Are LPN's/LVN's real nurses?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Here is a question I have been pondering. Is someone who has their license as a LPN/LVN considered to be a real nurse? How do most Helthcare professionals view LPN/LVN? When I get my LVN license will I be a nurse?

I know it says nurse in the title... licensed vocational nurse..... but are you considered by your colleagues to be a nurse? Does hospital administration consider the LPN/LVN to be a nurse? When you go out in public and someone asks what you are, do you say your're a nurse? Or do you say your an LPN/LVN?

Just thought I'd get it straight from the horses mouth :)

I'm attending school right now where they have a LVN program and I am so excited about it. Everyone in my class is striving to get into the program next year. But I keep hearing my mother say about someone else..... "Oh shes just a PRACTICAL nurse." As if the job the woman was doing wasn't important. :o

Thanks for any replies. You know how hard it is to get those repeating mother tapes out of your head. :chuckle

OK guys a LPN IS A NURSE A NURSE A NURSE

YES....WE ARE NURSES.....!!

:kiss

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And let's hope this doesn't turn into another RN vs. LPN thread like some of them do.

Tell me about it. Ive been an LPN for four years and I am very seriously thinking about not ever working as a nurse again, because of the way that other RN's have acted toward me. Is it like that everywhere you go, or are nursing Homes just worse than other places? I just feel like its because I'm and LPN and young and the older nurses sometimes try to put me down or make me feel like a loser. Yes I do work circles around them its like they can't stand it... I became an LPN when I was 19. It also seems like the older LPN's dont have this problem. I hate it when some one calls me a Kid on the job I could just tell them a mouth full but instead I just keep quiet. I know that my work is good because I've seen the patient improvement and so have the family members and people that are above me on the chain of command. :chair: What can I do to stop the MADNESS!!!!

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I have been an licensed practical NURSE for 18 years. I get very upset when I look at job postings on hospital websites and they don't even classify LPN's as nurses. They list LPN positions under patient care services or support services instead of under nursing. For years I have done the same job as an RN but my job isn't even listed under nursing. Most of the hospitals in my area hire mostly RN's. Very few LPN positions available in acute care. I am currently pursuing my ADN to gain access to a better selection of career choices.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

If they don't list LPNs under "nursing" in thsoe ads, i just see that as a sign of a place that wouldn't be good enough for me.

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Thanks to all of you! I have been reading through these postings and responses for hours and now understand that I could have had many of my unanswered questions resolved if I had just come here FIRST! I have just been accepted into a LPN program after retiring from a 38 year career in insurance and telecommunications. Am I too old at 58 to be a REAL nurse???:idea: I have certainly enjoyed all the positive comments and encouragement! I needed to read every single one! What an awesome forum and group of nurses!

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At one hospital I was working at LPNs and ADNs were treated like dirt I still to this day some of those nurses. The unit manger would put a new grad RN as the headnurse and the RNs that had been nurses for a very long time had to work on the floor. We had lots of errors. becouse these head nurse did not know how to take off orders.

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I touch just as many butts as any other nurse! :chuckle :chuckle

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And that happens a lot.

Yes, they are "real" nurses.

Depends on the area.

Licensed Practical Nurse, the name says it. The state board agrees with it.

If the co-workers have a problem with it, then it is their problem.

LPN/LVN, There are real nurses, you can learn and do whatever your state of mind allows you. We are as intelligent as any one else and our education never stops. So hold your head up and know who you are.:)

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LPN's are real nurses. I was an LPN for 3 years before i became an RN. When theses RN's leave the hospital to work in the Nursing Home they are lost because of the patient load that LPN's have to cover. Imagine having 6 patients in the hospital and 35-40 patients in the Nursing Home. LPN's ar e the real deal. Most of my fundamentals were taught to me in the LPN program. I recently started working in the hospital, and i am already running circles aroung RN's that have been there a while.

This RN once told me "THE LPN IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE ENEMAS NOT THE RN"

I alomost chewed her head off in disgust....:rotfl:

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
This RN once told me "THE LPN IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE ENEMAS NOT THE RN"

Sounds like she could have used one for herself.

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I am in the VN program here in CA and wonder if I will get the same comments about being a real nurse or not. The local hospital where I am doing my clinicals has gone to RN only and alot of the RNs there say that LVN sare just glorified CNAs. There is talk that the hosp is going to phase out the CNAs also and the RNs will to total patient care, yikes I guess they think the RNs aren't busy enough.

I know I'm going to be a realy nurse when I finish the programand that I be a damn good one too!!!

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I am in the VN program here in CA and wonder if I will get the same comments about being a real nurse or not. The local hospital where I am doing my clinicals has gone to RN only and alot of the RNs there say that LVN sare just glorified CNAs. There is talk that the hosp is going to phase out the CNAs also and the RNs will to total patient care, yikes I guess they think the RNs aren't busy enough.

I know I'm going to be a realy nurse when I finish the programand that I be a damn good one too!!!

Where in Cali are you? Up here they are phasing out the LVNs thru out our entire hospital system (it's a big system too). I think its ridiculous!! We need more nurses period!

I think the college I went to just got rid of the LVN program too. This is what my LVN friend told me. What is this world coming to?? The patients are the ones who ultimately suffer!

Seriously, you sound like you are talking about my hospital!! The CNAs (they are also our unit secretaries) are quitting and they are not hiring more!! So not only am I doing primary care for the 5 pts, but I have to do ALL THE PAPERWORK (TONS!!), clerical, phone answering, restocking paper, faxing, frequent vitals. We only work 8 hr shifts...its impossible to get out of there even within an hr of the end of shift!! Interested to hear what hosp you are at!

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