Anyone sick of being told...

[Sandi0302]

THat you are not really a nurse because you are an LPN and not an RN? It really infuriates me. Yes, I am currently enrolled in an RN program, BUT...it makes me so angry. I want to know when this whole mentality came about and why. Why did they even create LPNs if they were going to make them so limited in practice that people would think that?

I dont know about other states, but in NJ, and especially in a sub-acute setting, we can do pretty much anything (IV's, take orders, draw blood, ect).

However, it most hospitals pay LPNs a lot less and the one that i used to work at as an aid wasnt hiring LPNs any longer when I got my license.

Sorry for venting, but does anyone else feel this way?

Sandi

[tlhubbard]

What is an STNA? It sounds like what a CMA (certified medication assistant) is in NJ ~ an aid that can pass certain meds. From what I remember, here the training (I THINK) is only 3 weeks.

Thank you all for your kind words.

I'm sorry, here in Ohio STNA stands for State Tested Nursing Assistant. They have their basic training(not sure of the length) and then there will be those FURTHER certified by an additional course to pass meds. What these meds will or won't include I don't know. I find it rather disturbing that our boards of nursing would essentially allow this "blurring" of the line between nurses and STNAs. I feel in an attempt at a quick fix for the nursing shortage, they are going for a "warm body" plan.

I just worry about the patients. Many in the situation we're looking at here are unable to speak for themselves and need monitoring by someone who is trained (for more than a few weeks). Not to mention, will STNAs be required to carry insurance--who would want that kind of liability with the $$ they receive for thankless work.(they don't get an "ATTA BOY" often if at all)