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.

What we need to as a nursing community, and I mean the whole bit from CNA to NP is stop pecking at each other, band together, and start getting a union together to give us all better work environments. At this point in my career, I don't care if I working next to fellow PN or a damn MD I just want more staffing so we don't have a 1:28 ratio anymore and that's in a bloody good day. There are *******s in every food chain.

I am getting ready to finish LPN school and even as a student I have seen an appalling amount of complaining and fighting between staff at all levels. I have also seen incompetence at all levels. I don't think it matters worth a #@&% what your training or experience is, as long as you are focused and dedicated and ALWAYS willing to learn. The medical field changes so much we should never stop learning from or teaching each other. The best patient care and job satisfaction is found on floors where everyone works together as a team; helping each other out when it's needed, training/guiding one another, and having the integrity and respect to tell someone if they're doing something that bothers you instead of talking about them behind their back.

Sorry if that comes off too strong, especially since I'm just a student, but I was in the Army so I know all about trying to work as a team with people from all different backgrounds. I've seen how wrong things can go from poor teamwork and how miserable it can make the workday. All it takes to be a great team is respect for one another and the ability to utilize the assets of all members of the team.

Specializes in Orthopedics, and Home care.

Wld cherry : well said! And that is how u feel, I didn't think u were complaining.. We all need to vent, we all need to be there for each other .. No judgment , just someone to listen

Yeah, well, I know the "why", too.

Yup, me too!!!

mc3:yes:

What we need to as a nursing community, and I mean the whole bit from CNA to NP is stop pecking at each other, band together, and start getting a union together to give us all better work environments. At this point in my career, I don't care if I working next to fellow PN or a damn MD I just want more staffing so we don't have a 1:28 ratio anymore and that's in a bloody good day. There are *******s in every food chain.

Yes!!! I have thought that for a long time. We should all just be 1 union, united to represent all nurses. Imagine how much power we'd have!!!

Oh, wait, too many egos in the way.....

mc3:cat:

Yes!!! I have thought that for a long time. We should all just be 1 union, united to represent all nurses. Imagine how much power we'd have!!!

Oh, wait, too many egos in the way.....

mc3:cat:

Don't bet on it guys.

The United Nurses of Alberta don't represent LPNs or Registered Psychiatric Nurses (specialist RNs). UNA only represents RNs and and have been know to have some really offensive ads about quality care coming only from RNs when it's time to renegotiate their contracts. The unions representing other nurses have complained about it.

What we need to as a nursing community and I mean the whole bit from CNA to NP is stop pecking at each other, band together, and start getting a union together to give us all better work environments. At this point in my career, I don't care if I working next to fellow PN or a damn MD I just want more staffing so we don't have a 1:28 ratio anymore and that's in a bloody good day. There are *******s in every food chain.[/quote']

I love about 98% of the docs I work with and they are awesome at what they do, but could you imagine the look on their faces if they had to work the floor as nurses? This said of course not as a negative comment about physicians but rather it struck me as funny. I would be equally as terrified if they stuck me in a doctor's office and told me to be physician for a day (scope and legalities aside)

Wasn't whining or complaining. Sorry it was too much for you to handle :sarcastic:

You were absolutely complaining. You stated this wasn't a rant. It most definitely was a rant. Own up to it and proudly rant away, nothing wrong with that.

That being said I STRONGLY (I can't emphasize this enough....STRONGLY) believe that many, not all, LPNs misinterpret perceptions RNs have of LPNs. In my first nursing job in LTC, I learned almost exclusively from LPNs. And boy did I learn a lot. I respected LPNs and in no way thought I was better than them. Then one day after having spent 2 hours caring for LPNs residents on antibiotics and getting extremely behind on my own residents, I made a comment to an LPN pursuing his RN, something along the lines of "One thing I wasn't prepared for was the extra responsibility that comes with the title of RN." I had been the only RN in a building with 180 residents the night I had to take care of 6 residents on antibiotics, losing the two hours to care for my residents. The LPN became infuriated at my comment. He said it was extremely condescending. He then proceeded to gossip and whine to everyone saying "who does she think she is?" (referring to me) My point is that it was HE who misinterpreted my comment. It is absolutely true that RNs have extra responsibilities than LPNs. That FACT does not make me think less of LPNs and their incredible experience I love to learn from. Gossip about me spread like wild fire. I began to be bullied by all the LPNs and the CNAs who were their friends. I finally quit when the LPNs began refusing to take report from me. All because an LPN misinterpreted my very true comment, and blamed his own insecurities on me. The truth: I respected and admired the LPNs. The rumor and gossip: I as an RN, thought I was better than LPNs.

So my main point. Is it really RNs thinking they are better than you? Or are you misinterpreting the truth?

I don't think they missed the mark at all. I believe that the original post DOES sound "wounded, unhappy, and defensive." And, I'm sorry, but clearly the OP feels that there is no difference between an RN or an LPN besides a letter "R" or a difference in pay, and that is false. More noticeably, it sounds as if there is an attempt to belittle RNs in order to elevate his or her own self-esteem.

Isn't it just as insulting to RNs to make the claim that their education, responsibilities, and experiences are no different? Isn't there just as much lack of respect in that view that the OP is stating RNs show her?

It's okay to acknowledge different tiers in nursing or in the healthcare field in general, isnt it? Or should I post a rant about how there is no difference between me and a nurse practioner just because they have more education, and an "NP" in their title? After all, we are all nurses, right?

It's silly and insulting to assume that different means better or worse...whether it comes from an RN or an LPN. But pretending that there is no difference at all is just as silly and insulting, and shows disdain and dissatisfaction in the choices made.

I can't click "like" a million times, so I'll respond. DITTO everything you said. In my case, I was bombarded by CNAs and LPNs who got in my face. I tried explaining myself saying "I love learning from the LPNs here. They have so much to offer." In turn both a CNA and LPN said "there you go again, differentiating yourself. We all help and we all have something to offer." True, we all have something to offer. But to claim that I am disrespecting them by living in reality by acknowledging the TRUTH, that each of us have our own scope of practice, is just ridiculous.

I would like to add one more thing. At first yes, LPNs can run circles around new grad RNs because of their experience. HOWEVER, I learned and grew so much my second year in nursing taking critical care and going those clinicals. So when certain situations arose where we had to continue to assess a resident who might be sent out, I as the RN was the one who was able to see the big picture and fully understand what was going on physiologically, because I had that extra year of school. Just as RNs shouldn't discount the experience of LPNs, LPNs shouldn't discount what my extra year of education can bring to the table.

Specializes in NICU.

Don't bet on it guys.

The United Nurses of Alberta don't represent LPNs or Registered Psychiatric Nurses (specialist RNs). UNA only represents RNs and and have been know to have some really offensive ads about quality care coming only from RNs when it's time to renegotiate their contracts. The unions representing other nurses have complained about it.

Yep...Ontario Nurses Association only represents RNs too. They also put out ads everywhere saying how RNS are the most important and RPNs are dangerous to patients. RPNs are in the union grouped with all other service workers....housekeeping, psws, food service etc.

I very much agree and know that RN's have more responsibilities, its not an opinion as much as it is a fact. I hesitate at times going for my RN because it seems in LTC that after a bit they push a lot of RN's into supervisory positions which I quite honestly never want to be in management and am would be worried about other LPN's working under my license as they say. I would be a ball of paranoia all the time if that were the case... I am hoping to get a job I just interviewed for where it would be me the LPN and the RN who has 30 years experience. I am so stoked if I get the chance to learn from her, but also nervous because I am way green compared to her!

I'm not holding my breath..............

mc3:cat:

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