Just let me be...

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

This is not a rant. This is not meant to cause any trouble. It was just on my heart and I thought I would share. Please feel free to add a line of your own :)

Can't you just let me be happy to be a LPN?

Is that too much to ask?

I went to nursing school too.

I took the NCLEX and became licensed too.

Just because there is no R in my initials, I'm not nurse enough for you?

I served our country...

I have 2 college degrees and my nursing diploma under my belt...

But the pants are still too big for me to fill you say.

Because I don't have RN behind my name.

I didn't learn enough in school, I don't work at a hospital.

I get payed less and chastised more.

And my own state's nursing organization doesn't give me support.

Can't you just let me be proud to be an LPN?

Don't I take care of the sick and make a difference in human lives?

Just because they're old, they don't matter as much as you or I?

I can't do an initial assessment...

I'm not allowed to hang blood ...

I didn't go to nursing school for as long as you.

But at the end of the day, they call me nurse too.

What makes a nurse, really?

Is it in the letters in our title?

Is it in the money in our checks?

Is it in the specialty we choose?

What happened to respect?

We are all nurses...allnurses

I just chose a different path than you.

It takes CNAs, LPNs, ADNs, BSNs, MSNs etc to make the PATIENT CARE TEAM and I think that is all that matters.

This last week I had to try and explain to an older man the difference between CNA, BSN, ADN, LPN, PA, NP, & MA. I think by the end of the conversation his head was spinning, especially when we tried to tell him we both were RNs with different degrees. In the end I explained that we all work in different areas doing some of the same tasks and some different tasks, but really it ends up being how much the person that puts into it that matters. It was me (BSN) and another nurse (LPN then ADN who could run circles around me while inserting a foley on a 600 lb pt with folds the size of Texas, alone) talking with him about the scopes of practice. I mean really, it is the person who make the nurse, not the degree that makes the person. Right?? By the way, another nurse was just telling me how everyone is getting their MSN at work and she feels under qualified now. All about perspective.

I, too, went from nurse's aide (in the days when you didn't have to be certified!) to LPN to ADN and I have a very well-respected job in senior management in addition to my own business which I work from home. Nobody has ever told me that I should go get my BSN or MSN in order to keep my job. I have been sought out to teach, mentor, and provide support for other senior management nurses because of my knowledge, experience, and communication skills. I am content with my ADN and have no desire at my age to earn a further degree. And I love, love, LOVE the LPN's who work for me-I can go home at night and know that everyone is well-cared for and that there are people with the assessment skills and ability to take action when needed that keeps everyone safe. Can't ask for better than that!

Well, as I am fond of saying, anecdote is not the singular of data. I'll see your tales of mahvelous crusty old LPNs bailing the resident or the new RN out one dark and stormy night, and raise you a dozen truly horrifying anecdotes about situations that were mis-read and mishandled by LPNs whose ignorance of physiology, assessment, and intervention was truly breathtaking.

What I learned of LPNs in my first year out of school from the ones I worked with was that they were completely task-oriented, felt empowered to be mean to patients whose demographics or diagnoses were distasteful to them, they were absolutely uninterested in learning anything new, and were unwilling to take any responsibility for their screw-ups because they weren't in charge and the RN was supposed to take care of problems. Fortunately for my professional development, after that first year I worked for 7 years in an all-RN environment, and the care was exemplary.

Some years later I had occasion to teach in an LPN-to-ADN program when my ADN program put one together with a large hospital that was phasing out LPNs. The hospital put a boatload of bucks into paying for sixteen LPNs to take this program at no cost to themselves, and was going to give them their years of seniority in their new RN positions to boot. We worked very hard to make this program a success; it was taught at a lower level than the generic students' program, and we offered extra time for tests, free tutoring, extra office hours, review sections... the hospital gave them extra days off for school and all... And what happened?

You never heard such ******* and moaning about how mean this was, how they didn't want to be RNs, they didn't want the responsibility, this was too much learning, if they wanted to be RNs they'd have done it in the first place, they hate this. So much for opportunity. Of the sixteen, only four or five made it halfway through, and I think only 2 passed NCLEX RN. The others lost their jobs because they were either too stupid to learn or couldn't be bothered to learn what they needed to keep them.

Generalities? Sure. But no less so than these other rainbows-and-unicorns "we're all on the same team so we're all of the same value." Horsepucky. If that's not you I'm glad to hear it, and I am aware that this is the LPN/LVN forum I'm posting on. But let's not be self-delusional, either.

Major generalizations. IF I were given the opportunity as above I would certainly be thrilled to do so. I have not, so I can not. Those days are over for a number of LPN's who love their jobs, but "phasing out" is a real threat. We ARE all on the same team. But value is subjective. And 2 different things. Because education is different--as an LPN I am clincally task oriented, and even a BSN is not, then it is safe to say that when one needs a clinical task that they have not a clue how to do, then perhaps you should ask the LPN....because I am sure that they do.

Specializes in cardiac CVRU/ICU/cardiac rehab/case management.

I have worked both as an LPN and RN and quite honestly there was no difference in how I was treated. How we represent ourselves is often how we are treated whether your in housekeeping,ward clerk,nurse or management.In short we teach people how to treat us.Examine why you feel less than because no one can make us feel small unless we believe what they are saying is true.

Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I really liked the OP's poetic format

Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
I always say that people have a pecking order- just like chickens. We're constantly comparing ourselves to each other to see where we fit in. And often, when we care, we encourage each other to reach "higher". It's nothing to take personally ...it's just the way people are wired.

