Why Does It Seem That RN's Hate Us and Hospitals Don't Believe In Us??

BennyFan · Jan 2, 2006

I'm sorry that this is your experience as a new grad. I have been an LPN for 8 years and worked as charge for 140 bed facility and now am part of team nursing at a hospital. The RN's I work with are wonderful, they respect the knowledge and experience I bring to the table. Many LPN programs dont require much science background, they are skill based. I dont know what your program was like, but many here are only requiring highschool biology. Your RN's have taken Micro, Chem, A&P 1-2, Pharm, Patho (if they are BSN). The education level is very different. Be proud of what you have accomplished and can contribute to your team, but realize that there is a big difference between the two. I knew that if I was ever going to go on in my education I needed to get somewhere where the difference between RN & LPN was evident, one month at the hospital and I was back in school! Hang in there.

copperhorset · Jan 2, 2006

Hi...I just had to reply to your message. I started out as a Candy Striper a long time ago...and decided to become a nurse. I went to LPN school and I felt the same as you around some (not all RN's). My supervisor's recognized something good in me and encouraged me to go to RN school....which I did 17 years later. My experience with this issue has been this. Yes, some RN's do resent LPN's (only be because they (RN's) are ignorant). Some feel that they are "better" than LPN's because of higher education. Some resent LPN's because the scope of practice has changed a lot throughout the years allowing LPN's to do more in the clinical areas, some of which years ago, only RN's could do. Some of the RN's have forgotten what it was like for them when they first started out... Some are resentful because a lot of the RN's that have been around for a long time see that LPN's these are getting a beter wage than when the RN's first began. These reasons ARE ridiculous. Nurse's do eat their young, it is true. Some RN's like any other professional need an attitude adjustment. Shame on them. Years ago I meet someone from the nursing profession who asked me my occupation. I told her I was a nurse...she then asked me "Are you an RN or are you a nurse." Being an LPN, I took great offense to that, and told informed her very tactfully that I WAS A NURSE, AN LPN AND WAS DARNED PROUD OF IT!" She quietly walked away. I am now an RN, BSN and am an LPN Didactic and Clinical Instructor...and love it. I do NOT allow anyone, especially RN's to harass or pick on my LPN students. The only difference between the two is education. I had no idea once I entered my Bachelor's program, the width and depth of the education was entering...It opened doors and my mind to a more intense understanding of what and why they body and pathophysiology function and what to do about it. Unfortunately some RN's look down on LPN's because of this....It does not make it right. They should be grateful for LPN's as LPN's do a trendous job in our hospitals, clinics et al. In this state we have LPN-C's who are trained to perform some types of IV therapy... This is a wonderful thing for LPN's and everyone they work with. I encouraged my best friend's daughter to enroll in the LPN program which I instruct...and she's doing great, loves it, and is going to become an excellent LPN. Dear, do not let those uncaring ignorant people upset you. Be proud of yourself and who you are...an LPN. Good Luck to you in your career.

FroggysMom · Jan 4, 2006

Hi...I just had to reply to your message. I started out as a Candy Striper a long time ago...and decided to become a nurse. I went to LPN school and I felt the same as you around some (not all RN's). My supervisor's recognized something good in me and encouraged me to go to RN school....which I did 17 years later. My experience with this issue has been this. Yes, some RN's do resent LPN's (only be because they (RN's) are ignorant). Some feel that they are "better" than LPN's because of higher education. Some resent LPN's because the scope of practice has changed a lot throughout the years allowing LPN's to do more in the clinical areas, some of which years ago, only RN's could do. Some of the RN's have forgotten what it was like for them when they first started out... Some are resentful because a lot of the RN's that have been around for a long time see that LPN's these are getting a beter wage than when the RN's first began. These reasons ARE ridiculous. Nurse's do eat their young, it is true. Some RN's like any other professional need an attitude adjustment. Shame on them. Years ago I meet someone from the nursing profession who asked me my occupation. I told her I was a nurse...she then asked me "Are you an RN or are you a nurse." Being an LPN, I took great offense to that, and told informed her very tactfully that I WAS A NURSE, AN LPN AND WAS DARNED PROUD OF IT!" She quietly walked away. I am now an RN, BSN and am an LPN Didactic and Clinical Instructor...and love it. I do NOT allow anyone, especially RN's to harass or pick on my LPN students. The only difference between the two is education. I had no idea once I entered my Bachelor's program, the width and depth of the education was entering...It opened doors and my mind to a more intense understanding of what and why they body and pathophysiology function and what to do about it. Unfortunately some RN's look down on LPN's because of this....It does not make it right. They should be grateful for LPN's as LPN's do a trendous job in our hospitals, clinics et al. In this state we have LPN-C's who are trained to perform some types of IV therapy... This is a wonderful thing for LPN's and everyone they work with. I encouraged my best friend's daughter to enroll in the LPN program which I instruct...and she's doing great, loves it, and is going to become an excellent LPN. Dear, do not let those uncaring ignorant people upset you. Be proud of yourself and who you are...an LPN. Good Luck to you in your career.

