What would you think of dropping "Licensed" from our title.

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hi all! Just curious on how all of you would feel if the states eliminated the word "Licensed" from our title. Don't know about you but I always refer to fellow LVN's as simply VN's. So does management where I work. I mean, a Registered Nurse still has to get a "license" and they are not Licensed Registrered Nurses. I think it would do a lot to dispel the myth that we are not "real" nurses. Thoughts?

Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.

Absolutely not, the L is too important. You can obtain your diploma or certificate but one must pass one's boards to be licensed. Years ago, when kids were hired out of school and were awaiting their board results,they worked as "GN" or "GPN" and signed a number after their name of their temporary license.

I am not crazy about the term "Licensed vocational nurse" as Texas and California calls them as vocation comes from the Latin "vocatio" means "calling" which could apply to any job. Vocational also implies vocational school. I never went to a vocational school. I followed a college prep course of study in high school and trained for two years at a hospital based diploma school of nursing to obtain my diploma in practical nursing.

Let's not even go near Registered Practical Nurse. That is the title held by LPNs in the province of Ontario. The "RPN" tag causes all sorts of problems in the western provinces where an "RPN" is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse", in otherwords an RN who had an emphasis on mental health during their eduation.

All hell breaks loose when an Ontario RPN moves west and forgets they are now an LPN and signs of as Joe Blow, RPN.

I actually think Nurse I, and Nurse II would work.

Like I explain that like the military RNs are officers, LPNs are NCOs.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Let's not even go near Registered Practical Nurse. That is the title held by LPNs in the province of Ontario. The "RPN" tag causes all sorts of problems in the western provinces where an "RPN" is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse", in otherwords an RN who had an emphasis on mental health during their eduation.

All hell breaks loose when an Ontario RPN moves west and forgets they are now an LPN and signs of as Joe Blow, RPN.

I actually think Nurse I, and Nurse II would work.

I hate all the explaining we have to do, too. Although since many US hospitals have come up with their own designations for hiring you could end up with something like LPN I, I or RN II, I, etc. :bugeyes: I'm not too concerned though --- the thought of changing anything that one faction believes will diminish them somehow would commence the obstruction of any changes that could go on for years, like the campaign to call ADN RNs "technical nurses" and BSN RNs "professional nurses". Not happening . . . .

fiona59 i am with you, i too say drop the words"registered" and "practical" and just use "LN", short for Licensed Nurse

We were required to use the abbreviation "PN" during clinicals (before graduating nursing school) and were given the title LPN after we passed state boards.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Prior to 1955, nurses aides with years experience and those who worked at bedside providing care after a few classes were called practical nurses --vocational nurses in TX and CA.. Licensing exams began about 1952 with these practical nurses grandfathered in. Thus being a "Licensed Practical Nurse" took on significant meaning with employers. I last worked with a grandfathered PN in 1975.

The History of Practical Nursing - LPN Training

Specializes in Oncology.

I think that lumping us into more categories or simply referring to us all by generic titles is not acceptable. An LPN is an LPN. I know what that is and most people who know anything about healthcare do as well. And frankly, you can rip the title "REGISTERED nurse" from my cold, dead hands.

That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! Why would you drop "registered" or "practical" from the titles? You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between two different set of qualifications. That's like saying drop the "practitioner" off of NP and just called them nurse also. I'm sure you are tired of people degrading your job title, but trying to make the two different nurses seem as one isn't really the solution here.

This may be childish, but I hate the word "practical" in the abbreviation LPN because it makes me think, "oh, you're 'practically' a nurse.." I know that's not the meaning that's intended, but that's always what it's made me think of. :rolleyes:

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