Do LPNs Get the Respect They Deserve?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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ok, well, i am a pre-nursing student. i am waiting to see if i get accepted to an lpn program right now. i later plan on finishing up and getting my degree after i have worked as an lpn for awhile. since i have made this decision i have heard nothing but horror stories about how lpns are treated by rns.

"The ADN program in town offers 2 school years of classes. 9 months each. 1/2 of that is spent in ... what? the same things my school required us to test in before admission"

Ummmm liberal arts, Anat and Phys, Child Dev, Psych, Sociology, Chem, Microbio ---all of those are usually taken BEFORE you begin school for an ADN program. And you can't get tested in, you actually have to complete the credits(not to mention get an A to get into nursing school these days)

Are you saying that LPNs in your school, community, or area of your state get more education that RNs? That's very interesting. Why not just call yourself an RN and call it a day. I know. I know....You don't *want* to be a RN. :uhoh3:

Actually yes I am saying the LPNs from my school get more nursing education than the ADN nurses in my community, at least at that time. The hospital school of PN I went to no longer exsists so I have no way of judging any more. When I went to LPN school, there was also a community based school with an LPN program. I do not believe I could be convinced they got the same level of quality education I got.

I have to wonder if it is still the same way. I did, many years ago begin the proccess of lpn - ADN. Family responsibilities put a stop to the proccess. I have onnly recently begun the proccess again. I never said I don't want to be an RN. Yes, in fact I do. Money is the motivation, it is the only motivation because in my current position (pediatric home health) I have the same responsibilites as the RNs on my cases. I simply do not "take" cases with a c-line.

Anyway, I started the proccess many years ago and had the liberal arts/sciences and humanities out of the way. I had taken some of the nursing courses. Frankly, I didn't learn a lot more. Of course, I do admit I was an experienced nurse by then and do not sleep on the job. I kept my carreer moving in such a way that I broadened my horizons regularly. That also makes a difference I am sure.

Just last night I was working a case where there are 4 foster children with special needs in the home. Two nurses on duty. The other was an RN and we did get into quizzing each other to stay awake. With reference books in hand we quizzed each other for an hour or so covering what we do everyday. Vents/gases, fluids/tube feeds, g-button/g-tube changes, skin care, ROM, etc. Question for question we both got 100%.

Did I learn all that I needed to know in school? Did he? We will never know.

Specializes in Registered Nurse.
Actually yes I am saying the LPNs from my school get more nursing education than the ADN nurses in my community, at least at that time. The hospital school of PN I went to no longer exsists so I have no way of judging any more. When I went to LPN school, there was also a community based school with an LPN program. I do not believe I could be convinced they got the same level of quality education I got.
Sorry, but I don't think you are qualified to judge the RN program since you did not actually go through that program, or at least not all of it. It just doesn't make sense that the LPN program would contain more nursing education. I understand that in a BSN program there are some courses that are not totally nursing oriented. BSN grads get a more rounded education. You are entitled to your opinion, but that does not make it fact...especially since you did not go through both programs. I have. I was a LPN for 13 years. I was a good LPN. But I did learn some things in my RN program and was then qualified to take the RN boards.

I am not trying to take away from any LPN's intelligence or ability to teach themselves by reading and going to training/inservices and giving the benefit of good experience as a teacher. Truth is, the education is not the same. The license is not the same. Good luck with your classes.

Sorry, but I don't think you are qualified to judge the RN program since you did not actually go through that program, ...

Isn't that part of the debate. Yes, we are thumping on that dead horse again. hehehe But it's all opinion. I have mine and I am entitled to it.

I have worked many years and met many nurses. There are some at all stages of the licensing options that I wouldn't allow to change a cats' litter box. Others that I would trust my life with.

You learn what you want to learn. The school and the license you are "qualified" to sit for can only judge what your minimum knowlege is.

Thanks for seeing that! :balloons:

Specializes in Registered Nurse.
Sorry, but I don't think you are qualified to judge the RN program since you did not actually go through that program, ...

Isn't that part of the debate. Yes, we are thumping on that dead horse again. hehehe But it's all opinion. I have mine and I am entitled to it.

I have worked many years and met many nurses. There are some at all stages of the licensing options that I wouldn't allow to change a cats' litter box. Others that I would trust my life with.

You learn what you want to learn. The school and the license you are "qualified" to sit for can only judge what your minimum knowlege is.

Thanks for seeing that! :balloons:

Yes. I think we can agree on some things! ;) There are good and bad in every profession. And you do need to get certain education to qualify for the boards....which then test you for having at least a minimum knowledge base. But part of the debate (IMO) is really not if you, as a LPN, are qualified to judge a RN program when you haven't been through one....Not to me. I wouldn't expect a CNA or Med. tech. to legitimately critique a LPN program. If and when you are a RN, and you have gone through what you had to to get there...time, money, studying, and sweating it out, I think you will see that you did learn (even if just a little more than you thought you would) and you will see things differently. That is also my opinion. Haha. Best wishes! Who will get the last word? LOL! :chuckle
...... If and when you are a RN, and you have gone through what you had to to get there...time, money, studying, and sweating it out, I think you will see that you did learn (even if just a little more than you thought you would) and you will see things differently. That is also my opinion. Haha. Best wishes! Who will get the last word? LOL! :chuckle

Only thing I disagree with there is ... I never have sweat it out. No reason to. Read it, do it. I am very lucky there. Got a brain like a trap. Yes, I know I am very lucky. I know many people who have had to study, study, study.

