LPN'S are NURSES TOO

I agree also. I was in orientation with a few RNs and one of them asked me if I wanted to become a nurse, and I told her "I already am". I don't envy RNs in any sense of the word, and only wish to assist with the treatment of the patients in the role that I am most comfortable with. I am a proud NURSE...period.

It makes me sad and I think its a combination of our own doing as well as the unnecessary competitive attitudes of other professionals. Its the same thing with OR techs (who btw pretty much run the show in there) and veterinary technicians who have almost an identical AA degree as RNs and do the work of a dozen nurses and probably 4 departments when an animal comes in for surgery. But vet techs can't call themselves veterinary nurses, we need to get over ourselves.

As for our responsibility in this I would encourage everyone to join an organization like the NFLPN as well as staying on top of continuing education to expand your knowledge. I know it can be hard and in my experience many of the LPNs I know are single Moms struggling just to make ends meet but without finding the time to take positive steps on our own behalf we certainly can't expect the "powers that be" to all the sudden recognize and reward us for the important members of the team that we are. There are enough of us to make a difference if we work together. Good thread.

Health care in the US and the nursing shortage/excess is cyclical. Jules is right - the way to get respect for a profession is to lobby for it and make the public aware. I'll be honest here, I was an LPN for two years while I got my RN. I worked in LTC and the RN's had no respect for me. It was at that point that I decided that I would always try to remember that we are a team of healthcare providers and we all contribute to the ultimate goal of helping people.

I too am a proud nurse. Right now I have no desire to get my RN. I am proud to be a LPN and a valuable member of the healthcare team. We are all NURSES regardless of the initials after our names.

Wendy
LPN

for all LPN'S, I am an LPN and darn proud to be one! I have had several veteran RN's tell me that I am one of the best NURSE'S they have ever worked with.
It seems that there will always be some type of tension between any memeber of the health care team. I had this one RN' tell me that "yeah you are a nurse, but I have more education that you do being an RN". My reply was tell me how all those world history , economics, English etc, ect ect have to do with taking care of a patient?" She didn't answer right away.
Yes, I understand that Rn's have more schooling, and the APNR has more than Rn and the NP more. so see it is a never ending cycle.
Again I AM VERY PROUD TO BE A LPN!! and most of my patients could care less of what title I carry, when they are in pain, stress or anyother crisis they just want their "NURSE' to help them.
Just me and my thoughts!

Hello. I completely agree that no matter rather you are an LPN or RN most of your patients do not care as long as they have the quality care that they all deserve. I have been an LPN for 18 years and have meet many wonderful and professional LPN's and RN's but some terrible RN's and LPN's that have attitude towards the other as if they are superior. We all have to stand up and shout as an LPN WE ARE NURSES TOO. I have decided after all these years to go back for my BSN but I am glad that I waited to get the experience that way I will make a great BSN and I hope that I never forget were I came from CNA, LPN, then BSN. There are plenty of LPN's out there that do just as much as RN's but just do not have the time due to families and work to go back to get the degree. There are some RN's that I have worked with that I wonder how they ever made it through the program in the first place. WAY TO GO ALL NURSES, WE ARE ALL GREAT, LPN'S, RN'S, AND SO ON. Dani

I mentioned this in another thread, I believe, however, I think that some of this comes from the history of nursing. I read a book that stated that in the past, it took about 5 years to obtain a nursing degree, and during one of the wars (forgot which one), that they trained nurses to fill the gap; earning a practical nursing certification within three to 6 months. This appeared to had been a slap in the face of the RN who worked for years to obtain her degree and to not be able to discriminate the difference between the two in the eye of the patients. However the title of LPN evolved, bottom line is that we have obtained nursing education as well, and deserve to be recognized for our contribution to the health care team.

I am a LPN and love it now. I've found a facility that treats me like a nurse. I work with RN's who do not try and intimidate. They respect me and visa versa. Because I am a LPN with a 1 year degree, I will not hesitate to ask a RN with more schooling if I have a question regarding the health of my patients. I do not know everything and I never will, that's why there are doctors to ask the ultimate questions of patient care. We (CNA's, LPN's, RN's) all play a great and special part in our patients care and hopefully one day we can just except and respect each others experiences and schooling.

Welcome to the wonderful world of nursing
I think this has been going on for years LPN-RN thing.
I am pproud to say I have been an LPN for 21 years now at one time i wanted to be an RN , Have only 6 classes left, but then I changed my mind I am very happy being JUST AN LPN, I AM GOOD AT WHAT I DO AND I DON'T CARE ANYMORE ABOUT WHO IS AN RN, THEY CAN'T HOLD A LIGHT T THE EXPERIENCE I HAVE GAINED IN 21 YEARS
LPN'S ARE THE BEST HOLD YOUR HEADS UP HIGH AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN FOR YOUR RESIDENTS FOR THEY DON'T CARE THAT WE ARE LPN'S THEY JUST CARE THAT WE ARE THER E AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM
NO PUSH PAPER AND BARK ORDERS(OH THAT WAS MEAN, SORRY)