Tired of being treated like we are less than a nurse because we are not RNs!!

BrandonLPN, LPN · Dec 14, 2012

That's not true. LPN stands for Little Pretend Nurse or Low Paid Nurse.

Or Licensed Pill Nurse. Or Little Peon Nurse.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Dec 14, 2012

My brother in law said something similar to me after I graduated, passed our national exam and was working.
My reply: can you deliver a baby, hold the hand of someone that is dying, know when to hold Lasix, treat an allergic reaction to an IV antibiotic? No? Well this NURSE can.
He backed off, especially when he found out how much I earn.
She said "to" and not "with".......

LTCNS, LPN · Dec 15, 2012

I never thought the day would come that I would be ashamed to say I am a LPN, but lately I have been feeling that way. I work in a wound healing clinic and can do wound care right alongside the RNs and do a pretty good job, but I still feel like I am less of a nurse because of my title. The RNs do not make me feel that way, it's just me.

N.U.R.S.E. · Dec 15, 2012

Everyone in the healthcare team matter everyone can not be the quarterback then who's going long to catch the ball the wide receiver is but you still need that person to catch that ball and make that touch down and win the game. Go long nurses. Those cna block for us and allow us to move the ball up the field. keep it moving. touchdown we score great healthcare provided to the patient. congrats to all.

allnurses Guide · Dec 15, 2012

I work as a CNA at a hospital and a patient asked me if I was gonna become a nurse and I told them yes a LPN and they frowned and said "do you know what that stands for?.....Likes to Play Nurse. You better go get your RN." Idk how to respond lbs

Tell them they are so lame they can't even get the put-down right. It's just childish. I've discovered that there is a pecking order no matter what you do in life. Some people will always want to assert their superiority, like in the associate's vs bachelor's RN wars that are going on now. I'm getting better at letting it roll off and considering the source.

MentalRn · Dec 15, 2012

I agree that people can be cruel in our field. I do not understand why some think there must be a pecking order of such. I was a CNA and then went on and got my LPN in which I practiced for many years prior to getting my RN. It did and still does upset me when I tell someone I am a nurse and then they reply which LPN or RN. I am the same nurse I was back then. Within RNs they argue over wether you are an ADN or BSN, seriously who cares. MY 20 year old daughter is in A BSN school now and while I love her and am glad she is going through the program it is scary to think that in 2 short years she will be let loose. No offense toward my child, its just that these days a BSN is everything regardless of your experience. I value experience and we should teach the new nurses coming up in our field to respect those with experience regardless of our titles. One of the best charge nurses I ever worked for was an LPN/EMT and I learned a great deal from her. You are right in that one should just consider the source and let it roll off.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2012

Or Licensed Pill Nurse. Or Little Peon Nurse.

Or Life's Perfect Nurse? :up:

CYoungLPN, LPN · Dec 15, 2012

Or Life's Perfect Nurse?

Haha cute!

Tflowers34907 · Dec 16, 2012

I'm starting LPN school soon and I am excited. I don't care if people say I am not going to be a real nurse because I am. Real classes that will lead to a real job that will help real people. If everyone was required to go through the "pecking order" it wouldn't be an issue. Personally I think everyone should have to start at the CNA or LPN level and work for 2 years before becoming an RN. Maybe then people would appreciate the roles of Life's Perfect Nurses and Competent Nurse Assistants play. :yes: As far as what anyone else has to say, I have found that very few have gone in and done some research to see the real differences in an LPN and an RN aside from pay and the letters behind their name. Be proud to be an LPN. You are a member of a team that cares for people who can't do it themselves, a healthcare professional, A NURSE! :)

skittlebear · Dec 16, 2012

Haha...Licensed Pill Nurse. Never heard of that one. It's actually funny. When I first became an LPN I will admit that I was a bit ashamed that I wasn't a "Real Nurse".

Now, as I do have a bit of experience under my belt I am perfectly content. I have no desire....NO DESIRE....to get my RN. If I did go back to school I would like to study for radiology and stop nursing altogether.

allnurses Guide · Dec 16, 2012

I left nursing for a while and came back. I've noticed a few fundamental changes that have occurred during that time and one of them is that nursing care has turned into a stratified thing, sort of like a caste system. I don't know how or why it happened, but I think nursing did this to itself. It was most likely a top-down process, though. We are so much the worse for it.

I've noticed another encouraging thing, though. Most of the RNs who started as CNAs and/or LPNs strongly identify with their former role and advocate for those who still do the job. There are only a few I've seen post here who want to shun their former job title.

LisaLPN7 · Dec 17, 2012

I left nursing for a while and came back. I've noticed a few fundamental changes that have occurred during that time and one of them is that nursing care has turned into a stratified thing, sort of like a caste system. I don't know how or why it happened, but I think nursing did this to itself. It was most likely a top-down process, though. We are so much the worse for it.

I agree completely! I've been out of nursing for a few years, and was working with abused women. Coming back, I'm seeing a huge change. I used to work noc in a small community hospital, where I was the only nurse on a post-op surgical floor. Sometimes I had a CNA to help, but not always. I got charge pay and responsibilities. The only RN was the house supervisor who only came around if I stat paged her more than twice. I can't believe how LPNs are treated and looked down upon these days. But I'm still proud to be an intelligent, hard-working LPN.