge of the whole building for the weekend. I reminded her of this and in front of residents, employees and VISITORS to the building--"Jane Doe is staying and that is the end of all of this. That is why I have RN after my name and am not some stupid little LPN". I was furious. The difference in our job descriptions is only IV insertion and IV push meds. That is the only difference oh that and $12 an hour. Justice was served for the employee who was wronged with a grievance that gave them their lost wages and she got nothing for her behavior! I may be an LPN but I am an LPN who has 20 years as a CENA before I became an LPN. We are valuable members of any patient care team!

Specializes in GI,Pain Mgmt, Internal Med, OBGYN, PEDS.

I agree with everyone. I am currently an ADN student however, I have worked as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) for the last 5years and I have received a lot of backlash from the LPNs in the medical center where I work. Constant "sarcastic" remarks and put downs from my co-workers. I decided to go back to school in 2009 (although they were not my motivation, my children/fiance were) they were aware of this. They constantly made remarks like, its going to be very hard to get into nursing school, things such as well what if you don't get accepted then you would have done all that for nothing. Once I completed my pre-reqs I didn't tell anyone I just applied to the program. After going through all the red tape and I was for certain I could begin I notified my supervisor at work where they adjusted my work schedule to accommadate my school hours (they were more than supportive). Once all that was done, my coworkers were notified of the shift change (I didn't want any negative energy so I refrained from telling them until I had to). Now that I have gone through the shift change I still hear the rumors from a few associates at work telling me, well the lpns said they don't know how you got accepted into nursing school because you are not smart enough (although my GPA was a 3.3) or she couldn't have finished her pre-reqs that fast... etc, etc. Once I graduate from this RN program, I will not get the big head, I will continue to humble myself and embrace all nursing faculty. Again, we are all healthcare workers, working to better all people, communities and environments.

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