"Just" an LPN

[lgail]

Let me start out by saying that I have been an LPN for 13 years, and in that time I've chosen to work in long term care. I've always loved what I do, and am happy to be able to follow a calling I've had since I was 5 years old. With that being said, I'm so ticked off with the attitude of one of the RN nursing supervisors that works at my job. She actually stated yesterday that "we are just LPN's, we're not important". I was so shocked that I didn't say anything. How long are we-as professionals-going to continue to be belittled for what we do? I thought that we are all working together to take care of the residents, from laundry all the way up to administration.

I understand that as LPN's we don't have as much book knowledge as a RN has. But more knowledge doesn't necessarily mean better nursing skills. To me, a title on a name badge doesn't mean anything to me. My main concern is how you work, and how you care for your patients.

I'm not wanting to get into a nurse war, but am curious how any of you would've handled the situation. I went up my chain of command and notified the ADON/DON. I want this supervisor's attitute straighted out before she either says it to the wrong person, or maybe says it to a new graduate-who will then maybe believe it themselves.

Yes-I am "just" an LPN--and PROUD of it.

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

I'm going to share something my mother told me long ago. Every time someone puts you down it's because they feel inferior around you. They try to put you down to make themselves feel better. Also, some of those professors who are teaching the BSN, nurses, need to be taken down a peg or two. They blah blah blah, to the students, tell them how book smart they are, and tell the students they are some kind of god in the nursing world. FF to their first job, maybe they took a job in LTC, passing meds. I see posts from them all the time, "I can't do this", "This is too hard", "How could any nurse do this job?" You and I both know people like us have been doing it forever. That mouthy RN needs to be written up for making a hostile work environment, oh wait, what's that word? BULLY! Take care, keep on keeping on, and ignore the turkeys! You are more of a professional than she will ever be. :yelclap:

[holli_80_73]

I know some LPNs that have bachelor's degrees and masters degrees in other subjects that are equally difficult as medicine that simply wanted a career change in less time than a RN. With or without any title/degree you are super important to a team. One doesn't function alone on the floor. Anyone who talks his/herself up in front of other people by saying "well you are just a ____" makes themselves look stupid and they lose credibility with all the staff with this title or other titles even. You know how you feel when you overhear someone bragging and telling everyone how smart they are with this gpa/this degree/certificate as if they are trying to convince themselves they are what they are saying?? Everyone feels that way that you do down inside so let those people stand out and look dumb. I have met several people I thought were "just nurses" great people, great attitudes....down to earth kind of people that you can be good friends with and..turns out...they had doctorate degrees or were NPs or the boss and I had so much more admiration for them knowing they had all that behind them but didn't talk down to me or walk around with a neon sign saying I am smart. Next time that happens...just say to yourself.."oh...ok" and go to work. You know how important you are and they do too...its just a self-satisfaction disfunction I like to call it.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Dear Nurse Friend,

I sure wish the word "JUST" would just LEAVE the Nursing community alone!!

You my dear are a NURSE.

I am a NURSE. We went to different schools by choice or chance. But WE ARE NURSES. I am proud to be your career companion, equal, co-worker, and allnurses FRIEND!!

[DixieRedHead, ASN, RN]

Here is my LPN/RN story. I was an LPN. I had completed RN school, and was scheduled to take my boards. I put in applications. At one hospital they asked "When can you start?" So I explain the whole LPN/RN/Boards thing. And they said "When can you start?" So I started.

I go on to take my boards. Await the results. Yes wait. No Pearsonvue. Just wait.

I got to work one day. I am and LPN. I can't do this, I can't do that, I'm 'just' and LPN.

I go home that night. Look for the mail. Got my license. The next day, I go to work and I can do "everything". I am an RN.

It's amazing what a trip to the mailbox can do.

Same person, same skills.

You are worthy of your hire. Ignore the ignorant.

[New.RN]

I'm "just" an RN. And I've learned loads from LPN's over my career. Health care wouldn't work with out LPN's!

[catiern]

I have to echo the sentiment expressed by most here--i.e., an LPN/LVN is a nurse, just as an RN is a nurse. I've had experiences with excellent LPN's as well as RN's and some not so good LPN's and RN's. I find it annoying that some nurses feel the need to demean other nurses. Don't we get enough of this "just a nurse" type comments/attitudes from others, without doing it to ourselves? However, I also know that not all RN's have the type of idiotic attitude your supervisor harbors. I hope your DON/ADON follows up on your valid complaint. Good luck.

[agldragonRN]

unfortunately, ignorant people exist everywhere. even my family was criticizing my lpn. just ignore these people and remain the professional nurse you are and vent over here prn.

[Goldenhare]

Some of the best nurses I ever worked with were LPN'S

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

My first nursing job was as an LPN in LTC. There was one RN in particular who made a point of referring to all LPNs as "practicals" and all RNs as "nurses." She chewed me up one side and down the other for giving a patient in pain a second Percocet without asking the "nurse" for permission. And yet when they needed a blood draw they called me. When they accepted a trach patient, I was called on to teach trach care. I had a non-responsive patient with a blood sugar of 20, the "nurse's" reaction was to make a note in the chart.

As to the OP's question as to how I would handle this: I would tell this RN that I find her statement hurtful and insulting and ask if that is how she meant it. Kudos for going up the chain of command but i believe in facing down bullies.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

That RN sounds like what I have described in other post about some RN's going to LTC facilities. LPN's are the backbone of most LTC's, they are the nurses who give the hands on care. There is things as "just" an RN. When I was a LPN I also worked with a few RN's like this, and as the original poster stated those RN's always came to the LPN's for help.

[lpnflorida]

I complained of how some of our duties had changed due to new BON interpretations. The DON of the hospital put his arm on my shoulders and said. " Just remember you are the cheapest experienced RN I have" It was not a put down at all. I am the top paid LPN, and my salary is above some of the new hire RN's. He simply appreciates my knowledge and experience. He often forgets I am just a so called LPN. I am often the go to person. He values me.. and acknowledges what a financial bargain I am to boot.

[holli_80_73]

agldragonRN...I feel ya--I faced an uphill battle with everything I wanted to do.

When I was in school majoring in public health/spanish...my father and grandmother used to berate me daily on how ridiculous it was to learn a another language when people can learn to speak English (I know....)....and how stupid it was to major in public health when there are no jobs in public health (as if they knew). I mentioned going to nursing school years ago...got accepted and he refused to help me when I couldn't get loans because I said I was a professional student and I have lost my mind. Then I finished and started teaching because I didn't want to work administration...and I used to hear weekly how if I had a job in the real world then I would understand things fully in life but since my job was a fantasy job I had no clue. Then I announced I was going into nursing at 28 like I wanted to do from the start and he laughed for 30 min and changed the subject. So I just went and did it--I learned not to listen to people the hard way. I am the one hitting the snooze button every morning and driving to a job for what years I have here in life..so it will be something I want to do..no matter the title or what it is. One of the most important things for me was being a field that interested me with challenges, where I can help people who need me when faced with dark times, where I was on my feet and not at a desk, where I can have another life away from work so I can actually live a life.. and where I can work anywhere ...anytime. It was never money or titles.