This is so true. I remember talking with a close friend the day I obtained my RN after 19 years of feeling put down for being "just a LPN" (By the way - this nurse did have a huge issue with the RN/LPN thing when we first started working together and initially rubbed it in my face. One good screaming fight about respect behind closed doors in a the DON office and we became great friends forever after).

Anyways I commented on my first RN day that I would never have to feel like I wasn't good enough again now that I had that RN. She said - Sorry, but now you'll just hear that you're not good enough because you don't have a BSN...if you get that you won't be good enough because you don't have an MSN, etc. You really were a great LPN, you'll be a great RN and don't ever LET anyone make you feel different.

I'm an RN and I don't let anyone make me feel like the OP feels so I don't understand why she feels a need to vent if she didn't allow others to put her down. LPNs and RNs have overlapping responsabilities but they are not the same, hence the difference in pay, NCLEX and education. You cannot compare apples to oranges. Finally, if one nurse saved another nurse's bacon once it has nothing to do with one being and LPN and the other being an RN or vice versa, it has everything to do with experience. So all those claiming they saved so and so even though they had more education are missing the point. You saved them because you were more experienced and that has nothing to do with a degree or a license. If the LPNs feel they do exactly the "same" job and can run circles around less experienced RNs and whine about less pay but refuse to go back to school then they really should keep it to themselves because they are the ones deciding to make less pay for the "same" job.

wow....at the end of the day, we ALL save lives!!!! and make a difference whether RN or LPN, ... neither one is easy.....depending on circumstances, some of us may not be fortunate to be able to continue with our education..that is life..I dont think this was crying, more so venting...isn't that what this panel is for? to uplift each other and encourage and lend an ear ( or eyes) wink! I think some of us just take ourselves waaaayyyy too seriously..We are the good guys...Remember that!

Well, as I am fond of saying, anecdote is not the singular of data. I'll see your tales of mahvelous crusty old LPNs bailing the resident or the new RN out one dark and stormy night, and raise you a dozen truly horrifying anecdotes about situations that were mis-read and mishandled by LPNs whose ignorance of physiology, assessment, and intervention was truly breathtaking.

What I learned of LPNs in my first year out of school from the ones I worked with was that they were completely task-oriented, felt empowered to be mean to patients whose demographics or diagnoses were distasteful to them, they were absolutely uninterested in learning anything new, and were unwilling to take any responsibility for their screw-ups because they weren't in charge and the RN was supposed to take care of problems. Fortunately for my professional development, after that first year I worked for 7 years in an all-RN environment, and the care was exemplary..

I think your post was made to intentionally spark more RN vs LPN arguments and to offend LPNs. You don't have to always be rude to get your point across.

barely read any replies.... i work in acute care with some lpns. i have never been an lpn. where i work lpns have the same pts and responsibilities for the most part . they can only not do a few things that rns can. they get paid A LOT less..... if i were lpn at my facility and wanted to continue to work there , it would be silly not to go back to school if i could afford it ..... the pay difference where i work is huge but the work load isnt ..... i have seen facilities were pt loads and responsibilities between lpns and rns are huge , though

First,your first two paragraphs are just unbelievable. I find it hard to believe that ALL the LPNs you worked with was like this. Second, you taught 16 LPNs in a bridge program who whined and complained, that represents a small amount of LPNs who do not desire to go back to school. I would whine and complain too if someone forced me to go back to school for a degree I have no desire in. I wonder if they had had someone who truly valued LPNs to teach them and motivate them if it would have been a different outcome. Last year, half of the RN graduating class were previous LPNs. Some of us did it because it was required for work and some of us did it for other personal reasons. Grntea, I'm sorry you came across some incompetent and unmotivated LPNS, however I'm sure you have seen your fair share of RN who did not fit the bill either.

Well, as I am fond of saying, anecdote is not the singular of data. I'll see your tales of mahvelous crusty old LPNs bailing the resident or the new RN out one dark and stormy night, and raise you a dozen truly horrifying anecdotes about situations that were mis-read and mishandled by LPNs whose ignorance of physiology, assessment, and intervention was truly breathtaking.

What I learned of LPNs in my first year out of school from the ones I worked with was that they were completely task-oriented, felt empowered to be mean to patients whose demographics or diagnoses were distasteful to them, they were absolutely uninterested in learning anything new, and were unwilling to take any responsibility for their screw-ups because they weren't in charge and the RN was supposed to take care of problems. Fortunately for my professional development, after that first year I worked for 7 years in an all-RN environment, and the care was exemplary.

Some years later I had occasion to teach in an LPN-to-ADN program when my ADN program put one together with a large hospital that was phasing out LPNs. The hospital put a boatload of bucks into paying for sixteen LPNs to take this program at no cost to themselves, and was going to give them their years of seniority in their new RN positions to boot. We worked very hard to make this program a success; it was taught at a lower level than the generic students' program, and we offered extra time for tests, free tutoring, extra office hours, review sections... the hospital gave them extra days off for school and all... And what happened?

You never heard such ******* and moaning about how mean this was, how they didn't want to be RNs, they didn't want the responsibility, this was too much learning, if they wanted to be RNs they'd have done it in the first place, they hate this. So much for opportunity. Of the sixteen, only four or five made it halfway through, and I think only 2 passed NCLEX RN. The others lost their jobs because they were either too stupid to learn or couldn't be bothered to learn what they needed to keep them.

Generalities? Sure. But no less so than these other rainbows-and-unicorns "we're all on the same team so we're all of the same value." Horsepucky. If that's not you I'm glad to hear it, and I am aware that this is the LPN/LVN forum I'm posting on. But let's not be self-delusional, either.

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