I DO however have to sweat out the financing. Will I be able to come up with what I need when I need it... (3 college age boys) They are why I had to quit years ago when my first hubby died and I had to raise the boys alone.

I will give to your opinion that until I have completed a course I can not fully judge that program. But... I won't give n the mathmatics. 2 9 month school years, nearly 1/2 spent in courses that may help with the nursing courses

Have a great day, I have to get some laundry done... Reality. :o

Specializes in Registered Nurse.
Only thing I disagree with there is ... I never have sweat it out. No reason to. Read it, do it. I am very lucky there. Got a brain like a trap. Yes, I know I am very lucky. I know many people who have had to study, study, study.

I DO however have to sweat out the financing. Will I be able to come up with what I need when I need it... (3 college age boys) They are why I had to quit years ago when my first hubby died and I had to raise the boys alone.

I will give to your opinion that until I have completed a course I can not fully judge that program. But... I won't give n the mathmatics. 2 9 month school years, nearly 1/2 spent in courses that may help with the nursing courses

Have a great day, I have to get some laundry done... Reality. :o

I hope you can come back here and say it was all easy! You deserve that....It sounds like you have had your share of *hard times.* Yes, you are lucky to be someone who retains easily. :) Happy Laundry doing! Email me sometime and let me know how you are doing. :D

When I went to LPN school, preadmission testing required collegiate level scores in the humanities, sciences and English. Then we spent 12 months studying nursing courses. We used the same text books a couple of the RN programs in town were using for at least two of our courses. (one was Good Samaritan Hospital Diploma Program and the other was the University of Cincinati BSN program)

The ADN program in town offers 2 school years of classes. 9 months each. 1/2 of that is spent in ... what? the same things my school required us to test in before admission. Who got more nursing education? (I won't even go into the sorry excuse the ADN and BSN programs have for clinical experience when compared to our LPN program!)

:)

Here's how my CC ADN Program works:

First you must finish the prereqs: anat & phys 1&2, composition, micro, prob and stat, adult and child psych, etc. Takes most ppl 1-2 years. Then you apply to the ADN program, which takes two years to complete. This is two years of STRICTLY NSG EDUCATION and clinical time - nothing else.

To the OP, there are plenty of opportunities out there for LPNs - and remember to be proud that you will be a NURSE, just like any other LPN or RN. :nurse:

Here's how my CC ADN Program works:

First you must finish the prereqs: anat & phys 1&2, composition, micro, prob and stat, adult and child psych, etc. Takes most ppl 1-2 years. Then you apply to the ADN program, which takes two years to complete. This is two years of STRICTLY NSG EDUCATION and clinical time - nothing else.

To the OP, there are plenty of opportunities out there for LPNs - and remember to be proud that you will be a NURSE, just like any other LPN or RN. :nurse:

I said when I went to school. My point is that there is not as great a difference in LPNs and RNs as many think there is. Yes, it has apparently changed and I would hope that ALL diploma/degree programs did.

I said when I went to school. My point is that there is not as great a difference in LPNs and RNs as many think there is. Yes, it has apparently changed and I would hope that ALL diploma/degree programs did.

I guess I mistook your post.

I read this part:

The ADN program in town offers 2 school years of classes. 9 months each. 1/2 of that is spent in ... what?

as present tense.

I shouldn't have posted so late in the game anyway.

Sorry! :)

The one thing that really gets my goat is the ANA speaks for nurses. THey ignore LPNs or refer to us as if we are good for little more than emptying a bedpan.

Our education, experience and desire to be great nurses is ignored.

As LPNs we need to speak up! We need to push the NLPN to become more active in politics, particularly where the BON for each state is concerned. THe problem seems to stem from the fact that there are more RNs than LPNS and we all know how this country works, the one with the biggest mouth is the one and only one heard. Why would RNS want (the ANA) to allow us the opportunities we deserve and maybe loose a job or two for their own.

hey..i am in my last semester of the lpn program and i have to say, most that i come into contact to, no offense to rn's and up, but they always have an attitude, like we do not learn enough or etc. i just blow it off, because our instructors (all rn's w/ bsn's or msn's one is a physicians assistant) state that we are going to have almost as much knowledge as they do. our nurse practice act just states what we are allowed to do. i understand that over time, we will learn alot more, and continuing onto rn that we will know even more......but this is not any reason to give us the shaft. i believe that all nurses should be estatic to see new nurses, or nursing students-----less patients for them due to the shortage! all i can say is.....keep your head up...remember the cause!!!

just thought i would add my 2 cents :p good luck!

michelle

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