Anyone sick of being told...

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 27, 2005

Been told that a few times. My reply (lately) is typically "I don't recall asking you what your opinion is on my job title. But for the record the Commonwealth of Virginia issued me a license that SAYS 'nurse' on it, and i hold that in higher regard that some person's self-conscious-ridden opinion."

I want to know when this whole mentality came about and why.

Napoleon complex (something to prove). People who cannot feel good about themselves without dogging others in order to boost their own self-esteem.

I think what annoys me the most about when people make those comments, is when someone complains or vents about it, there's always someone who says in response "well if you don't like the remarks, go back to school." Me going back to school is not going to fix such a level of rudeness that comes from others.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2005

THat you are not really a nurse because you are an LPN and not an RN? It really infuriates me.

I was online the other night while attempting to download some licensure endorsement forms from the Texas Board of Nursing web site. I then proceeded to notice that LVNs were referred to 'vocational nurses' on this state site while RNs were referred to as 'professional nurses'.

pedinurse05 · Oct 27, 2005

I was online the other night while attempting to download some licensure endorsement forms from the Texas Board of Nursing web site. I then proceeded to notice that LVNs were referred to 'vocational nurses' on this state site while RNs were referred to as 'professional nurses'.

Most state boards do consider the RN the professional nurse. Regardless of the fact, both LPN's and RN's are NURSES. Your license says NURSE!

psalm, RN · Oct 28, 2005

...LPNs study hard, work hard, have to test out AND are so vital to today's health care. Don't let it get to you, as Marie LPN wrote, she has the license that states she's a nurse, and so do you!

bjm · Oct 28, 2005

I feel bad that some people would refer to an LVN as not really being a nurse. I am an RN myself, and I have worked along side many a LVN that d/t a lot of bedside care years is very quick at noting changes in a pts status. Let me give you the insight of how I believe that attitude has evolved...My understanding is that LVN training mainly focuses on procedures (IV starts, Foleys, etc), whereas RN's training focuses mainly on assessments, noting changes and what those changes mean...ie., Calcium level has gone up, so I know I want to check this pts phosphorus levels, because this pt could go into cardiac difficulties or seizures. Or, his BUN has risen, so I might want to watch that pts urine output for changes in amount, color, as well as notify MD because we may need to change medications that won't be so hard on this guys liver...like stopping something as simple as Tylenol orders. Still, these differences in training do NOT mean that an LVN isn't a nurse. It simply means that there is a difference in training and therefore, there are two types of nursing. This is also why state laws govern what each type of nurse can perform and/or assess. I can give you another example of how this attitude can raise its ugly head. I worked a surgical floor for some time, and policy says that only an RN can assess a pt returning from OR and only an RN can do the hourly checks on an epidural. OK...if I have 6 pts of my own, and the LVN has six, and some of mine and some of hers are coming back from OR (usually with epidurals), guess what happens? I just increased my pt load to my 6, plus the post op assessments on all of hers and mine, plus, hourly checks on my and her pts epidurals. In this scenario, the stress level rises tremendously...and this can very easily cause an RN to resent the LVN. I hope this helps. Maybe the answer is to hire more staff, and utilize it more effectively. Anyway, I'm sorry this has happened to you and congradulations on continuing your education, I wish you well.

achot chavi · Oct 28, 2005

There are always people with poor opinions:eek: . Take it from whom it comes. If you're licensed and employed as a nurse:nurse: , you have my permission to call yourself a nurse!!:roll

However as an RN I am always insulted at being referred to a "paramedical personel" . Do we refer to doctors as "paranursing personel?" We nurses have a profession all to our own and we are not just doctors assistants!

Just as there are many levels of doctors (and other professionals) with varying degrees and specialties , We nurses have varying levels of degrees and specialties.

You should be proud of your acheivements (and failures) as a nurse and don't let anyone bring you down with stupid comments

To get upset :madface: is to punish yourself :nono: for someone elses stupidity:clown: !!!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Oct 28, 2005

It sounds that people who have this misconception and tell you this is more of a way of putting themselves up and you down. Don't pay attention to it. Do as MarieLPN does. That ought to shut anyone up :chuckle

Good luck :clown:

And yes, you are a nurse :nurse:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2005

I was online the other night while attempting to download some licensure endorsement forms from the Texas Board of Nursing web site. I then proceeded to notice that LVNs were referred to 'vocational nurses' on this state site while RNs were referred to as 'professional nurses'.

That doesn't mean that LPNs aren't "professional", it's just a definition of professional. I've read in certain journals, etc. that the BSN is the "professional" nurse, the ADN is the technical nurse. It's just some university-definition of the word "professional nurse". It's not meant to describe behavior and say that ADNs or LPNs don't act professionally on the job.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2005

Napoleon complex (something to prove). People who cannot feel good about themselves without dogging others in order to boost their own self-esteem.

How true, how true!

Unless of course the person truly doesn't know any better. But those are few and far between. How could some not think an LP NURSE was not a nurse.

tlhubbard · Oct 28, 2005

I am an RN myself. However, I have seen many an LPN that is more capable than some RNs. I work with nursing homes in infusion therapy.

We are faced with LPNs looking for IV certification in our state. Our new LPN grads will have it with their curriculum. This puts the current LPNs in a bit of a pickle. Our neighbor, Indiana, is wanting to offer a 6 or 8 week course to get STNAs to be able to pass meds EEEEKKKK!!! I'm worried for my younger LPNs who do not have IV cert, if STNAs start passing meds where will this put this talented bunch? ( I say the younger LPNs because they have many years to want to continue to work) I figure before the legislation gets through some of the older gals without the certification will be ready to retire.

Plus, (nothing against the STNAs--I was one once) But I feel that is a lot of liability without sufficient training behind it.

Sandi0302 · Oct 28, 2005

I am an RN myself. However, I have seen many an LPN that is more capable than some RNs. I work with nursing homes in infusion therapy.
We are faced with LPNs looking for IV certification in our state. Our new LPN grads will have it with their curriculum. This puts the current LPNs in a bit of a pickle. Our neighbor, Indiana, is wanting to offer a 6 or 8 week course to get STNAs to be able to pass meds EEEEKKKK!!! I'm worried for my younger LPNs who do not have IV cert, if STNAs start passing meds where will this put this talented bunch? ( I say the younger LPNs because they have many years to want to continue to work) I figure before the legislation gets through some of the older gals without the certification will be ready to retire.
Plus, (nothing against the STNAs--I was one once) But I feel that is a lot of liability without sufficient training behind it.

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 havent actually met an RN who considered me or other LPN's "not a nurse". In fact, a lot of the RNs who I worked with in the ER started out as LPNs, and were glad they did so. Mostly I have encountered a few patients that made comments, and EMT's who think they know more than we (LPNs) do...dont even get me started on EMTs...

I remember long ago, before I ever even thought about nursing, watching commercials that, at the end, said something along the lines of "Get a REAL nurse...get an RN" (or maybe it was "be") What happened to those commercials? Did they pull them because the realized how demeaning they were? :madface: I really want to get my RN to expand my horizons, to have more opportunity. Nursing has so many, and I like that.