Hey, Heather Smith and UNA

starfish33 · Apr 9, 2013

See, there's the problem right there. We're actually killing patients left and right...we're just not skilled enough to know when a patient is dead! :wacky:

petethecanuck · Apr 9, 2013

I can't comment on what Healther Smith has said/done over the past decade so this is just coming from my point of view as a new'ish RN.

I personally think the reduction of RN's in the hospital is a mistake. (Overall) RN's are more highly trained and educated, have better analytical and critical thinking skills and patient outcomes are better with higher numbers RN's to LPN's. I will concede there are many LPN's out there with years and years of experience who are more competent then many RN's but for newer nurses, RN's are more highly trained.

I do agree that over the years, the UNA has focused too much on wage increases. As a paying member I would like to see my union advocate for higher RN ratios for better patient care. I'm sorry if that upsets some, but that is what I believe.

As for a mix of 2:6. I can't think of a worse situation to be in as an RN. What if 4 or 5 patients require direct IV lasix, or TPN? Those skills are beyond an LPN's scope of practice thus adding to the workload of the RN (and could compromise care).

I also agree that the fearmongering tactic is nasty and uncalled for. There are more constructive ways to advocate for RN's without trashing other members of the health care team.

Fiona59 · Apr 9, 2013

Ah, Pete you are young.

LPNs have been priming and doing the checks on TPN for as long as I can remember. Currently, we are not allowed to access the lines on the units. But how do you account for the LPNs who do dialysis and access CVCs on a regular basis, the LPNs who do home care and do PICC dsgs? The patients who do home TPN? They don't have an RN come to the house and check the bags and hook them up. I've worked on units where there have been 19 out 28 patients on TPN and there were NO issues. It's a case of at 1930, the LPNs go out and hang the bags primed by day shift up on the patients. The RN follows and hooks up the patient. If for some reason bags need changing, who ever hears the pump beep double checks and hangs the lipids.

Until recently there was no direct IV push meds on any of the floors in my hospital. The reason was if a direct push was needed the resident who ordered it could do it or they patient was too unstable to be on the floor. It's only in the last two years that RNs have been pushing on the floor. The unit I currently work on has never had an IV push med required. It may never be required. There has been one IV chemo med hung in the last four years. Blood? Never will happen because of our patient's needs. TPN? The patient was on the home programme and did it herself.

By your argument, the RNs who were educated under the hospital training system aren't capable of doing the skills that the BScNs are. And this I have to disagree with. Some of the best RNs I've worked with graduated in the late 70s and 80s. They don't have degrees.

Every nurse regardless of education thinks critically and analytically. It's a bit of an insult to say that because we don't have a nursing degree we can't critcally think.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2013

When it comes to some of the younger, new grad LPNs, it might be true that some RNs have better critical thinking....but overall, that is not true. Sure, the schools enjoy citing this propaganda, but we all basically take the same program. I've been an RN for 3 years, and I work with LPNs who do the same job. In fact, their IV starts are much better than mine.

There is really nothing that an RN can do that an LPN can't, at least theoretically speaking. Once the true nursing shortage hits, they will need to utilize both RNs and LPNs, but until then, you will see more RN jobs disappear.

We need both RNs and LPNs. But, having come from another Province, I will say that AB RNs receive some of the best perks around. This year, we probably won't receive anything during contract negotiations because there is no money for nurses, doctors or teachers. So be it.

lilaclover6984 · Apr 9, 2013

When it comes to some of the younger, new grad LPNs, it might be true that some RNs have better critical thinking....but overall, that is not true. Sure, the schools enjoy citing this propaganda, but we all basically take the same program. I've been an RN for 3 years, and I work with LPNs who do the same job. In fact, their IV starts are much better than mine.
There is really nothing that an RN can do that an LPN can't, at least theoretically speaking. Once the true nursing shortage hits, they will need to utilize both RNs and LPNs, but until then, you will see more RN jobs disappear.
We need both RNs and LPNs. But, having come from another Province, I will say that AB RNs receive some of the best perks around. This year, we probably won't receive anything during contract negotiations because there is no money for nurses, doctors or teachers. So be it.

Thanks Joanna:)

So nice to see an RN standing up for LPNs for once and recognizing what we have to offer!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2013

You're welcome. But it's also true....and we are supposed to be working together, right?