Thank you.

katfishLPN · Jan 4, 2006

I worked with an RN who was the Case Manager in the Home Health office where I worked at the time. She was complaining about an office nurse for one of the doctors we were working with who was an LPN. In front of me and 2 other LPN's she said "I can't stand that nurse she is just an LPN but she has delusions of grandeur and likes to talk like she's an RN" Needless to say my mouth dropped and I had to walk out of the room or I would have probably lost my job. But from then on I knew how much she valued LPN's!:angryfire

BKRN · Jan 4, 2006

Yikes, I just moved to NC-I will have to research this. I just submitted my application for endorsement.

BKRN · Jan 4, 2006

to scorp75.... Yikes, I just moved to NC-I will have to research this. I just submitted my application for endorsement.

BKRN · Jan 4, 2006

To bklpn- depending on which state you work in. In NC, LPNs work under the RN's liscense.

Scorp75, I have read through the nurse practice act for NC, it does state that LPN's work under the supervision and direction of a RN (which is the norm across the board)-but not under their liscense. Could you point me in the direction that you received this information. I just moved to NC and am curious. Thanks.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Jan 4, 2006

I'm a new RN (graduated in May 2005 with my BSN). I work on a med/surg/tele unit with RNs and LPNs and CNAs-we have a team nursing model we use. I personally have no problem with working with LPNs. I understand they are not allowed to push IV meds, hang blood, or do admissions. Yes it can get frustrating for me if it is a busy day but that is just the way it is, so I deal with it. I am grateful I have an LPN to work with (we team up to take care of up to 10 patients together) cuz otherwise there is just too much to do for one nurse. In Mass, the starting pay at my hospital for new RNs is $24.33/hour & for new LPNs it is $17.87/hour. (not including differentials).

NYCRN16 · Jan 6, 2006

Scorp75, I have read through the nurse practice act for NC, it does state that LPN's work under the supervision and direction of a RN (which is the norm across the board)-but not under their liscense. Could you point me in the direction that you received this information. I just moved to NC and am curious. Thanks.

I dont think in any state and LPN works "under an RN's license", but I understand what the OP meant by this. For example, an RN must assess every patient on the floor initially and then periodically, even if the LPN is assigned to this patient. Documenting initial assessments are legally out of the scope of practice of and LPN in all states, so the RN is legally responsible for assessing the patient during his/her shift. The LPN is allowed to reassess for changes in condition, but is not ultimately responsible for this, the RN is. If the patient crashes, the RN who is overseeing the care of the patient is going to be held more accountable than the LPN since they are held to a higher standard legally. An example of this that I learned while I was taking the Kaplan review for the RN boards, dealt with delegation to LPN's and thier scope of practice with assessment. Legally, the RN cannot say to the LPN "Walk Mr. Jones down the hall and tell me how he does". The RN legally must say "Walk Mr. Jones 100 ft down the hall. If he gets tired, dizzy or experiences chest pain tell me right away". In the real world we know this doesnt happen, but legally if the LPN did walk Mr. Jones down the hall and he had an MI and died because the RN did not reassess the pt after being walked, the RN is going to be held accountable, not the LPN because according to them, you cannot leave the assessment to the LPN even though they can recognize and adverse effect. Below is a great website that explains the differences.

http://lib2.hacc.edu/nursing/nursing206/ppt/N204/RN_LPN_files/frame.html

Qween · Jan 6, 2006

I goofed trying to post the message. Sorry.

Qween · Jan 6, 2006

"in most facilities, charging is the highest you will ever get to with an adn. so as you are charging over bsn & msn's but soon one of them will be your manager or administrator. so education does count in the long run, trust me."

remember also, not everyone aspires to be an administrative nurse or an educator. that said, whether or not one seeks a bsn or higher (as related to rn's) depends on how far they want to go with their scope of practice. for the rn (diploma, adn) who is satisfied working on the floor or charge, i definitely see no reason for him/her to seek a bsn or higher. just my two cents.

btw, i am only a nursing student in my senior year. i don't mean to come off in any way that is offensive. i am new to this site and thought i would give some input to the subject.

nursemelani · Jan 6, 2006

IN the hospitals here , RN make $36+ an hour, LVN's $18. The RN's definitly don't have a problem with the pay lvn's get here. In acute care hospitals in northern california, lvn ONLY do meds. NO charting, no assessments (not even pain assessments), no IV meds. RN's may resent the fact that LVN's only give PO and injectable meds.

Wow- Can I ask what large city you are near ? I am an LVN near Sacramento, and I know that the LVNs around here do more than just meds. Also, in the SF Bay area, I have LVN friends who are making 27 dollars/hr, which they should be, since they are doing everything the RNs do, except IV medications.