LPN...not good enough??

[em1025]

So, I have been an LPN for the last 5 years and I love what I do. But one of my patients that I've had last week was an RN. Now I do not have anything against RN's at all, but she asked me if I was a nurse, and of course I say yes I am, and the next question was LPN or RN and I answer LPN and she said why are you wasting your time..... I thought that I must have misunderstood what she said and asked her to repeat it again, and the same question came out of her mouth. I never thought an LPN was not good enough, I feel confident in what I do and I feel that the title nurse applies to me too but she had me questioning is this what everyone thinks? The whole time I was doing her lab work, EKG, and instructions, she made sure I knew she was a nurse and she knew more than me and wanted the PA to come and go over some additional questions she had about the instructions I gave her, because apparently I sure could not know what I was talking about... WHY???? I have felt so down about this whole situation, I am proud of what I've accomplished even if it's not what others may want, but honestly she ruined my week....

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

So, I have been an LPN for the last 5 years and I love what I do. But one of my patients that I've had last week was an RN. Now I do not have anything against RN's at all, but she asked me if I was a nurse, and of course I say yes I am, and the next question was LPN or RN and I answer LPN and she said why are you wasting your time..... I thought that I must have misunderstood what she said and asked her to repeat it again, and the same question came out of her mouth. I never thought an LPN was not good enough, I feel confident in what I do and I feel that the title nurse applies to me too but she had me questioning is this what everyone thinks? The whole time I was doing her lab work, EKG, and instructions, she made sure I knew she was a nurse and she knew more than me and wanted the PA to come and go over some additional questions she had about the instructions I gave her, because apparently I sure could not know what I was talking about... WHY???? I have felt so down about this whole situation, I am proud of what I've accomplished even if it's not what others may want, but honestly she ruined my week....

Hey,

My Daddy used to say that you wouldn't care so much what other people thought of you if you realized how rarely they did. That being said If you are good at what you do and are happy in that role there is no reason to sell yourself short. There will always be patients who are retired nurses and doctors who will question your abilities but that number is small compared to vast majority of those you will care for in a lifetime.

Everybody takes their own path and no one aspect of nursing is better than another only different and prepared to care for people differently. I too have been asked why "I am selling myself short working LTC" I find such questions rude and not worthy of an answer but if I am feeling feisty I might say well I'm taking BSN courses so I can one day be your boss.

I work with a great team of caregivers; CNA, LPN, ADN, BSN and we all bring valuable talents to the table. We have each others back in a very busy situation and I wouldn't trade a single one of them.

Hppy