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

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

Hopefully this will not turn into another LPN/LVN versus RN thread. :nono:

I graduated from an LVN program nearly two months ago. My experience has been that RNs truly do not hate the LVNs; rather, they're simply annoyed at the LVN scope of practice (or lack of it). In most states LVNs/LPNs cannot perform the initial assessment or hang IV medicines and blood products. If an LVN and an RN are both working on the same med/surg floor and each have their own patients, the RN has to perform the initial assessments on all admitted patients and hang the IV meds of the LVN's patients. I imagine that could become a little irritating.

Don't misinterpret me, people. I love LVNs and RNs alike! :kiss

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

We as PN's have to learn @least 80% of the material that a student in a ADN program learns in 11 months vs. 2 yrs, so what makes us different besides the rate of pay, which really isn't any different at least in Oh where a UNEXPERIENCED LPN makes minimally TO START 16.75 w/o differential and more for being IV and CPR certified and a UNEXPERIENCEC RN makes IN OHIO makes 17.00/hr.

The similarities in pay might be frustrating to the Ohio RNs, too.

The RNs attended school for a lengthier amount of time and they're not earning much more than LPNs who attended school for approximately one year. If I was an RN, I'd be resentful if I started off at $17/hourly and the LPN started at $16.75/hourly.

Hopefully no one is going to chew me out or bark at me for speaking my mind. I've attempted to do so without using insulting language or creating a rift between the LVNs and RNs. Remember that I just love all nurses! :kiss

pedinurse05 · Dec 12, 2005

Im a new PN grad and have been a STNA (state tested nurse assistant) for 7 years; but as a graduate it seems that RN's are threatened by PN's or feel that we don't know anything and hospitals dont want us, at least that's been my experience with my job search here in Ohio and Ga and I don't understand why. We as PN's have to learn @least 80% of the material that a student in a ADN program learns in 11 months vs. 2 yrs, so what makes us different besides the rate of pay, which really isn't any different at least in Oh where a UNEXPERIENCED LPN makes minimally TO START 16.75 w/o differential and more for being IV and CPR certified and a UNEXPERIENCEC RN makes IN OHIO makes 17.00/hr. I don't want to come across as confrontational because that's not why Im writing. I just want to get some other points of view from LPN'S AND RN'S to help me understand.

My friend in Ohio started as new RN for $21.00/hr...so I think it depends on the area of Ohio you live. Rn's (even ADN's) take more general classes than LPN's. I took Micro, A&P 1&2, english comp 1 & 2, humanities electives, lifespan, a 3 credit human nutrition class, ethics, algebra, psychology, sociology...and a few others. There is a difference in education. I think LPn's should work in hospitals! It is so busy and we could use professionals vs. unlicensed assistive staff any day!!!

Be proud of your accomplishements! You are a NURSE! Not all RN's feel that LPN's are inferior. Some of the best nurses I know have been LPN's. I was one for many years...and as an RN, I gained most of my knowledge base from working as an LPN!

As for pay, RN's should be compensated more for the extra education. I think all nurses should be paid better in general.

Missy RN

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

Im a new PN grad and have been a STNA (state tested nurse assistant) for 7 years; but as a graduate it seems that RN's are threatened by PN's or feel that we don't know anything and hospitals dont want us, at least that's been my experience with my job search here in Ohio and Ga and I don't understand why. We as PN's have to learn @least 80% of the material that a student in a ADN program learns in 11 months vs. 2 yrs, so what makes us different besides the rate of pay, which really isn't any different at least in Oh where a UNEXPERIENCED LPN makes minimally TO START 16.75 w/o differential and more for being IV and CPR certified and a UNEXPERIENCEC RN makes IN OHIO makes 17.00/hr. I don't want to come across as confrontational because that's not why Im writing. I just want to get some other points of view from LPN'S AND RN'S to help me understand.

You havn't been in an RN program, so how do you know you learned "80% as much as an ADN RN in 11 mos vs 2 yrs?"

I started as an LPN. My PN program was 2 yrs. My RN program was another 2 yrs. My prereqs were 2 years. That's a total of 6 years education.

I am tired of some LPNs thinking that they are the same as RNs except for the pay. I was an LPN for 7 yrs and have been an RN for 5. So, I know what I'm talking about. They are not the same!

More education generally equals more knowledge and more money.

I don't see why there's an argument about it.

I certainly don't think I have as much education as a BSN, nor should I expect to be paid the same.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

I am tired of some LPNs thinking that they are the same as RNs except for the pay. I was an LPN for 7 yrs and have been an RN for 5. So, I know what I'm talking about. They are not the same!

My understanding is that the RN program teaches much more advanced assessment skills, leadership issues, and other broad subjects.

More education generally equals more knowledge and more money.

True (in most cases).

However, I've met veteran LVNs who have been at it over 20 years and these nurses tend to be much more proficient and knowledgeable than the new-grad RNs. Experience is a very weighty factor in the evolving of a great nurse (LVN or RN aside).

BigB · Dec 12, 2005

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.

KrisRNwannabe · Dec 12, 2005

at my hospital, LPNs are totally respected by the RNs. Case in point: the union the LPNs belong too is in talks for a new contract right now and things are not going well. we are making buttons for the LPN and techs to wear in support for our contract and the RNs have asked if they could wear them as well to show support. wages are another story. at my hospital LPNs start at 14.42 but in the next county it was 11 and 12 dollars per hour. i say was because both hospitals have layed off all the LPNs and wont hire anymore. I am glad the RNs realize we have something to offer and we do most everything and the RNs basically do assesments and do IV pushes.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Dec 12, 2005

Im a new PN grad and have been a STNA (state tested nurse assistant) for 7 years; but as a graduate it seems that RN's are threatened by PN's or feel that we don't know anything and hospitals dont want us, at least that's been my experience with my job search here in Ohio and Ga and I don't understand why. We as PN's have to learn @least 80% of the material that a student in a ADN program learns in 11 months vs. 2 yrs, so what makes us different besides the rate of pay, which really isn't any different at least in Oh where a UNEXPERIENCED LPN makes minimally TO START 16.75 w/o differential and more for being IV and CPR certified and a UNEXPERIENCEC RN makes IN OHIO makes 17.00/hr. I don't want to come across as confrontational because that's not why Im writing. I just want to get some other points of view from LPN'S AND RN'S to help me understand.

I'm so sorry that you have had bad experiences. I am not a nurse, but just by lurking through threads, school and other factors I can say that the same or similar can be perceived by other people.

For example, the CNA experiencing the same from the LVN, the ADN from the BSN, the student with no medical experience from the CNA or LPN, and so on. I am sure not all do it, but I think it is safe to say that there are always a few bad apples in every position, location, and career.

Best wishes to you.:)

Trauma Columnist · Dec 12, 2005

There are different scopes of practice for LPNs, RNs and APNs for a reason. Education is the bottom line. All nurses have something to offer - care for the patient. I will say that nursing seems pretty cyclical. I did a 1+1 program in Las Vegas: you did a year of pre-reqs for the ADN program, did the first year of the ADN program and became an LPN, then another year and you could take the RN NCLEX. However, when I graduated with the LPN portion, I had a very difficult time getting a job (1992). Even when I finished the ADN (1994), there were few jobs and I actually considered working as an LPN in order to stay employed.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

Yeah that.