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....

[MochaRN424, ASN]

I am an RN and I never ask when I am going for a check up etc...oh are you an LPN etc...who am I to judge? Each person makes their decision to pursue their dream. I didn't want to pursue LPN because I felt that I wanted to get the AAS in Nursing but looking back I wish that I would have just went ahead and pursued my BSN. Had I had the confidence in high school in NY I would have been an LPN then because my school was a vocational school so I would have graduated at that level after testing.

Aren't AAS degree nurses judged by BSN nurses and we take the same NCLEX examiniation? Don't allow someone to put you down..at least you love what you do and I am sure you are very good at what you do. I have met some wonderful LPN's that have been a great help to me when I was new to nursing. I was quick to let them know I don't have a chip on my shoulder...so if you see that I did not do something right or you know a better way..then please tell me. You know what...they did

[cclash]

I've been retired after 35 years at my local hospital, working as an LPN. I graduated from nursing school in 1976. I had been accepted into three RN programs, one a hospital school, the others Associate degree programs. I choose to be an LPN because I wanted to do direct patient care, and I did, and I loved every minute of it, well, most of them anyway. The RNs I worked with were for the most part just fine, especially after we had worked together for a while. I think we just had to develop a trust, and then things worked. The letters after your name do matter, but the care we give doesn't come from there, it comes from your heart. Make no mistake, LPNs are often looked down on be peers and patients, but if you are doing what you love, and doing it well, in most cases. If not, pack up and move on. There is someplace that is just waiting for your talent.

[em1025]

No there is NOTHING wrong with you being an LPN!!!!!! If you are good at what you do and you LOVE what you do, there is nothing wrong with it!!! This unfortunately has been an area of contention for YEARS in the nursing community, and I am sick of it! Why is being an LPN look upon as being a "stepping stone" to the "all glorious RN"??? Please! There are just as many are good LPNs and bad RNs as there are great ones. We need to STOP eating our young and lift each other up and encourage each other. I have been an LPN for 20 years, got my degree (BS) in Health Care Management. Not because I didn't want to be an RN, but I'm a good nurse already, and the amount of 'alphabet soup' I have behind my name doesn't indicate how good I am. Keep your head up, be proud and don't take one persons disgruntled opinions as fact![/quote']

Thankyou so much

[Vande]

LPN's are the red headed stepchild of the nursing world. I just left a high paying job at a magnet hospital. I literally was told by my nurse manager (in the outpatient clinic I was in) that "you will be so valuable when you get your RN". I then told her I thought I was valuable now. She didn't know what to say then. Funny thing is, I was there 10 years and trained/precepted most all of the RN's that came in. Until early last year when I guess they didn't like that anymore. The difference between LPN's and RN's in this clinic was....nothing. We didn't push meds, we didn't hang blood, start IV's on kids, nothing. The difference was Magnet. LPN's do not fit into the Magnet world. Trust me--I will not tell anyone to have thicker skin, or tell LPN's it's their problem. I know how difficult is is when RN's, BSNs, APRNs etc are constantly belittling you. One BSN co-worker told me that she taught LPN's (doubtful) and that we were taught how to DO things, but not the reasons why. I just smiled. I remember doing tons of care plans and rationales for nursing interventions. This was the prevailing attitude coming from the big manager. So I left and am now working with a fabulous subspecialty surgeon (2 RN's applied as well, but I got the job) who trusts me and we are working well together!

[paganoid]

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?

To the OP, this is not unique to LPN vs RN. ADN vs. BSN vs. MSN, advanced practice vs. "floor" nurses, medicine vs. nursing, on and on, it all amounts to the same thing. It's like an internet flame war: passionate but pointless. Dear Abby would have a glib reply to deflect the question before it turned into a conversation; I'm not that clever. I just look them in the eye and say, "I'm much too busy to discuss this trivial distinction."

BTW: I did a paper in Nursing History class saying basically that nursing is a Big Tent with room for all types of professional Nurses (LVN, ADN, BSN, diploma graduates, advanced practice, etc) and One Size Need Not Fit All. IMHO anyone who disagrees is trying to take control for personal gain.

[gypsyd8]

I have been an RN since 2003. I do not work with LPN's anymore but when I did I valued them for their clinical insight and ability to care for patients. You are a nurse just like me. We have different levels of education but your experience in your field may rival the knowledge I have from books. We need to work together for the benefit of the patient.

That person who you cared for may have had an inferiority complex. On the other hand, maybe she just had additional questions. I would not assume she thought you did not know what you were talking about. If she knew more she would not need the Physician Assistant to go over anything with her, as RN's we know where to look things up. Maybe she was sick and under stress, not able to process information normally. She needed to hear it from multiple sources to absorb it. Do not beat yourself up.

OTOH, there are plenty of LPN to BSN programs out there. Maybe you should look into one. Then teach us all how to be nurses first. Care for patients first. Put our ego second. You may be on to something here....

[HoustonRN-VA]

I wish people like doctors and advanced degreed individuals would realize that GOD gave us all gifts and talents to use which help us make our way in the world. I have known LPN/LVN that I would sooner work with than some RN or MD. If you are doing the best you can with what GOD gave you, then don't pay critical people any mind. I say let go, and let GOD. Does this always work?, no, but most of the time it works for me. Keep up the good work.

[WldChrry]

Just to put things in perspective, this whole "RN vs. LPN" thing goes on in other career fields too, not just healthcare. On top of my LPN training, I have an AA in Early Childhood Education-with that degree I could be a pre-school or daycare teacher, but not a teacher in public schools (I would need a Bachelors in Education for that). Public school teachers make alot better money than daycare or pre-school teachers, and have alot more respect. It's sad because any teacher, just like any nurse, is important. I am currently very close to finishing my Bachelors degree in Health Education, but who would think because I'm just an LPN right? People are always going to judge and always going to compare-it's an unfortunate facet of human nature.

[NursePelican, ASN, BSN, LPN]

I know some LPN's that know more and run circles around the RN's. The honest RN's admit it. What I can't stand is when a RN calls themself a Nurse and a LPN and LPN in the same sentance. "The Nurse must do the initial assesment, the LPN can do the intitial interview." Someone please tell me again what the "N" in RN, LPN, and CNA stands for?

[rnsdogs]

Never let them get you down! There are too many RN's that think they are better than anyone, if she treated you like that just imagine how she treated her former co worker. Nurses like that give nursing a bad name. These are the kind of nurses that think doctors don't know what they are doing, dangerous! I'm just surprised she thought the PA would know more than her. Keep up the good work and always remember why your doing it in the first place.

[em1025]

Never let them get you down! There are too many RN's that think they are better than anyone if she treated you like that just imagine how she treated her former co worker. Nurses like that give nursing a bad name. These are the kind of nurses that think doctors don't know what they are doing, dangerous! I'm just surprised she thought the PA would know more than her. Keep up the good work and always remember why your doing it in the first place.[/quote']

Thanks :)

[amiezamora76]

I find it quite amusing that people feel that way about LVN'S. The hospital where I did my clinicals had LVN's and RN's working the E.R. and the RN's would even tell you, the LVN'S ran circles around them. They were just as competent if not more so in certain areas than than the RN'S. I feel it is more about ego than skill.